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Ancient Herculaneum Private Tour
Joined 2020
Visiting ancient Herculaneum, in the bay of Naples, is an experience that will last for a long time. There are no other ancient cities which can compare to Herculaneum for its amazing state of preservation after the city was covered under a pyroclastic flow during the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in AD79.
Herculaneum is famous for the well preserved frescoes, mosaics, wooden partitions, furniture and many other petrified organic materials which are so important to understand its life.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Ticket office of the Archaeological Area of Herculaneum
Herculaneum
Ancient Herculaneum is a city which was buried under a thick layer of volcanic material in 79 AD, during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The volcanic material reached Herculaneum at a speed of 100 km per hour and it was still liquid when it entered the houses of the beautiful and rich city facing the bay of Naples. Therefore the volcanic flow, known as the surge, supported the different floors of the buildings and, once the gases evaporated, the liquid rocks hardened again and sealed everything.
Wooden doors, windows, glass, furniture, iron, bronze objects, food, dresses, jewels, frescoes and mosaics were all well preserved by the volcanic material.
Herculaneum is so well preserved that it looks like a medieval town with balconies overlapping the hallways and shops still containing petrified wooden doors, wooden shelves, a wooden press or terracotta jars. The dwellings of the beautiful aristocratic buried city are still decorated with frescoes and mosaics and a few of them still contain the original petrified pieces of furniture.
The inhabitants of the ancient city, who tried to escape the city, were found in 1981 inside warehouses aligned along the ancient beach. They were trying to get on a wooden boat which, due to the rough see, was overturned on the beach and people remained trapped inside the vaulted rooms, frozen in time. The plaster casts of their remaining skeletons give us an idea of the sort of horror they had to suffer.
The guided tour includes a visit to the Antiquarium: The rich inhabitants of Herculaneum brought with them jewels and precious stones which are actually hosted in the museum, where other findings, like marble statues, bronze objects and medical tools are also displayed.
We will then visit the wooden boat which is housed, together with a fishing net, a few oars, an anchor and other objects in the Boat Pavillon.
During the visit of the ancient town we will see the famous Collegium of the Augustals which keeps the amazing frescoes representing Hercules, the demi-god who is considered to be the founder of the city which took his name. Finally we will see houses, thermal baths, shops and streets and we will jump back in time to the amazing Roman Age.
Ending Point
In the Archaeological Area
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Walking tour with a qualified guide
Entrance fee
Transportation
Tour Important Information
In order to get the best out of this particular amazing tour, comfortable shoes are necessary as well as a hat and a bottle of water.
Herculaneum is closed on Wednesdays
Important message from the supplier
I am a freelance professional so I can be available everyday should there be the need.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2020
About Tour Guide Maria S.
I am a qualified tourist guide and I have been working for many years with several customers coming to Italy on private or group tours.
I speak fluently English, French, Japanese and Spanish, I also speak German at an intermediate level. I am interested in supplying tours in my area, the Campania region. I offer guided tours of Pompeii and Herculaneum and many other achaeological areas, as well as city tours in the town of Naples, Caserta, Salerno, Benevento and Avellino. I also offer tours to museums, churches, galleries, castles, royal palaces and to natural spots like Capri island, Ischia island or Procida island and the Amalfi coast.
I would be really happy to join your group as I noticed that your system offers different opportunities to share the most interesting tours and activities.
I thank you so much and I look forward to hear from you.
Reviews
Charles T.
Castelpetroso and Pastena Guasto tour
Customized
“Maria provided a great tour!”
I was a bit hesitant to hire Maria from the US without knowing anything about her or the company. However, there was no reason for me to worry. Maria was an amazing guide! Communicated well before the date of the tour. She speaks good english (as well as other languages). She also arranged comfortable transportation. It is evident that she cares about providing a great tour. She is flexible to adapt the tour to what makes it best for you. She's imparts her knowledge of the area, and takes you to places you would not do on your own. I can't say enough good things about Maria. Get the most out of your trip and hire Maria, I do not think you will be disappointed.
Maria S.
Dear Mr Charles, thank you so much for your visit and for all the nice things that you said about me. It is very kind of you. It was quite an experience and I am glad I met you and your lovely family. I hope to meet you again for a fantastic tour of our beautiful land. I wish you all the best. Maria
“Connecting Several Generations of a Family ”
Maria was kind, funny, experienced and a very knowledgeable guide! She took a lot of time planning this tour. She researched and found relatives I haven’t seen in over 40 years and translated conversations with my family since I only speak English and they only speak Italian. Maria spent the whole day with us showing me where my parents used to live in Cantaloupo and Castelpetroso. These are very small towns in the mountains. We had one person in our group who had a food allergy and she found an excellent restaurant that was very accommodating! I would highly recommend Maria as a tour guide! Schedule a tour with Maria you won’t be disappointed!
Maria S.
Dear Maureen, I am so glad you appreciated my services. It was really a pleasure for me to help you find your relatives and they were all so nice and kind. I felt as part of the family!!!! I hope to see you back soon! My best regards and a hug. Maria
“Best and kindest guide”
Maria's kindness and efficiency may not let you recall her wonderful discussions of the places we visited. All the while she is patient, smiles, talks to us as friends, and finds ways quickly to solve any bumps in the road. You'll love her just as our group of 14 did!
Maria S.
Dear Mr Mark, It was a pleasure to meet you and I am glad that you appreciated my work. Your group was really enjoyable and you all deserved the best. I am glad to know that you felt comfortable and I hope to see you again for other tours of our beautiful Campania. All my love to all of you.
$230/ per group
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