Andante Top 5 Tours in 2017 Brochure by Specialist Journeys

our top 5

t ours 2017

arranged by andante travelsÂ

expert-led archaeological and cultural tours since 1985

“A fantastic voyage to Ancient Rome, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Every detail of the trip was perfect. From the hotels, to the food, to the schedule and ‘breaks’, it was the best vacation I have ever taken.” Meet the Romans, 2016

ROMAN LUSITANIA Explore prehistoric and medieval sites in Spain and Portugal......... p.6 3

IRAN Uncover a land of mystery and Persian majesty.................. p.8

CLASSICAL SICILY From columns to cathedrals; fine mosaics to palatial villas.. p.10

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WELCOME

Discover the best of the ancient world in 2017 Dear Traveller, With more than 30 years’ experience in archaeological travel, we know you want more than just a holiday — you want an experience to remember. We offer more archaeological tours, to a greater choice of destinations, than any other company in the world. Each of our tours is conceived, planned and led by our Expert Guide Lecturers, providing eye-opening, erudite and entertaining glimpses into the past. The tours contained in this brochure offer the perfect first (or second, or third) taste of the Andante experience. Discover Pompeii and Herculaneum’s frozen ancient landscapes and tour the opulent mosaic-filled rooms at

Sicily’s Piazza Armerina. Discover the ‘Pompeii of the Aegean’ — Akrotiri, in Santorini — and explore Darius the Great’s magnificent Persepolis in Iran. Discover glorious Roman monuments and amazing feats of engineering in Roman Spain and Portugal, and so much more... You can book any holiday in this brochure online, by email, or over the phone. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our staff are on hand Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, and will be happy to help. All the best for happy travels!

Ian Finlay, Director Andante Travels

CRETE & SANTORINI Elegant sites, wildflowers, expert guides and more ............ p.12

POMPEII Discover one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites..p.14

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Travelling with Andante We offer expert-led tours which often include special access. With a professional Tour Manager, hand-picked hotels, good food and good company...

ON EVERY TOUR YOU CAN EXPECT... Expert Guide Lecturer

Our tours are convivial, fun and very civilised escapes exploring the greatest treasures of the ancient world...

Professional Tour Manager

They are conceived, planned and led by articulate experts: archaeologists, historians, writers and broadcasters. Drawing on the ancient sites we visit, our Guide Lecturers are able to build up a vivid picture of life in the past with knowledge, good humour and skill.

Hand-picked hotels

Small group - 16-25 guests Good local food and wine Special Access

Hotels We hand-pick the hotels you stay in. The vast majority are 4*, but the occasional excellent 3* or 5* could appear along the way. Some of our favourites can be found in: Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania 7 nights in a charming medieval village with beautiful panoramic views over wooded hills to the sea beyond... Crete & Santorini 5 nights in a boutique hotel set above the old city harbour of Heraklion, with dramatic views of the Venetian fortress

SINGLE TRAVELLERS We welcome single travellers on all our holidays and keep single supplements to an absolute minimum. Our groups include people of all ages, from all walks of life.

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Very Satisfied Customers We ask travellers to tell us what they thought about all our tours — feedback helps us refine and improve our programmes year after year. We love to hear from our guests, and are often overwhelmed by the words they share. Here’s how one of our guests described their first trip to Pompeii with us:

“Lavish attentions of the hotel, knowledgeable, friendly and engaged Lecturer, excellent food and choice of dining locations, a tireless Tour Manager and, of course, the archaeological sites themselves.”

“The tour exceeded expectations! Tony O’Connor is by far the best guide I have ever come across in 55 years of travel... His breadth and depth of knowledge is nothing short of remarkable.”

Food Most of our tours include all meals, and we enjoy many spectacularly special ones: from authentic Italian cuisine served ‘al fresco’; to picnics in the flower-strewn hills of Sicily. We know that great food really adds to your holiday experience. Wherever possible, we try to sample local cuisine and eat in good local restaurants wherever we can. You are joined at dinner by your Guide Lecturer and Tour Manager, who will also be happy to suggest the best places to eat when we do have independent meals.

