Board your minibus in central Sorrento in the morning for your day trip to Herculaneum and Pompeii, two sites that were destroyed by the infamous eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD. Almost 2,000 years later, you can explore these sites by foot and see the houses, streets and public buildings that have been miraculously preserved.
After a 45-minute journey, arrive at the Herculaneum archaeological area for a 1.5-hour guided visit. The ancient Roman town of Herculaneum was buried under a sea of volcanic ash following the volcano’s unexpected eruption, and is one of the few ancient cities that can now be seen in its nearly original splendor. Unlike Pompeii, it was buried deeply enough to preserve the upper stories of its buildings and, because it was a wealthy city, it had a density of nice houses with strong marble interiors.
Continue for roughly 20 minutes by minibus to the city of Pompeii. Stop for a light lunch at a local Italian restaurant, and then take a 2-hour afternoon tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pompeii ruins.
Following your guide, discover an ancient city that was completely destroyed by Mt Vesuvius’ volcanic ash. Hear stories of the tragic disaster that wiped out some 20,000 inhabitants, and see incredible excavations of old monuments. Another highlight is the Villa of Mysteries (Villa dei Misteri), a well-preserved ruin just outside the city walls. This Roman villa sustained only minor damage, so the walls, ceilings, frescoes and statues from ancient times are still visible.
After your 2-hour tour of Pompeii, return to Sorrento, arriving in the early evening.
Sample Menu:
First course:
" grilled vegetables, bruschetta with fresh tomato and basil, fritters
Main course :
" Fresh Scialatielli pasta with tomato, basil and parmisan
Dessert:
" Ice cream
Drinks:
" 1 glass of local wine
" Mineral water