POMPEII & THE CITIES OF VESUVIUS

NOVEMBER 4-10, 2019 TOUR LEADER: DR ESTELLE LAZER

POMPEII Overview & THE CITIES OF VESUVIUS The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79 and the archaeological Tour dates: November 4-10, 2019 excavations have given humanity an unrivalled window on the ancient world. This seven-day investigation of the key archaeological sites of the Tour leader: Dr Estelle Lazer Bay of Naples is led by internationally-acclaimed archaeologist Dr Estelle Lazer. Dr Lazer’s work on the human remains of Pompeii was the keystone of Professor Mary Beard’s BBC documentary and many other Tour Price: $3,990 per person, twin share studies. Dr Lazer maintains an active research profile, including the exciting current investigations using medical imaging technology. Single Supplement: $600 for sole use of double room Based in a four-star hotel in the attractive seaside town of Sorrento, background lectures and daily excursions will give participants a Booking deposit: $500 per person comprehensive, scientifically based understanding of the Roman world – what we know and what we don’t – as well as an appreciation of the art, Recommended airline: BA (from UK), Emirates architecture and society of the Roman world. There’s also time to enjoy or Qatar the scenery of the Bay of Naples, travel the Amalfi Coast and sample some of the delightful cuisine of the region, including a special buffalo Maximum places: 20 mozzarella lunch near Paestum.

Itinerary: Sorrento (6 nights) Your tour leader

Date published: July 12, 2019 Dr Estelle Lazer is an archaeologist with an international reputation for her years of work on the human skeletal remains discovered at Pompeii. Estelle has also worked on archaeological sites in the Middle East, Italy, Cyprus, the UK, Antarctica and Aust ralia. Estelle teaches at the University of Sydney and the University of NSW.

Most recently, Estelle has embarked on a large project – using special CT-scanning and x-ray equipment – to examine more of Pompeii’s casts, of animals as well as humans. The Italian government has dedicated a significant amount of funding, as part of efforts to raise the site’s profile after decades of controversial political neglect; and the BBC has ensured a wide audience, with Mary Beard’s documentary on Estelle’s project, Pompeii: New Secrets Revealed.

“Our tour leader Estelle was outstanding. She never stopped working and was conscious of everyone’s needs and abilities. Her knowledge made the tour ever more enjoyable.” – Feedback from Estelle’s Sicily and the Aeolian Islands tour. Enquiries and bookings Hotel

For further information and to Sorrento, Hotel Plaza (6 nights) secure a place on this tour One of our favourite hotels in Sorrento, this comfortable 4-star hotel is please contact Rebecca located just off Piazza Tasso, the main square of the old town, a few steps Fussell at Academy Travel on from restaurants, shops and bars. The hotel is well located for our coach 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 and train excursions to sites around the Bay. www.plazasorrento.com (outside Sydney) or email [email protected]. au

Tour Highlights

POMPEII Nearly 300 years after its rediscovery, Pompeii remains unrivalled as a window on the ancient Roman world. The sheer size of the site, the presence of all levels of society, the range of public, private, commercial and cultural structures and the very high level of presentation make it a ‘must see’ for all ancient historians. And there is no better way to see it than with an internationally-regarded expert.

HERCULANEUM This seaside town is less famous than nearby Pompeii, and less visited, but it is a spectacular site. Much of the site was not excavated until the mid-20th century, resulting in a much more systematic site than Pompeii, with overall a better level of preservation. Large private houses and gardens, sumptuous public baths and remarkable urban infrastructure are just some of the key aspects of Herculaneum.

THE AMALFI COAST We take a morning off our archaeological explorations to enjoy one of the most scenic drives in the road, taking us from Sorrento along the cliff-hugging road past resort town of Positano to the medieval enclave of Amalfi, once a powerful maritime republic. Amalfi’s spectacular cathedral, winding laneways and ancient marina remind us of its proud and prestigious past.

PAESTUM The Greek colony of Posedonia was founded in the 6th century BCE and abandoned in the 2nd century. It is perhaps the ‘hidden secret’ of the region. The three extant Doric temples are more impressive than most temples yBou will see in Greece itself and the wonderful archaeological museum preserves painted tombs and other artefacts from southern Italy’s pre-Roman period.

NAPLES ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM One of the world’s great archaeological museums, founded in the 18th century to display the artistic treasures unearthed at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Marvel and the quantity and quality of fresco wall paintings and mosaics, any one of which would be the star exhibit in any other museum. The Naples Museum also contains the renowned Farnese collection from Rome itself, assembled by this family of popes and princes.

Detailed itinerary

Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D.

Tour start & finish time

The tour begins at Naples Railway station at 5.30pm or Naples Airport at approximately 6.30pm on Monday 4 November 2019.

The tour ends at Naples railway Station at 4.30pm or Naples airport at 5.00pm on Sunday 10 November 2019.

Monday 4 November Arrive A single coach early evening transfer from Naples airport or the railway station is offered. After check-in, meet Dr Lazer over drinks and canapes in our hotel. Overnight Sorrento.