“It was fantastic to have so many varied lunches provided. I also enjoyed the special 3* Michelin dinner experience at La Pergola.”

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ITINER ARY Day One We fly to Lisbon and transfer to our hotel. Day Two We travel by ferry to the site of Tróia, the largest fish-sauce production centre known from the Roman world. We spend the afternoon exploring Évora, a former Roman town, and now a World Heritage Site. In the late Medieval period was a favourite haunt of Portuguese monarchs. Statue of Hernan Cortes, Mexico conqueror, Medellin, Spain.

GUIDE LECTURER

Dr Andrew Fear is Lecturer in Classics at the University of Manchester. He has a particular passion for the history of the Western Empire in what is now Spain and Portugal; and is also deeply interested in the later Roman Empire in this region. A little closer to home, Andy has authored books on the Roman archaeology of Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Day Three We have a specially arranged visit of the palatial remains at the major Roman Villa of Pisões, usually closed to the public. We also see São Cucufate, a Roman villa that was rebuilt on a grand scale. We also visit Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, the largest prehistoric burial chamber in the Iberian peninsula. Day Four Today, we travel to the border town of Badajoz, a town with a Moorish past, famously besieged by the British in 1812 during the Peninsular War. We visit the Alcazaba Museum, with its collection of warrior stelae. Day Five We spend a full day exploring Roman Mérida, a simple Spanish provincial town still dominated by the remains of its Roman past. It was important

WHAT’S INCLUDED Flights - Return flights from London to Lisbon Tour Manager Local Travel - Private a/c coach Meals - All meals included dinners with wine Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme; tips included

Hotels 1 night in a polished, modern hotel based in a converted castle in Palmela 2 nights in an upscale hotel, surrounded by gardens, in Évora’s historic centre 4 nights in a former 18th century convent in lively Mérida

throughout the Roman period and beyond. The Roman remains are outstanding, including the bridge over the River Guadiana, a large amphitheatre, a splendid theatre, a fine circus and the ‘Temple of Diana’. At the Archaeological Museum we view fine displays of objects, including mosaics. Day Six We briefly leave the Romans behind to visit the castle at Medellín, the birthplace of Hernan Cortés. This afternoon we return to Mérida and our Roman exploration, marvelling at the Roman dam of La Proserpina. Day Seven Today, we visit the old town of Cáceres, a perfectly preserved example of a Medieval town. We visit the Archaeological Museum and tour the town itself. Day Eight We visit the huge arches of the aqueduct known as Los Milagros, which brought water from the dam to the city. We continue to Lisbon via Elvas; and have a chance to see another aqueduct before our flight home.

Hillside view from Medelin.

DATES AND PRICES Sun 16th - Sun 23rd Apr 2017 Sun 3rd - Sun 10th Sep 2017 Guide Lecturer: Dr Andrew Fear 8 days Tour Cost: £2,250 (sgl supp £290; without flights £1,995)

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érida, the capital of Roman Lusitania, was founded in 25BC by the victorious army of Emperor Augustus. During its imperial glory days, a large number of grand Roman monuments were erected; many, including the Forum, triumphal arch and amphitheatre, dominate the town to this day. The superb evidence of the impact of Rome here is the main focus of our programme, but it is enhanced by some spectacular prehistoric and Medieval sites along the way. Our journey takes us from the coast at Lisbon through beautiful countryside, where we see prehistoric tombs, Roman towns, and the sites of the 19th century Peninsular War.

roman lusitania

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Discover glorious Roman monuments and amazing feats of engineering

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Enjoy a unique programme, taking in prehistoric and medieval sites

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Travel with Roman expert and Hispanophile Dr Andrew Fear

