- Pompeii
Start time: 09:00
Duration: 11h
Audio guide: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish
Enjoy an air-conditioned coach ride (with free WiFi) to one of history's most fascinating sites. Once you arrive, you'll get skip-the-line access to this fascinating ancient city preserved by the lava from Mt. Vesuvius. After a day spent wandering through the eerily well-preserved remains, you'll board your bus again and be shuttled in air-conditioned comfort back to Rome.
Imagine being able to go back in time and explore a city in the Roman empire; this is what this day trip offers. From the streets to the buildings to the everyday household objects - Pompeii is a glimpse into what life was really like almost 2,000 years ago. The preservation of Pompeii has also given the world a remarkable record of Roman paintings. Without Pompeii there would be virtually no record of the Roman art style.
The site is massive (64 hectares), and full of everything that made up a Roman city. Of course Pompeii has an amphitheater - which could seat around 20,000 people. Plus the villas of the rich, the more modest houses of the peasants - and even the brothels and bars at the edge of the city. If you're interested in ancient Roman religion, make sure to visit the Temple of Apollo. Set on a high podium with imposing steps, columns and a white marble altar it may inspire you to pay tribute to the sun, which will in all likelihood be beating down as you comb the city.
At the end of the day you'll be able to enjoy some much-deserved air conditioning as you head back to Rome. Take advantage of that WiFi and start posting your pics online as the bus takes you on a road that, like all others, leads back to Rome.