Tuesday 5 November Pompeii After an introductory lecture, the full day is spent in Pompeii. Dr Lazer will show you both the main excavations, such as the forum, amphitheatre and baths, but also take you to sites where Above: the remarkable archaeological site of Pompeii archaeological work is currently underway. Dr Lazer is regularly given access to sites not normally open to the public, a privilege Below: world-famous archaeologist Dr Estelle Lazer examining the of travelling with an expert of this calibre. Our visit will consider bones in the Sarno baths at Pompeii. Estelle helped uncover the true all aspects of life in a Roman town: politics and commerce, story of Pompeii and has an international reputation for her research religious devotion, entertainment and family life. The casts of the on the site’s skeletal remains victims of the eruption are unforgettable – but also complex, equivocal archaeological evidence. Overnight Sorrento. We enjoy lunch is at Pompeii today, adjacent to the archaeological site, before returning to the site. (B, L)

Wednesday 6 November Naples archaeological museum In Roman times, Naples (Neapolis) was a small centre with a Greek heritage. It was not until the reign of Angevin and then Spanish and Bourbon rulers that it began a major European capital. The Bourbons initiated the excavation of Pompeii and it became a must-see destination for travellers on the Grand Tour in the 18th and 19th centuries. Naples’ celebrated archaeological museum is a product of the Bourbon age, and contains an astounding range of artefacts from Pompeii, Herculaneum and other sites. After Dr Lazer’s lecture, our visit will focus especially on wall paintings, but there are magnificent mosaics, sculpture, jewellery and decorative pieces to enjoy as well, not to mention everyday objects which display the material comfort and technological achievement of the Romans. Overnight Sorrento. (B) Thursday 7 November Paestum and the Amalfi Coast

Just 60km south of Pompeii lies one of the best-preserved Greek archaeological sites in existence. Posedonia was founded in the 6th century BCE and contains three magnificent Doric-style temples in an evocative rural setting. (Unlike so many Greek sites which were destroyed, Paestum was abandoned and has come down to use in a good state of preservation.) The adjacent archaeological museum is also one of Italy’s best small museums. We travel to Paestum vis the spectacular Amalfi Coast, one of Europe’s most scenic drives. A highlight of the trip is sure to be our lunch at Tenuta Vanello, a high-tech buffalo mozzarella farm. We enjoy a lunch comprising almost entirely buffalo milk products and get to meet the buffalo! This evening Dr Lazer talks on wall painting in ancient Rome. Overnight Sorrento. (B, L)

Friday 8 November Herculaneum and Oplontis Although Pompeii is the best known of the cities of Vesuvius, the Roman villa at Oplontis and the seaside town of Herculaneum are major attractions in and of themselves, deserving an equal fame to Pompeii. After a lecture we spend Above: shops and houses of all kinds once opened onto the bustling streets of Herculaneum the morning at the 1st century BCE villa at Oplontis, near the modern town of Torre Annuziata. The scale of the villa and the sumptuous facilities and wall paintings suggest the villa belonged to one of Rome’s leading families, perhaps the Below: fresco in the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis imperial family, but this remains a mystery. In the afternoon we visit the seaside town of Herculaneum, surely a salubrious place to live before the catastrophe of AD79. Superbly preserved and not excavated until the 20th century it contains exquisite private houses, shops and bathing complexes. Overnight Sorrento. (B)

Saturday 9 November Villas on the Bay At the height of the Roman Empire, the Bay of Naples was the resort of choice for the Roman aristocracy and there were many large private villas dotted around the bay, as well as more modest structure. This morning we visit two contrasting examples. The ‘villa rustica’ at Boscoreale was a working farm, not rediscovered until the mid-20th century and containing a wealth of finds. Nearby is the town of Stabia, where we know many wealthy Romans estivated. It is here on the beach that Pliny the Elder died, as narrated in a classic letter by his nephew describing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. We visit one or two villas here, before returning to Sorrento for a free afternoon. This evening we gather for a farewell meal in a leading restaurant. (B, D)

Sunday 10 November Departure The will be a single transfer to Naples railway station and on to the airport at a time coinciding with the departure of the majority of the group. We will liaise with you regarding the optimal departure time.

Tour Price Fitness Requirements

The tour price is $3,990 per person, twin share (land content of THIS tour only). The supplement for a single room is $600 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to GRADE TWO secure a place on the tour. It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this Tour Inclusions tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required to participate on our tours, we have given them a Included in the tour price star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature  Six nights accommodation at a four-star hotel in Pompeii extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider  Two lunches and a dinner at selected local restaurants, your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour. including wine  Four expert lectures, on-site commentary and guidance Participation criteria for this tour from Dr Estelle Lazer This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active  Extensive tour notes lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of  All entrance fees to sites on the itinerary physical activity per day on most days, including longer  All group tipping walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and Not included a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or  International air fares, taxes and surcharges (see below) several internal flights.  Travel insurance You should be able to:  Meals not mentioned in itinerary  keep up with the group at all times  Expenses of a personal nature  walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only short breaks  stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and Air travel OPTIONS museums  tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold, The tour price quoted is for land content only. From the UK, humidity and heat British Airways flights from Gatwick coincide with tour start  walk up and down slopes and finish times. From Australia, we suggest afternoon-  negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites, arriving flights with Emirates or Qatar, connecting to onward which are often uneven and unstable Naples flights. Transfers between airport and hotel are  get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or included for all passengers booking their flights through boat unassisted, possibly with luggage Academy Travel. These may be group or individual transfers.  move your luggage a short distance if required Enquiries & bookings A note for older travellers If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, For further information and to secure a place on this tour it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. please contact Rebecca Fussell at Academy Travel on You will have to miss several activities and will not get the full 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until after [email protected] you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs Weather on Tour of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings It’s late Autumn, but the weather is still mild, around 18 if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too demanding degrees. There is the possibility of rain on a few days. for you and/or if local conditions mean we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition.

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