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com

GUIDE LECTURERS Michael Roaf is a leading specialist in the archaeology of Iran, Iraq and the Middle East from Neolithic to Islamic times. He is retired from the Professorship for Near Eastern Archaeology at the University of Munich. He has excavated and travelled widely in Iran, Bahrain, Syria and Turkey. Francois Desset is an archaeologist and specialist in Near Eastern Archaeology. He obtained his PhD from the Sorbonne. He is committed to the archaeological project of the Halil Rud valley, and currently works at Tehran University on Bronze Age Iran. Carolyn Perry is an archaeologist, lecturer and museum consultant. She was formerly Education Officer of the British Museum’s Arab World programme; and is now Director of the MBI Al Jaber Foundation and Chair of the British Foundation for the Study of Arabia.

ITINER ARY Day One & Two We fly from London to Shiraz and transfer by coach to our hotel. After our arrival on Day Two we take a leisurely stroll around Shiraz, visiting the Naranjestan Palace, the Rose Mosque and the Saadi tomb. Day Three We begin our day sightseeing in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Persepolis. We also explore Nagsh-e Rostam, the site of four fine Sassanid rock reliefs. We continue to Pasargadae, and the tomb of Cyrus the Great. Day Four We travel to Firuzabad to explore a slightly later Persian Empire. We visit the Sassanid palaces; Qaleh-i Dukhtar Palace, Ardeshir Palace and the Gur tower. Day Five We spend all day in Shiraz, visiting Eram Garden, the tomb of Hafez, Karim Khan castle, and Vakil mosque. Day Six We make our way to Kerman, an all-day trip, stopping at the Sassanid Persian palaces at Sarvestan en-route. Day Seven We journey to Mahan to see the Shrine of Nur al-Din Nimatullah. We return to Kerman to explore Gonbad-iJabalijeh, the Friday Mosque and Ganjali Khan Square. Day Eight & Nine We spend two days in the desert town of Yazd, one of the

WHAT’S INCLUDED Flights - Scheduled flights London to Shiraz via Istanbul; Tehran Imam to London via Istanbul Tour Manager Local Travel - Private a/c coach; boat Meals - All meals included Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme; tips included

Hotels 5 nights in a brand new hotel in Shiraz 2 nights in a modern hotel in Kerman, 2 nights in the desert city of Yazd 4 nights in a beautiful centuries-old hotel in historic Isfahan 3 nights in a palatial hotel in Tehran

best examples of traditional Iranian desert architecture. We visit the main Zoroastrian fire temple, wander through the Towers of Silence, and visit Bagh-e Dolat Abad Garden. Day Ten We travel to Esfahan, via Maybod and its citadel, and Na’in. Here, we visit the Jameh Mosque, built in the 9th century. Day Eleven, Twelve & Thirteen We spend three full days in Esfahan, home to some of the finest Islamic architecture in the world. We start by visiting Maidan-e-Naghsh-e Jahan, lined with the Imam Mosque, and the six-storey Kakh-e Ali Qapu Palace. We walk along the glorious bridges across the Zayanderood River; and walk through the Armenian Quarter New Julfa. , Day Fourteen We depart Esfahan for Tehran, Iran’s modern capital, via Natanz and Kashan, famous for its Fin Garden. Day Fifteen We visit Tehran’s National Museum with its collection of artefacts dating back through Persian history. This afternoon, we also visit the incredible Golestan Palace. Day Sixteen During our last day in Tehran, we visit the Carpet Museum, Reza Abbasi Museum, and Niavaran Palace. Day Seventeen We fly home today.

