Guided tour of Ancient Herculaneum
The ancient city of Herculaneum, located in
present-day Ercolano, which
overlooks the Gulf of Naples, was a charming and pleasant resort
for wealthy patrician families.
According to historians it was probably
founded by the Osci during the 8th century BC. The city
was surely influenced by the Greeks of the nearby town of
Neapolis. Conquered by the Romans, it became a municipium
in A.D. 89 B.C. It was completely buried under a thick layer of
pyroclastic material during the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
In
Herculaneum many organic
objects are well preserved: wooden doors and windows,
shelves, papyrus rolls, waxed tablets, vegetable fibers,
clothing, cereals, legumes and fruits. The well
preserved charred boats, the wooden furniture, including a
rocking cradle, beds, sofas and a throne-like chair are simply marvelous.
Many objects of common use in terracotta or iron, surgical instruments, precious objects in bronze, silver or gold are also still intact. Recent excavations have brought to light fabulous golden bracelets and necklaces, cameos and precious stones.
The buried city, one of the richest in the Mediterranean area, is a glimpse of the luxurious life that took place in the Gulf of Naples in the years immediately preceding the eruption of 79.
The city that was built on it, Resina, continued the traditions of the previous town as early as the year
121 when Hadrian was emperor.
In
fact, Resina also became a
holiday city for the aristocracies of different eras so that
when, in the eighteenth century, the ancient town of Herculaneum rose from its ashes,
it found itself surrounded by the most beautiful villas and
sumptuous palaces of the so-called Golden Mile that
still today give prestige to the pleasant Vesuvian town.
*********
After an overview of the beautiful town from above, we will
delve into the details of the catastrophe that ended its
glorious days. Then the discovery and finally the rebirth of
the buried city.
During
the guided tour with a qualified tourist guide, we will walk
through the ancient streets of the city and we will see how
the sumptuous houses of the rich families were organized, with
their splendid gardens, or how modest were the houses of the poors. We will
listen to the history of the inhabitants of the time and we
will understand their way of life, their taste in furnishing
the beautiful houses where we will admire the frescoes that
still decorate the walls, the brightly colored mosaics, the
wooden doors, still well preserved, the remains of charred
furniture.
Along the streets, paved with lava stone which are still in
excellent condition, we will have the opportunity to visit
shops, spas, meeting places and it will seem like going back
in time. The city will gradually come to life and we will live
together the atmosphere of an enchanting and lovely city of
two thousand years.
WHAT IS THE COST OF THE GUIDED TOUR? 160 EUROS PER GROUP (MAX. 10 PAX + 5 EUROS EACH EXTRA PERSON)
HOW LONG DOES THE GUIDED TOUR LAST? 2
HOURS
WHAT DOES THE TOUR INCLUDE ?
* GUIDED TOUR WITH QUALIFIED GUIDE / ARCHAEOLOGIST
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR?
*
ENTRANCE TICKET TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF HERCULANEUM
OTHER GUIDED TOURS:
HERCULANEUM AND POMPEII |
HERCULANEUM AND OPLONTIS |
HERCULANUM AND THE NATIONAL ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF NAPLES |
HERCULANEUM AND RESINA |
HERCULANEUM WITH AN ARCHEOLOGUE |
HERCULANEUM GROUP TOUR |
|
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HERCULANUM AND VESUVIAN VILLAS |
HERCULANEUM AND STABIAE |
HERCULANEUM AND PAESTUM
|
HERCULANEUM AND NAPLES |
POMPEII WITH AN ARCHEOLOGUE |
HERCULANUM AND CHAMPS FLEGREI |
To book a guided tour of those fascinating places with a
licensed guide, do not hesitate to contact me at the following
e-mail address: belsannino@gmail.com
For more guided tours with me, please have a look at the
following page: Guided tours in Campania
I invite you to visit my other websites and groups I collaborate
with:
www.ercolanonline.it
http://mariasannino.com
www.qualifieditalianguides.com
www.napolimeguri.com
www.guiderome.com
www.eliteitalianguides.com
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2002-2023 Maria Sannino