The day was stiflingly hot, not unusual on a summer's day in southern Italy. People were going about their daily routine, heading homewards for a light lunch and a siesta or making their way to the baths to catch up with the latest gossip. Everything seemed normal. Then, with an ear-splitting roar Vesuvius, the vine-clad mountain overlooking the town, erupted with terrifying force. For the town, and many of its inhabitants, life was at an end. The place, Pompeii, the date, 24 August AD79.

Everyone with an interest in the past should visit Pompeii. This tour, based at the comfortable Aequa Hotel in the charming village of Vico Equense on the Sorrento peninsular, presents the ideal opportunity. However, there is much more to see. Herculaneum is smaller and less well known than Pompeii, but equally fascinating; while the fabulous villa of Oplontis, thought by some to have belonged to Poppaea, wife of the emperor Nero, gives an insight into the lives of the aristocracy. Numerous works of art from these sites, as well as everyday objects, are in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Long before the coming of Rome, Greeks had settled in this part of Italy. We visit the first colony, at the evocative site of Cuma, and experience first hand why the Phlegraean, or Fiery, Fields were so named. We also explore the Greek colony of Poseidonia, later named Paestum by the Romans, with its three magnificent Greek temples, the equal of any in the Greek world. In the site museum we see unique Lucanian tomb paintings and the only Greek painting in Italy, the Tomb of the Diver.

Included in the tour is an ascent of Vesuvius, partly by coach and partly on foot, and a more relaxing final day with a drive along the magnificent Amalfi coast road and a visit to the scenic and dramatically sited mountain village of Ravello.

You will be accompanied throughout by historian Group Captain Mike Clegg, who has great knowledge of the places and history, huge enthusiasm and a very friendly personality.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Friday): Fly London – Naples. Transfer to our hotel on the Sorrento Peninsular for 7 night stay. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: A full day in the Phlegrean Fields: Solfatara: a semi-active volcanic crater; Pozzuoli amphitheatre. Picnic lunch at Cuma: the Sibyl's Grotto and Temples of Apollo and Zeus. Own dinner arrangements.
Day 3: A full day in Pompeii. Lunch break on site. Dinner in our hotel.
Day 4: In the morning we visit Herculaneum, the second town destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius. Pizza lunch in Ercolano. In the afternoon we see the wonderful wall paintings of the Villa Oplontis. Own dinner arrangements.
Day 5: A full day in Paestum: A morning tour of the archeological site, a lunch break in Paestum and an afternoon visit to the museum. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 6: A morning in Naples including the Naples archaeological museum and lunch break. In the afternoon we make the ascent of Mount Vesuvius. Own dinner arrangements.
Day 7: We drive along the Amalfi coast, stopping for coffee in Amalfi and finding lunch in Ravello. After lunch we visit the Villa Ruffolo, the Cathedral and the Villa Cimbrone. Dinner in our hotel.
Day 8: Fly Naples – London.