DATES AND PRICES Thu 6th - Sat 22nd Apr, 2017 Thu 14th - Sat 30th Sep, 2017 Thu 12th - Sat 28th Oct, 2017 17 days Tour cost: £4,845 (sgl supp £695; without flights £4,245)

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land of mystery and unparalleled hospitality, Iran is rich in antiquities. The country is intricately decorated, whilst its monumental legacy bears witness to the sweep of its epic history. We will explore the Persian Kingdom, one of the greatest powers of the ancient world, and walk in the footsteps of Cyrus the Great, Darius, and Xerxes at their palaces. In Shiraz and Esfahan we view splendid Islamic architecture to rival the great cities of the Silk Road. We are delighted to be able to return to Iran, and very lucky to have the unparalleled expertise of our Guide Lecturers to introduce the sweep of Persian history and archaeology. This tour sold out fast in 2016 don’t miss your chance to see this great land!

iran | kings, shahs and gardens

kings, shahs and gardens

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Visit ancient Persian majesty at Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rustam, and Pasargadae, and trace the mysterious Zoroastrians

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Uncover old-style Iranian hammams, stunning architecture, and the finest Persian Garden in the world

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Enjoy special lectures by archaeologists, conservators and researchers

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com

GUIDE LECTURERS Dr Denise Allen is a specialist in Roman glass, with over 100 publications related to her name. She has excavated all over the UK.

Oliver Gilkes is an experienced archaeologist. He also worked at the British School at Rome for many years.

Dr Eireann Marshall is a Research Associate and Associate Lecturer with the Open University.

Tony O’Connor is a specialist in the Roman Empire and has excavated widely across Britain, Europe and North Africa.

John Shepherd is Andante’s Director of Archaeology. He is an archaeologist who has worked extensively across Europe.

ITINER ARY Day One We fly to Palermo. Day Two Our journey begins with the unfinished Doric temple at Segesta, set amongst rolling hills. We continue to the magnificent Norman cathedral and abbey. Day Three We spend all day in Palermo. We have a specially arranged early evening visit to the Cappella Palatina. We also visit the Archaeological Museum, the Church of La Martorana, and Palermo Cathedral. Day Four We take a boat across the salt lagoon to the island stronghold of Motya, bought and excavated by a family whose fortune was based on Marsala wine. We continue to the port town of Marsala. Day Five In Marsala we see the remains of a Punic warship, sunk on its maiden voyage. We continue to the ancient quarries at Cave di Cusa, from which came the stone for the temples at Selinuntee. We head to the site of Selinunte, strewn with wild flowers.

Day Eight We spend all day at the ancient city of Syracuse. We see the exquisite artefacts in the Archaeological Museum; and visit the ancient quarries, where many prisoners of the Peloponnesian War died. Day Nine Free time to explore lovely Baroque Ortygia. We then drive south to see Noto and its Sicilian Baroque Cathedral, and the late Roman villa at Tellaro with its amazing mosaics. Day Ten Our final full day is spent at Euryalus fort, constructed by Dionysius the Elder, and one of the few Greek fortifications surviving from this date. We also explore the prehistoric tombs at Pantalica. Day Eleven Before we return home, we have some free time in Syracuse.

Day Six We spend all day among the magnificent Greek temples of Agrigento, imposingly ranked along the southern ridge of the ancient city, built to impress all those approaching. Day Seven We start the day in opulent

Startlingly contemporary-looking mosaic at Piazza Armerina

DATES AND PRICES

WHAT’S INCLUDED Flights - Scheduled flights London to Palermo; Catania to London Tour Manager Local Travel - Private a/c coach Meals - All meals included – dinners with wine Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme; tips included

Roman style, at the palatial Roman villa with exceptionally fine mosaics at Piazza Armerina. We continue to the ancient settlement of Morgantina.

Hotels 3 nights in Palermo, staying in an elegantly restored palazzo, 1 night in the centre of Marsala, 2 nights in a hotel overlooking the temples in Agrigento, 4 nights in elegant minimalistic hotel Ortygia, close to the Duomo

Thu 30th Mar - Sun 9th Apr, 2017 Thu 20th - Sun 30th Apr, 2017 Thu 11th - Sun 21st May, 2017 Thu 18th - Sun 28th May, 2017 Thu 14th - Sun 24th Sep, 2017 Thu 28th Sep - Sun 8th Oct, 2017 Thu 5th - Sun 15th Oct, 2017 11 days Tour Cost : £2,675 (sgl supp £330; without flights £2,325)

