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Pompeii Italy | Pompeii and Herculaneum | Pompeii Tour | Day Trip to Pompeii from Rome
What we present here below is the largest archaelogical area in Italy of the Roman civilization outside Rome : Pompeii and Herculaneum. As everybody knows, they were cancelled by the eruption of the Vesuvio on 08/24/79 A.D. Some of them died slowly being covered by ash (Pompei, with "only" 7 mt/21 ft of ashes); some others were completely submersed by the acid gas due to the fall of the pyroclastic flow in a few minutes (Ercolano, with over 30 mt/100 ft).
There are multiple reasons to visit this area. The first is that, due to the eruption of the Volcano and the tons of volcanic ashes that covered for centuries these cities, this is the most well preserved archaeological area in Italy of the Roman Culture. What it is not on the spot, it is displayed in the Italy Museums and abroad. Consequently, what cannot be found in Pompey can be found in Herculaneum.
From the Roman theatres to the old Roman shops, from the restaurants to the old taberns, from the superb bronze statues and gold objects to the private baths, coupled with the immense collection of frescoes and Roman mosaics spread out everywhere. This is what you will find visiting the most beautiful Italian area of two thousands years ago ... besides Rome ... of course !
Pompei - Pompeii - Pompey - Pompei Italy - To Pompei - Travel Pompei - Pompei Scavi - Pompei Ruins - Pompei Visit
These are some of the names that we heard from our past clients when asking about the most incredible archaelogical area of Italy, besides Rome: Pompei. Many ways to identify a tragedy, the Pompei eruption, that is today's fortune for those who love the Roman Civilization. Pompei Italy: to visit the Pompei ruins you will need at least 2 hours. 3 hours of a Pompeii guided tour would be better.
Many visitors who arrive to Italy and can spend about a week go to Pompei. It's a must, also for a day trip Roma - Pompei. Rome Travels arranges that since years too. Also for those who, being in a cruise, want to get one of our private shore excursion to Pompey. There are many ways to lead Pompeii tours: each Pompeii guide that we provide is strictly an official and experienced one, professional, fun and entertaining, like those that work with us anywhere else in Italy.
Do we still need to present the ancient Pompei? There are tons of books available, several web sites, million of articles and novels that talk about Pompei history. We decided briefly to relate about the history of the eruption here below. So at the end you will have a better idea whether or not visiting one site or more.
Pompeii, The Open-Air-Theatre
Pompeii, The Forum & Vesuvius
Pompeii, The House of Faun
We don't want to be unpopular stating that one site is absutely better versus another. Nobody can have such a privilege. Once you come to this area or are planning through us a Pompeii travel, you better have clear in mind about this Scavi area that :
1. Pompey is worthy itself also for a day trip Rome Pompei. But you would not probably have seen enough if you only can the Pompei ruins. Pompei is the most important site of any other. Yes. But this is not a synonym of the most beautiful. It makes sense ....
2. Especially if you are located in the Amalfi Coast, Herculaneum is the quintessence of the Roman archaeological areas. You will enjoy better than Pompei. We are not the only onces who said this. The reason is how miserably ended Ercolano versus Pompei: minutes versus hours. And therefore the quality of the remains is of a much superior quality in Ercolano than Pompei.
3. Villa Poppaea in Oplontis can be the added value of your "Pompeii tours" .
HERCULANEUM - ERCOLANO - POMPEII and HERCULANEUM
The History of the Eruption in 79 AD
Two different tragedies located 18 km/11 miles away
We know like a chronicle of those tragic days that erased the gems of the Roman civilization thanks to two letters of Pliny the Youger to historian Tacitus.
Pompei came first: a slow death.
Vesuvius began spewing ash and volcanic stone thousands of meters into the sky. When it reached the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, the top of the cloud flattened leading Pliny to describe it to Tacitus as a stone "pine tree". The prevailing winds at the time blew towards the SouthEast which caused the volcanic material to fall primarily on the city of Pompeii and the surrounding areas.
TIPS and TRICKS
We highly suggest to purchase the Campania ArteCard. It offers an all inclusive card, with admission tickets to the all museums and archaeological sites of the Regione Campania. In order to have more flexibility, for only 3,00 € of difference, we suggest the 7 days one. Discover the offer Here.
OR, You may Call Our On Line Number in US : + (201) 204 - 9020
Since Herculaneum lays to the West of Vesuvius, it was only little affected by the first phase of the eruption. While the roofs in Pompeii collapsed under the weight of the falling debris, only a few centimeters of ash fell on Herculaneum causing little damage. This was enough to cause many of the inhabitants to flee, however.
Herculaneum: the tragic instant end.
During the night, the column of volcanic debris which had risen into the stratosphere began falling back down onto Vesuvius ..... a pyroclastic flow formed that sent a mixture of 400°C (750°F) gas, ash and rock racing down at 160-200 km/h at least (100-130 mph) toward Herculaneum. Early at night it reached the boat houses, where those waiting for rescue were killed instantly by the intense heat. This flow and several more following it slowly filled the city's buildings from the bottom up, causing them little damage.
The amazingly good state of preservation of the structures and their contents are due to three factors:
1. By the time the wind changed and ash began to fall on Herculaneum, the structures were already filled with volcanic debris. Thus the roofs did not collapse.
2. The intense heat of the first pyroclastic flow carbonized the surface of organic materials and extracted the water from them.
