Date: Friday, May 25th, 2018
Time: 09:00 – 17:00
Ticket price: EUR 108,50 per person incl. transfer, earphones, lunch, 22% VAT
Minimum number of participants per tour: 15 people
Registration for the tour is possible via the online registration for the Spring Meeting.

Our journey takes us along the scenic coastal road through Castellammare di Stabia and out along the motorway to Herculaneum. Herculaneum was destroyed along with Pompeii in 79 A.D. and rediscovered in 1709. It was a residential town, but without Pompeii’s commercial importance, surrounded by the villas of the wealthy Romans. When the catastrophe of 79 A.D. occurred, Herculaneum was submerged under a torrent of mud and lava that hardened into a soft tufa (a kind of course rock) and preserved many of the timber features and household objects which can be seen today. A large portion of the old Herculaneum is still buried under the modern town and even today excavations are on-going to discover what treasures lie buried under the rock- Some families are even being rehoused so work can continue.

Herculaneum and the surrounding areas were deemed so extraordinary that UNESCO added the sites to its World Heritage List. The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.C. buried the sites, essentially freezing in time the daily life of an ancient world. What remains today is unlike anything else in existence. 

After visiting Herculaneum, we continue our excursion by bus to Mount Vesuvius. Vesuvius National Park is characterized by its lush natural beauty and diverse animal species. The Park has a network of trails and is the ideal place for outdoor recreation, such as hiking and mountain biking.

After 79 A.D., when it buried the city of Pompeii, Vesuvius erupted frequently until 1631. After a period of inactivity, a series of eruptions alternated with quiet periods until 1799. Since 1944, the year of the last explosion, Vesuvius has been quiet. Among flows of solidified lava, brooms, rocks and eruption materials, a bus will take you all the way up to the 3,000 foot mark where those who wish will have the opportunity to walk up to the edge of the crater (1,000 feet - 40 minute walk -Comfortable shoes are strongly recommended!)
An informal lunch is included in a typical farmhouse with delicious homemade local products.