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he meeting point between Africa and Europe, East and West — there’s so much more to the Sicily you think you know. Go far beyond the ordinary, uncover the other side of one of Europe’s most alluring destinations... The classically beautiful heart of the Mediterranean has been praised by poets and become the prize of countless cultures – Phoenician, Roman, Greek and more. It’s not hard to see why— Discover a sun-soaked island, home to wonderfully preserved Greek temples, Roman villas and Norman cathedrals, many filled with glorious mosaics. Its beautiful sea, volcano and mountain scenery was once the site of fierce ancient battles; but was also a creative centre of philosophy, art and learning.

classical sicily

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Island at the centre of the Mediterranean, a multicultural nucleus packed with spectacular monuments

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Exceptionally fine mosaics at Piazza Armerina, a palatial Roman villa

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From columns to cathedrals — explore honey-coloured Greek temples and gleaming gold-in-glass Norman mosaics

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ITINER ARY Day One We arrive in Santorini.

Ancient pots at the Heraklion museum.

GUIDE LECTURERS Dr Christina Hatzimichael Whitley is Tutor in Greek Archaeology at the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning (LEARN). She specialises in Minoan Crete and is co-director of the Praisos Survey and Excavation Project (Crete). She is Greek, but lives with her family in Cardiff.

Dr Sandy MacGillivray is an archaeologist specialising in the Aegean Bronze Age, and the civilisations of Crete, the Cyclades and mainland Greece during this period. He has excavated at Sparta and Paros in Greece, and at Knossos on Crete, and he co-directed excavations at Palaikastro.

Day Two We begin our first full day on the lovely island of Santorini at the Prehistoric Museum in Fira, which houses the wall-paintings from the Minoan mansion at Akrotiri. We then continue to the site itself. Destroyed by a catastrophic volcanic eruption in 1500BC, the city is reminiscent of Pompeii, with houses preserved up to three storeys high. Day Three We visit the ancient city of Thera, built 360m above sea level. The site has been under excavation since 1904, and findings from the city have contributed immensely to our understanding of Minoan culture and history. In the afternoon we visit Panagia Episkopi. We travel by catamaran to Heraklion, where we arrive in time for dinner. Day Four We visit the Bronze Age palace site of Knossos, a pivotal site of Bronze Age Greece. Excavations have been overseen by the British School at Athens for many years. The Curator of the British School of Athens will offer a privileged introduction to the school’s latest findings.

Day Six Our day begins with a special visit to the palace of Malia, a huge Minoan complex. We visit the wellpreserved Minoan town of Gournia on the northern coast. The majority of the houses are on the east slope, built up against each other along paved and stepped streets. This afternoon, you have the option of a boat trip to the haunting and evocative island of Spinalonga, site of a former leper colony. Day Seven We travel by fishing boat to the tiny island of Mochlos, once a peninsula, on which stood an important Minoan town. We walk up to the beautifully situated ruins of Chamaizi, most famous for a Middle Minoan building located on the summit of the hill. We enjoy lunch in a seaside taverna. Day Eight We return home today.

We continue to the Minoan house at Vathypetro with its elaborate shrine and well-preserved wine press. We return to Heraklion and the Heraklion Museum, with its brightly-coloured wall paintings. Day Five We enjoy a morning at the important Graeco-Roman site of Gortyn. We return to the Minoan era at

View from Oia over the caldera at Santorini.

DATES AND PRICES

WHAT’S INCLUDED Flights - Scheduled flights London to Santorini; Heraklion to London Tour Manager Local Travel - Private a/c coach Meals - All meals included - dinners with wine Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme; tips included

the elegant ‘palace’ at Phaistos, which dominates the fertile plain of the Mesara. We continue to Ayia Triadha, a grand but ruinous Bronze Age villa. Lavish finds include a cache of copper ingots, bronze figurines and three elaboratelycarved stone vessels.