3. The deep (up to 30 meters/100 feet), dense tuff formed an airtight seal over Herculaneum for 1700 years.
Click the pic that you like to enlarge.
The Reasons of a Trip: Pompei vs Ercolano? No, Pompei & Ercolano.
As a final historical evidence, Herculaneum was a smaller town with a wealthier population than Pompeii at the time of its destruction.
If you think of the above .....at the end, the questions that in the past years we always received were and are still today:
1. Do I need to skip Pompeii versus Herculaneum ? No. Visit both. Yes, you can.
2. If Herculaneum is more beautiful than Pompei, why we never heard about? Or why as not much as Pompeii?
a) Due to the too many visitors coming to Pompe and in order to reduce pressure on the Pompei Ruins, the governing body for Pompeii, the Sopraintendenza Archeologica di Pompei have begun issuing new tickets (Campania Artecard) that allows tourists to visit also cities such as Herculaneum and Stabiae as well as the Villa Poppaea in Oplontis, encouraging the visits in these sites.
b) Pompei is more complete than Herculaneum. We think it is a question of local governments' choices. And last, see our topic message.
NOTE on payments:
To confirm any tour, we require either a deposit or full prepayment by Visa-MasterCard + 20% VAT on top.
In case you wish to pay the deposit, it will be charged at cost + 20% VAT and then the balance by cash to your assigned tour guide. The amount of the deposit depends on which kind of tour is selected.
Pompeii Tour - Costs -
Tour # 1: Day trip Rome Pompeii - From Rome to Pompeii and Back to Rome
1-2 people: EUR 1.200,00
3-7 people: EUR 1.500,00
10-18 people: EUR 175,00 per person*
30-48 people: EUR 150,00 per person*
* Entrance fees and lunch included per person (55,00 € value) and all minibus permits
Duration:
a) appx. 11-12 hours (r/t) with driver/transporation (Rome - Pompeii - Naples - Rome) OR (Rome - Pompeii - Herculaneum - Rome)
b) appx. 6 hours with your private tour guide. Meet your guide outside the Pompei Scavi.
NOTE: 21% vat tax not included in the above prices. If you pay us a deposit of EUR 500.00 + 21% vat tax with PayPal, you may pay the balance in cash to your guide and not paying the 21% vat tax. Or, in case you prefer to pay everything with you cc, it will be charged at cost + 21% vat tax.
Pompeii Tour - Costs -
Tour # 2 - Day trip Pompeii & Herculaenum from Amalfi Coast (Sorrento-Amalfi-Positano)
1-2 people: EUR 1.000,00
3-7 people: EUR 1.400,00
10-18 people: EUR 190,00 per person*
30-48 people: EUR 150,00 per person*
* Entrance fees and lunch included per person (55,00 € value) and all minibus permits.
Duration:
a) appx. 10 hours (r/t) with driver/transporation (anywhere in the Amalfi Coast - Pompeii - back to hotel )
b) appx. 6 hours with your private tour guide. Meet your private guide outside the Pompei Scavi.
NOTE: 21% vat tax not included in the above prices. If you pay us a deposit of EUR 500.00 + 21% vat tax with PayPal, you may pay the balance in cash to your guide and not paying the 21% vat tax. Or, in case you prefer to pay everything with you cc, it will be charged at cost + 21% vat tax.
Pompeii Tour - Costs -
Tour # 3 - Day trip Pompeii & Amalfi Coast (Sorrento -Amalfi - Ravello - Positano) from the Amalfi Coast
1-2 people: EUR 1.100,00
3-7 people: EUR 1.400,00
10-18 people: EUR 190,00 per person*
30-48 people: EUR 150,00 per person*
* Entrance fees and lunch included per person (55,00 € value) and all minibus permits.
Duration:
a) appx. 10 hours (r/t) with driver/transporation (anywhere in the Amalfi Coast - Pompeii - back to hotel )
b) appx. 8 hours with your private tour guide. Meet your guide at the Amalfi Coast Hotel.
NOTE: 21% vat tax not included in the above prices. If you pay us a deposit of EUR 500.00 + 21% vat tax with PayPal, you may pay the balance in cash to your guide and not paying the 21% vat tax. Or, in case you prefer to pay everything with you cc, it will be charged at cost + 21% vat tax.
Pompeii Tour - Costs -
Tour # 4: Full Day - 8 hours - Naples & Pompeii from the Hotels in Naples Area
1-2 people: EUR 1.000,00
3-7 people: EUR 1.200,00
10-18 people: EUR 160,00 per person*
30-48 people: EUR 125,00 per person*
* Entrance fees and lunch included per person (55,00 € value) and all minibus permits
Duration:
a) appx. 8-9 hours with both driver/transporation & private English speaking guide.
NOTE: 21% vat tax not included in the above prices. If you pay us a deposit of EUR 500.00 + 21% vat tax with PayPal, you may pay the balance in cash to your guide.
Pompeii Tour - Costs -
Tour # 5: Full day tour from Naples Hotels: Pompeii, Herculaneum
1-2 people: EUR 1.000,00
3-7 people: EUR 1.200,00
10-18 people: EUR 160,00 per person*
30-48 people: EUR 125,00 per person*
* Entrance fees and lunch included per person (55,00 € value) and all minibus permits
Duration:
a) appx. 8-9 hours with both driver/transporation and private English speaking guide.
NOTE: 21% vat tax not included in the above prices. If you pay us a deposit of EUR 500.00 + 21% vat tax with PayPal, you may pay the balance in cash to your guide.
