It has been a few weeks since our holiday to Italy, and our next holiday is just around the corner. I have though managed to process and reduce the number of photographs. Well some might not agree and they are now ready to view.
We had a fabulous time with Andante, and our guides were fabulous company.
Our first was a visit to Paestum where there were three fantastic Doric temples. After lunch a visit to the museum where we saw the diving man. Then a visit to the local buffalo herd.
Our third day was a tour of Pompeii where we spent the whole day. Highlights were the Villa of Mysteries, the special entry to restoration area and of course the brothel.
On day 4 we visited the Naples National Archaeological Museum. Here many of the items from Pompeii and Herculaneum were on display.
The afternoon of Day 4 saw us in Pozzuoli to see one of the largest and best preserved amphitheaters in the world.
The morning of Day 5 saw us in the Aragonese Castle Museum. Good views of the bay from here
Before lunch on Day 5, we visited the Roman batching complex at Baia. Starting at the top working down and then out of the bottom for lunch. Amazing to see the use of cement and concrete, and how these domes have lasted almost 2000 years.
On ther afternoon of day 5 we went to Cumae. Amazing tunnels used for transport. Puts cross rail to shame.
The morning of day 6 was another great day visiting Herculaneum. The skeletons in the boat sheds are haunting
Day 6 after a good lunch we visited Boscoreeale a modest farm house called Villa Regina. Onsite was a museum displaying environmental evidence from the sites destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79
The last full day we walked up Vesuvius, or the last part. The views were not great with heavy haze. What I though was Pompeii on closed examination turned out to be a quarry.
The final afternoon, after lunch and wine saw us a villa Oplontis in a middle of a housing estate. Amazing preserved wall paintings
The Andante tour end, our final meal together in the Hotel Scapolatiello.
