The Bay of Naples

The ancient and imperial history of Naples and its glorious bay is so powerfully etched into the minds of travellers to the region that it often comes as a shock to remember that, after the fall of the Roman Empire, Naples was reborn and went on to establish itself as a major historic and cultural centre. After the Romans came the Byzantine influence, followed by the Normans, the Spanish and the Bourbons. With a fascinating history and a vibrant present, Naples is now a city determined to show off its unique charms to the full. Visits to the Roman sites along the coast are included, as is a wonderful day on the verdant island of Ischia.

ITINERARY

• DAY 1 - FLY TO NAPLES
  We travel to Naples and stay for six nights at the 4 star Grand Hotel Santa Lucia.

• DAY 2 - EXPLORING NAPLES
  We begin our visit with a panoramic sightseeing tour of the thronging, colourful streets of Naples. Each of the city’s neighbourhoods has its own distinctive flavour, with vastly contrasting worlds. We will visit Castel Nuovo which dominates theseafront and also the vast and impressive Palazzo Reale, where we will see the Museum of the Royal Apartments.

• DAY 3 - HERCULANEUM
  Today we go to Herculaneum, which contrasts in every way with Pompeii. Excavations began here in 1738 under the enlightened patronage of the Bourbon King Charles. Sunk in mud and perfectly preserved, Herculaneum is a mysterious and haunting place. We also visit the beautifully restored Villa Oplontis, once home to Poppaea, the second wife of the Emperor Nero.

• DAY 4 - CARAVAGGIO
  We will see several works by Caravaggio today – ‘The Seven Acts of Mercy’ at the Pio Monte della Misericordia and ‘The Martyrdom of St. Ursula’. We will visit the glorious and richly decorated interiors of the Cathedral of San Gennaro, and end the decorated interiors of the Cathedral of San Gennaro, and end the day in the Capodimonte Museum. It was built by Charles VII of Naples and Sicily to house the matchless collection of paintings and ancient sculptures inherited from his mother. We will see a third Caravaggio here, ‘The Flagellation of Christ’.

• DAY 5 - ISCHIA
  We will cross the Bay of Naples to spend a day on the island of Ischia. Sir William Walton and his wife, Susana, lived on the island from the 1950s. Walton composed many works at their villa, La Mortella and Susana created the garden, which is acknowledged as one of the world’s most ravishing. We will tour the island, have lunch at a local restaurant and end the day with a guided tour of the garden at La Mortella.

• DAY 6 - POMPEII
  Back to the world of the Romans, we visit Pompeii, frozen in time for almost 1,700 years. We will see the clearly defined townscape with its houses, shops and amphitheatre, all in the shadow of Vesuvius. The afternoon is free.

• DAY 7 - NATIONAL ANTIQUITIES & FLIGHT HOME
  The morning is spent in the Museum of National Antiquities which is full of impressive finds from the ancient sites around the Bay of Naples. The rest of the day is free for independent exploration before we drive to the airport for the flight back to London.

Included Hotels

Grand Hotel Santa Lucia 4* Superior - Naples, Italy

A great base for exploring the historical heart of Naples, this fine Liberty style hotel was built in 1900 by the famous architect, Giovan Battista Comencini.