Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Naples

This tour has been specifically designed to allow you to view one of the world's most amazing archeological excavation sites and then drive to the top of Mt. Vesuvius and see firsthand what lead to Pompeii's demise. Accompanied by your guide, you will be provided detailed explanations while visiting both sites.

Begin your tour as your driver will take you to one of the most fascinating and vast archaeological sites which is in southern Italy's Campania region. Once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city, Pompeii was buried in meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Near the coast of the Bay of Naples, this well-preserved site features excavated ruins that you can explore. Ever since the ancient Greeks settled in the area in the 8th century B.C., the region around Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples attracted wealthy vacationers who wanted to soak up the sun and the scenery. By the turn of the first century A.D., the town of Pompeii, located about five miles from the mountain, was a flourishing resort for Rome's most distinguished citizens. People gathered in the 20,000-seat arena and lounged in the open-air squares and marketplaces. Elegant houses and elaborate villas lined the paved streets. Tourists, townspeople and slaves bustled in and out of small factories and artisans' shops, taverns and cafes, and brothels and bathhouses. On the eve of that fateful eruption in 79 A.D., scholars estimate that there were about 20,000 people living in Pompeii and the surrounding region. Your guide will explain and point out many interesting facts while you explore the grounds. When a group of explorers rediscovered the site in 1748, they were surprised to find that, underneath a thick layer of dust and debris, Pompeii was mostly intact. The buildings, artifacts and skeletons left behind in the buried city have taught us a great deal about everyday life in the ancient world.

Have free time for shopping and to take a break for your lunch (at your own expense) before your next journey to Mt. Vesuvius.

Once you have arrived at the mountain you will be provided with detailed explanation of the area from a professional vulcanological guide. Mount Vesuvius, near the Bay of Naples, is hundreds of thousands of years old and has erupted more than 50 times. Its most famous eruption took place in the year 79 A.D., when the volcano buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii under a thick carpet of volcanic ash. Walk to the top of the crater and gaze out over the terrain as you contemplate the power of this beast.

Your driver will then take you back to the pier area and your ship as you conclude your own personal walk through ancient history with this Pompeii cruise excursion.

Please Note: Admission to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius is INCLUDED for individuals over 17 years old. A valid ID must be shown to gain free entrance for those under 18 years of age at the Pompeii site.