DAILY EXCURSION TO POMPEII & WINE EXPERIENCE from Naples

Visit the ruins of ancient Pompeii, buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. and preserved almost intact for centuries. The tour will give you a glimpse of its inhabitants’ lifestyle and the astonishing number of villas, shops and public buildings that archaeologists brought back to light. Stop along the way to a local factory to learn more about the process of Cameos and Corals craft, jewels made out of corals and seashell. After the visits, drive to the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius for a Mediterranean food and wines tasting and a guided visit along the vineyards to learn more about the Campania Ars Vinearia (the art of making wine).  Traces of the existence of this ancient roman city date back to the 6th century BC. At the time of the dramatic eruption, in 79 AD, Pompeii counted about 11.000 inhabitants and was considered of great importance for the Roman Empire. Several emperors and aristocrats had their holiday’s villas in that area, while merchants were running businesses with locals. This bustling place got buried under several meters of ashes in a matter of few hours. Centuries later, in 1748, Pompeii came back to light when the Bourbons were governing Naples. The discovery was greeted with enthusiasm as it added great wealth to the kingdom and inspired the neoclassicism movement in Europe. Nowadays, the ruins of Pompeii are amongst the most visited archaeological sites in the world. Included in this tour there is a stop to a Cameos and Corals workshop, to learn more about this ancient art-craft, for which the Neapolitan school is still considered of great importance. Cameos in particular are carved sea shells representing scenes of mythological deities. Campania Ars Vinearia. The custom of drinking wine is very ancient in our region: frescoes, pottery and ancient texts found in archaeological sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum confirm this practice. Greeks started farming the vineyards on the rich volcanic soil and some of these early varieties still survive to this day, such as the Aglianico.  Even though the wine making process, thus its taste, has changed a lot during this long time span, it is clear the unchanged interest for this drink. This tour will take you around the vineyards, learning more about the composition of its soil and how the coexistence with other trees, plants and herbs as well as a mix of modern and traditional techniques affects the quality of wine. After a stroll in the fields, to complete the experience, there will be a plentiful tasting menu with local food and wines to be enjoyed in its original environment.