Herculaneum Archeological guided Tour

While Herculaneum is considerably less famous than its neighbour Pompeii, it is just as fascinating from a tourist perspective. Situated at the foot of Mount Vesuvius and just 4 miles south of Naples, this Roman town was once a bustling seaside resort and trading port town that was home to some 4000 rather wealthy inhabitants. The town is arranged with a Centuration whereby the streets are laid out in a grid pattern with North-South and East-West axes.

The fate of Herculaneum was similar to that of Pompeii – destroyed in large areas by the earthquake of AD62, it was undergoing a period of reconstruction when Mt Vesuvius erupted in AD79 and in doing so, covered the entire town in a thick layer of mud and pyroclastic material. The difference in this material to the lapili which enveloped Pompeii essentially fossilised the town. This meant that not just the buildings were well preserved, but even items that were much more delicate, such as clothing and furniture were held intact. Sadly, it is believed that many of the inhabitants of the town perished as they tried to escape. Heading for the boats at the shoreline, they would have been suffocated by the poisonous gases emitted by the volcano or been overcome by the tremendous heat from the clouds which surged down from the top of the volcano.

The town of Resina unknowingly grew on the site of Herculaneum, and it wasn't until the early 18th century that it was re-discovered. Emanuel Maurice from Lorena, Prince of Elboeuf and commander of the Austria army, whose villa had been built near the harbour of Portici, was informed of the discovery and so he funded an excavation project. Then in 1738, King Charles III of Bourbon, a man of great culture and with a love of archaeology, instigated more systematic excavations of the site. However, the excavation process was slow and intermittent until serious archaeological work began in 1927 under the stewardship of Amedeo Mauri who directed all work there until 1958. However, as much of the ancient site lies buried beneath the modern town of Ercolano, there remains parts yet to be uncovered. So far, the excavated area comprises 5 hectares compared with the 40 hectares at Pompeii. One can see two decumani (streets on the North-South axis) and three cardines (streets running East to West), but it can be assumed that there are at least two more cardines and one decumanus to be uncovered.

But what makes Herculaneum arguably more interesting to visit than other sites is its compactness and the fact that you can see such a range of buildings and ephemera that are so remarkably well preserved, owing to the particular conditions of the town's burial which acted as a better defence against thieves and the atmospheric agents. Not only were wooden objects preserved, but also items of food, clothing and even some scrolls which once adorned the shelves of the library at the Villa of the Papyri – a building which today is one of the true treasures of Herculaneum as it is the only one of its type to survive from that time.

Among other highlights, you should visit the Roman baths in which one can see the original wood charred during the disaster, and the House of Deer (Casa dei Cervi) which was named after the statues of deer being assailed by dogs in the courtyard.

As you wander through the streets of Herculaneum, you are not only offered a unique glimpse into the private lives of the Romans, but you can also sense the panic that must have seized its inhabitants when the volcano erupted.

HERCULANEUM

INFO

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Also called the “sister” of Pompeii this enchanting archaeological site is even better preserved than Pompeii. Second stories of the building, carbonized objects and extraordinary mosaics and frescos will be admired.

Tour Price: 90 €/hour (minimum 2 hours); 60€ every extra hour.

Tour type: Archaeology and History tour; Private tour; Walking tour.

Duration: 2 - 3 hours

Running days: Every day

Maximum travelers: 10 (a small group guarantees a service of better quality) Tours for larger groups can be arranged on demand.

Main visited places: Northern Cardo (road oriented north-south), the House of the Skeleton, Thermopolium (restaurant food), Thermal Baths, Temple of Augustali, House of the Black Saloon, House of Neptune and Amphitrite, the Samnite House, the House of the Wooden Screen, the Bakery, the Gym, the Home of the Telefo, the Marina gate, terrace of Marcus Nonius Balbus and the beach with skeletons of the victims.