Hotels 2 nights in a hotel on the beautiful Cycladic island of Santorini 5 nights in a boutique hotel set above the old city harbour of Heraklion, with dramatic views of the former Venetian fortress

Tue 18th - Tue 25th Apr, 2017 Tue 9th - Tue 16th May, 2017 Tue 12th - Tue 19th Sep, 2017 Tue 26th Sep - Tue 3rd Oct, 2017 Tue 10th - Tue 17th Oct, 2017 8 days Tour cost : £2,450 (sgl supp £230; without flights £2,150)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com

crete & santorini

he Minoans are best known for their huge labyrinthine ‘palaces’ — the greatest of which, at Knossos, was supposedly where Theseus slew the Minotaur. Join us and discover sites of unique charm...

Enjoy special access to the Minoan palace complex of Malia, with its great courtyards, crypts and circular granaries

Knossos and all of the Minoan sites we visit possess an authentic elegance, demonstrated in a lively and free artistic expression, and an obvious delight in realistic decoration. We begin our journey on the beautiful, tiny island of Santorini — the ‘Pompeii of the Aegean’ — buried suddenly during the cataclysmic eruption of Thera, which signalled the ‘beginning of the end’ of Minoan civilisation. In Crete we continue to trace the story of the Minoans, whose writing, organisation and ambition had a profound influence on the development of Ancient Greece, and thus the Western World.

Wander the recently reopened city of Akrotiri, the ‘Pompeii of the Aegean’ — buried and preserved by the eruption of 1500 BC

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Elegant sites, wild-flowers, expert guides and the warm waters of the Mediterranean...

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GUIDE LECTURERS

ITINER ARY

Denise Allen is a specialist in Roman glass. She has excavated all over the UK, including at Stonehenge. Christian Biggi is the manager of the Herculaneum Centre, at the British School of Rome. Diana Blumberg is an archaeological scientist. She has worked on field schools in Pompeii. Dr Sophy Downes is a historian who has worked and published on many classical sites in Italy. Dr Neil Faulkner FSA is a Research Fellow at Bristol University. He is also a lecturer, writer and broadcaster. Oliver Gilkes is an experienced archaeologist, and worked at the British School at Rome for many years. Tony King lectures in archaeology at the University of Winchester. He has led numerous tours to Pompeii for Andante. Dr Eireann Marshall grew up in Italy, and specialises in Classical Civilisation in Italy. John Shepherd is an archaeologist who has excavated in Italy & the UK. He is a former Curator at the Museum of London. Tony Wilmott FSA is an archaeologist, specialising in the Roman and Medieval periods.

Day One We arrive in Naples. Day Two We explore the temples, site and museum at Paestum. Long before the Romans came, this was a thriving city, part of the Ancient Greek Empire from the 6th century BC. We wander among the three mighty temples, some of the best-preserved anywhere in the Greek world. After lunch, we visit the unique painted ‘Tomb of the Diver’ dated to around 480 BC. Day Three We devote a whole day to Pompeii - visiting some of the best-preserved buildings, as well as an amphitheatre, theatre, forum, bathhouses, bars and brothels. Many of our Guide Lecturers have excavated here and will introduce the very latest research, shedding light on this extraordinary site and thus, the whole Roman world. Day Four Today we marvel at the exceptional collections of artefacts at the National Archaeological Museum at Naples. After lunch we continue to Pozzuoli to see one of the best-preserved amphitheatres in the world. We explore the passageways where gladiators would once have awaited their fate...

Day Six We visit the town of Herculaneum, which perfectly complements a visit to Pompeii. The town was buried to a much greater depth than Pompeii. Here, you wander streets with almost complete Roman houses rising on either side, preserved up to their rooftops in some cases! After lunch we visit another ‘hidden gem’ of the Bay of Naples, the modest farmhouse that has been discovered at Boscoreale. Day Seven We ascend to the great volcanic crater of Vesuvius. We are rewarded with amazing views both down into the crater and out across the Bay of Naples, putting everything we have seen during the week into perspective. We spend the afternoon at the villa of Oplontis; buried and preserved, the villa is a fitting end to our tour. Day Eight We return home this morning.

