Pompeii, Paestum & Herculaneum with Island of Ischia Add-on

Your holiday begins with a flight to Naples. After clearing passport control and collecting your luggage, we’ll drive you to the pretty town of Vico Equense. Your hotel is in the heart of the town and offers lovely views over the Bay of Naples towards Mount Vesuvius. During your holiday you will have an opportunity to take in these views whilst enjoying a magical candlelit dinner on the hotel’s terrace, a truly unforgettable experience. We’ll also spend an evening at a local pizzeria, sampling one of Italy’s most famous specialities!

A day of contrasts awaits you on an included tour, which begins in Pozzuoli, an important city in the days of the Roman Empire. Here you can follow in the footsteps of gladiators as you wander the maze of underground tunnels beneath its well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, said to be the third-largest in Italy.
Next, we’ll visit the Archaeological Park of Terme Romane in Baia. In Roman times this was the site of a seaside retreat with extravagant thermal baths, a place where emperors could rest and recuperate. As you stroll around the ruins, look out for intricate floor mosaics and the remains of lavishly decorated rooms.
Your final stop today is Cumae, where only ruins remain of the Greek temples that once stood here. The atmospheric Cave of Sibyl and the Temple of Jupiter are two of the incredible sights you will see.

Today is the day that you will explore the remarkable ruins of Pompeii. As you wander its streets, you'll understand what life was like here before Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD smothering it and its inhabitants in hot ash. You’ll travel to Pompeii by train and meet a Local Guide who will help you uncover the secrets of many of the city’s best sights. These include villas decorated with frescoes, colourful mosaics, Roman baths, an impressive amphitheatre and more. You will have your own return train ticket, so after the tour, you can either travel back to the hotel with your Holiday Director or have time to yourself at this fascinating site.

Before you reach historic Paestum today, a treat is in store in the shape of the beautiful Amalfi Coast. As you travel along twisting clifftop roads, admire breathtaking views of steep cliffs plunging into the brilliant blue sea and picture-perfect villages clinging to the hillside. We’ll make a stop in the beautiful town of Amalfi, where you can visit the impressive cathedral, set in an imposing position at the top of a grand stairway. If you’d prefer to explore the town’s pretty streets and piazzas instead, just let your Holiday Director know and we’ll arrange to meet you later.
Then, at your journey's end in the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Paestum, you'll discover three magnificent Doric temples, part of what was once an ancient Greek city. It is incredible to think that 2,500 years after they were built, the temples of Ceres, Neptune and Hera are still standing relatively intact. There’s time too to step inside the museum here, which houses fascinating artefacts.

You have another fascinating day of exploration ahead. We'll head to the Roman fishing town of Herculaneum, which was also buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Hidden for centuries under 16 metres of volcanic debris, it is actually better preserved than Pompeii and some quite unbelievable items such as wooden structures and furniture, have been found almost completely intact. Your Holiday Director will talk you through the town’s highlights and outline the lives of its well-heeled former residents. Next, we’ll head to the nearby Villa Poppaea at Oplontis. Once a grand, residential villa, it was so well preserved by the volcano’s ash that the Roman art inside almost looks freshly painted.

Enjoy a day at leisure. You could relax with a book by the hotel’s pool, explore Vico Equense at your own pace or perhaps venture out to a nearby beach.
Alternatively, join our full-day optional excursion to the glamorous island of Capri, which is reached via a short train ride to Sorrento followed by a leisurely boat trip. We’ve arranged for a Local Guide to accompany our group and there will be plenty of time for you to explore independently. You may choose to visit the delightful Gardens of Caesar Augustus or take a stroll around the village of Capri. Maybe enjoy a leisurely lunch in a charming restaurant or hop into one of the open-top taxis for a journey along winding streets to Anacapri. Here you can visit Villa San Michele, the former home of celebrated doctor and philanthropist Axel Munthe, which is surrounded by fragrant gardens.
On the way back, you could choose to spend some time in the lively resort of Sorrento before re-joining the group at the hotel later.

You could spend today relaxing in the sun or exploring the area surrounding your hotel. The elegant town of Sorrento, with its enticing cafés and restaurants, is easy to reach by train.

Alternatively, having seen Vesuvius from a distance and learned all about its immense power, today you can actually walk to its summit during our optional excursion. Towering almost 1,300 metres above the Bay of Naples, this is mainland Europe's only active volcano and the views you'll experience will take your breath away. You will also visit the Museum of National Antiquities in Naples, where many of the relics discovered at Pompeii are displayed.

Today you'll travel to the island of Ischia where you will stay for the next four nights.
The town has two different centres - Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte. Ischia Porto is the commercial centre of the island and named after the main port, and Ischia Ponte (ponte means 'bridge' in Italian) is named after the footbridge that was built to connect the Aragonese Castle with the island. One of main highlights is the impressive castle, which stands on a volcanic rock, built by Hiero I of Syracuse in 474BC, with plenty of character and history, a museum, as well as a café/restaurant with lovely views of the beautiful bay.

During your stay on Ischia you will have plenty of time to explore the island at your leisure or enjoy facilities in the hotel.

Enjoy your final few hours in Italy before heading back to the airport for your return flight to the UK.