Meet up location: the ticket office of Herculaneum

What’s not included: Entrance ticket (11 €); Transportation (It can be arranged with Mercedes Limousine, Mini Van or Bus; Hotel pick-up or drop-off)

Kid Friendly: Yes

Disable friendly: Yes

I can arrange an itinerary for people with reduced mobility.

GALLERY

Tips

Wear comfortable shoes and in the summer do not forget to bring with you a hat, water,

and possibly a sunscreen

Warnings

It’s possible that some of the buildings mentioned in the descriptions of the tours are closed at the time of the visit (their opening is out of our organization, being at the discretion of the management of the excavations)

How to arrive

By train: On the Circumvesuviana Napoli-Sorrento, Napoli-Poggiomarino. 20 minutes from Naples and 45 minutes from Sorrento.

By car: From the Highway A3 Napoli /Salerno, exit Ercolano Scavi

Hour

November 1th to March 31th

every day from 8.30 am to 17.00 (last admission 15.30)

April 1th to October 31th

every day from 8.30 am to 19.00 (last admission 18.00)

Entrance fee

Full € 13.00

Free under 18 years*

(*)Reduced: for EU citizens aged between 18 and 24 years of age and for teachers of the European Union.

*The free tickets and reduced can be issued only upon presentation

of a valid identity document.

túra tárlatvezetés Pompeii екскурзии на Помпей вођене туре Помпеји visites guiades a Pompeia prohlídky Pompejí vodstva od Pompeja guidede ture i Pompeji opastettuja Pompeijin des visites guidées de Pompéi მართვადი ტურები pompeii ポンペイのガイド付きツアー turais threoraithe Pompeii leiðsögn um Pompei тури на Помпеја guidede turer pompei rondleidingen

شهر پمپی راهنما van Pompeii zwiedzanie Pompei ทัวร์เมืองปอมเปอี visitas guiadas de Pompéia tururi ghidate ale orașului Pompei Экскурсии Помпеи prehliadky Pompejí vodene oglede Pompejev visitas guiadas a Pompeya guidade turer i Pompeji Führungen von Pompeji Pompei'nin rehberli turlar Екскурсії Помпеї tárlatvezetés Pompei 폼페이 투어

udhëzues Pompei - Кіраўніцтва Пампеі - употреба Помпей - guia de Pompeia - Průvodce Pompeje - vodič Pompeji - aktiviteter i Pompeji - juhend Pompei - Guide de Pompéi - treoir Pompeii - fylgja Pompeii - водич Помпеја - gids pompeii - Podręcznik pompeii - guia de Pompéia - Ghidul Pompei - Руководство Помпеи- водич Помпеја - Sprievodca Pompeje - vodnik Pompeji - guía de Pompeya - Guide Pompeii - kılavuz pompeii - Керівництво Помпеї - útikönyv Pompeii - ガイドポンペイ - გიდის pompeii - 가이드 폼페이 (Pompeii) شهر پمپی تور

кіраўніцтва Пампеі - Помпей - guies Pompeia - příruček Pompeje - 指南庞贝 - 指南龐貝 - 가이드 폼페이 (Pompeii) - vodiči Pompeji - guider Pompeji - juhendid Pompei - gabay Pompeii - oppaita Pompeii - guides Pompéi - guías de Pompeia - canllawiau Pompeii - გიდები Pompeii - ガイドポンペイ- गाइड Pompeii - panduan Pompeii - handbækur Pompeii - ceļveži Pompejas - vadovai Pompeii - водичи Помпеја - gwidi Pompeii - guider Pompeii - gidsen Pompeii - راهنمای گر شهر پمپی Prowadnice Pompeii guias de Pompéia ghiduri Pompei Руководства Помпеи

водичи Помпеја príručiek Pompeje Vodila Pompeji guías Pompeya Guider Pompeji ปอมเปอีแนะนำ Führungen Pompeji kılavuzları Pompeii керівництва Помпеї útmutatók Pompeii

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