We end the day with special access to the cavernous Piscina Mirabilis at Misenum - usually closed to the public. This gigantic cistern stored water for the Roman fleet and fed the towns of the Bay of Naples. Day Five We go off the beaten track to the villas of Stabiae, an exclusive Roman resort for the very wealthy. The vast Villa San Marco is one of the most opulent along this coast, and remains very impressive

Porta Nocera, near the ‘street of the tombs’ where the great and good of Pompeii were buried.

PRICES

WHAT’S INCLUDED Flights - Scheduled flights from London to Naples Tour Manager Local Travel - Private a/c coach Meals - All meals included – dinners with wine – except lunch at Pompeii on Day Three Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme; tips included

in its scale. The Villa Ariadne gives wonderful views over the Bay of Naples and is remarkably little-visited. Enjoy free time this afternoon to return to Pompeii or relax.

Hotels 7 nights in a lovely, characterful family-run hotel set in the wooded hills above Cava dei Tirreni, a charming medieval village. The hotel, having opened its doors in 1821, is a Campania institution, and its unspoilt gardens and terraces offer wonderful panoramic views to the sea.

8 days Throughout 2017 : £1,895 (sgl supp £185; without flights £1,695)

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com

n AD 79, Mount Vesuvius would break its centuries-long silence, erupting in spectacular fashion — devastating the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum and their inhabitants, but capturing the imagination of visitors forever more... Nowhere in the world could give a deeper insight into Roman life than the dramatic seaside towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Travelling alongside an expert guide lecturer, you can lose yourself in the past, walking the ancient streets in the footsteps of gladiators, slaves, senators and citizens who now lie motionless, preserved forever at the moment of disaster. But as much as Pompeii is this tour’s crowning glory, there is so much more to discover — marvel at the National Archaeological Museum’s exceptional artefacts, explore the little-visited villa of Stabiae, enjoy special access to the cavernous Piscina Mirabilis, and even ascend the mighty Vesuvius itself...

pompeii, herculaneum & classical campania

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Access to new, rarely-visited villas in Pompeii which have only recently opened

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Led by expert guides – all specialists in Roman Archaeology or Ancient History

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Special access to the Piscina Mirabilis, the giant Roman cistern which provided water to the cities of the Bay of Naples

Call: 01722 713800 | email: tours@andantetravels.com

NEW FOR 2017 TOURS

KAZAKHSTAN

Take a varied and unique journey passing through ancient lands and wild steppes. 11th - 24th May, 2017 | £3,775 inc. flights

CYCLADES BY GULET

Take a meandering route around the Cyclades and experience a different side to the islands. September & October 2017 | £3,995 inc. flights

PHOENICIANS IN SPAIN

From Phoenician towns to Bronze Age Ibiza and sanctuaries in the Bay of Cádiz, tour ancient Andalucia. May & October, 2017 | £2,795 inc. flights

CAMBODIA & LAOS

Discover a thrilling balance of mysterious cities, deep forests, and colonial grandeur. 7th - 19th November, 2017 | £4,195 inc. flights

ROMANS ON THE RHÔNE

Rolling green hills, Gallo-Roman and Celtic antiquity and important monasteries of the Middle Ages. 12th - 19th June, 2017 | £2,395 inc. flights

THE WESTERN CAPE

Explore the rich history of the Mother City - from prehistoric rock art to the early colonisation. 28th Nov - 7th Dec, 2017 | £4,195 inc. flights

andante travels - the clock tower, unit 4 oakridge office park, southampton road, whaddon, salisbury, sp5 3ht Call 01722 713800 -

tours@andantetravels.co.uk - www.andantetravels.co.uk