The explosive eruption of Vesuvius in AD79 devastated lives and livelihoods throughout the Bay of Naples. It also uniquely preserved for posterity the evidence of those lives - of ordinary people who were caught in an extraordinary disaster. Instead of being tidied away, worn out, disposed of, recycled or built over, their private possessions, dwellings and even their mortal remains have been arrested and preserved at one particular moment to provide a snapshot of life nearly 2000 years ago.

Pompeii and Herculaneum are the most famous of the towns destroyed in AD79, but the same fate befell many other busy towns lining the bay, as well as simple farms on the fertile slopes of the mountain and holiday villas of the rich and famous. Our tour provides the opportunity to see the best examples of Roman culture from a time when the relatively new Roman Empire was at its most vigorous, with a physically and socially mobile population expressing wealth and status in an astonishing variety of ways.

For three hundred years, since excavations began at the beginning of the 18th century, a picture of how people lived and died here has been slowly emerging. The story of these excavations is the history of archaeology itself, evolving from simply retrieving artefacts as curiosities and treasures, to minute study of organic remains, the pathology of bodies, and detailed surveys of buildings and their decorations.

Here is your chance to visit with someone who can explain the significance of what you see, drawing together all the evidence to bring the sites back to life. Greek colonists, native Samnites, the Romans (of course) through to Bourbon excavators and 2nd World War bombers - all have left their mark on these sites, which need to be explained. We combine expert guidance with enough information to explore independently - a well-thought-out itinerary which includes three free afternoons for more sites, or relaxation, shopping or just soaking up the atmosphere.