THE BAY OF NAPLES IN DEPTH

• Rediscover a wealth of Greek and Roman heritage at Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum together with an archaeologist, after extensive new excavations

• Explore Naples neighbourhood by neighbourhood, from the narrow alleys of Spaccanapoli and the street art of the Spanish Quarters to panoramic hillsides

• Survey the outstanding medieval art of Naples, including fine sculpture in San Giovanni a Carbonara and Giotto’s legacy in fresco painting

• Examine the collections of Naples’ Archaeological Museum: world-class bronze sculptures, paintings, the Alexander Mosaic and objects from daily life

• Focus on Caravaggio’s last days in Naples in context, including key works such as the Flagellation of Christ and Seven Acts of Mercy

TUESDAY 30 MARCH 2027 – ARRIVAL (D)

The tour begins at 4.00pm in our hotel lobby, when we meet tour leader Dr Mary Jane Cuyler to take an orientation stroll of our neighbourhood. Afterwards, there is a welcome drink before we continue to a neighbourhood restaurant to enjoy dinner. First of eleven nights in Naples.

WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH – PAESTUM & MAGNA GRECIA (B, L)

We travel south this morning for a full day exploring Paestum. Established ca 600BCE, the settlement was a Greek colony, part of so-called “Greater Greece” or Magna Grecia. Greece made a significant cultural impact on southern Italy and Sicily, which can still be heard in the language and experienced in everyday folk culture. Paestum’s temples are well preserved and were a true highlight of the Grand Tour, and the adjacent archaeological museum offers the rare opportunity to admire ancient Greek painting in the moving and iconic Tomb of the Diver. This part of the Campania region is also known for buffalo mozzarella, so we visit a buffalo farm for lunch and a tasting of the light and delicate cheese before we return to Naples.

THURSDAY 01 APRIL – LAYERS OF HISTORY (B)

This morning we meet our local guide for a walking tour of central Naples. Our visit concentrates on Spaccanapoli, one of the original axes of Greek “Neapolis”. Here we encounter Naples’ many surprises, including a colourful cloister made entirely of majolica tiles at Santa Chiara and a green oasis hidden in plain sight in a street bustling with presepe(Nativity scene) artisans. From imposing medieval churches such as San Domenico Maggiore and the startlingly lifelike achievements in marble of Giuseppe Sanmartino’s celebrated Veiled Christ, we descend below the surface to explore Naples’ fascinating underground, its history stretching from the ancient Greeks to WWII bomb shelters. Returning to the hotel, there is a talk by Dr Mary Jane Cuyler. The evening is then at leisure.

FRIDAY 02 APRIL – POMPEII & THE GREAT PROJECT (B)

We spend today entirely in Pompeii, one of our most comprehensive and revealing windows onto the ancient Roman world. Together with our specialist guide and Mary Jane, we move from Pompeii’s fascinating but crowded theatres, bath complexes and lavish townhouses to a focus on everyday life. Exploring the shops and bars, aqueducts and tombs allows us to see parts of this huge site that are less visited by others. After a simple lunch at leisure, we continue to the Villa of the Mysteries, a fascinating agricultural complex that lay just beyond ancient Pompeii’s walls. Its mills, farm storage and animal quarters were complemented by comfortable quarters for its wealthy owner. One room still preserves an extraordinary set of frescoes showing a mystery cult’s initiation rites; these give the villa its modern name. Returning to Naples, the evening is at leisure.

SATURDAY 03 APRIL – FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO THE MODERN (B)

After a talk by Mary Jane in our hotel, we travel to a district of Naples that lies beyond the radar of most visitors. San Giovanni a Carbonara is a fourteenth-century Gothic church that, in the Early Renaissance, enjoyed the patronage of Naples’ Angevin rulers. The intention was to turn it into a royal pantheon, and it consequently preserves fine sculpture that can still be enjoyed in situ. Afterwards, we continue to Santa Maria Donna Regina Vecchia, another institution associated with the Angevins. In the early fourteenth century, it was decorated with frescoes by one of Italy’s most significant artists, Pietro Cavallini. After time for lunch at leisure, we enjoy a visit to MADRE, a contemporary art museum whose permanent collection contains works by local artist Mimmo Paladino, as well as Lucio Fontana, Sol LeWitt and Andy Warhol. In the afternoon, we continue to the cathedral, which still preserves the miraculous liquefying relics of St Januarius or San Gennaro, before admiring Caravaggio’s Seven Acts of Mercy nearby. It was commissioned by a local charitable organisation and has never left their premises since its completion.

SUNDAY 04 APRIL – THE NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF NAPLES (B)

After Naples passed from Spanish to Bourbon rule, its significant ancient sites underwent the earliest period of their systematic excavation. Numerous treasures – monumental sculptures, masterpieces in mosaic, fresco paintings and collections of objects from daily life – began to make their way into a royal collection. This process continued over the centuries despite changes of government, and these priceless objects now comprise Naples’ superlative National Archaeological Museum. It is one of the country’s, if not Europe’s, most important archaeological collections. We spend a full day here together with our guide and with Mary Jane, allowing you to gain expert perspectives on the artworks and artefacts, but also to return after lunch at leisure to continue your explorations independently. Schedules permitting, we hope to attend a performance tonight at the Teatro San Carlo.

MONDAY 05 APRIL – HERCULANEUM (B)

This morning we travel to Herculaneum to meet our specialist guide and begin exploring this significant site. Once a pleasant seaside retreat for Rome’s great and good, the excavated area is smaller than at Pompeii but offers an intimate perspective on the recreations of a wealthy and educated class. Afterwards, we return to Naples by train, where the lunch and afternoon are at leisure.

TUESDAY 06 APRIL – CATACOMBS & CAPODIMONTE (B)

As we have seen, Naples’ underground sites preserve a wealth of information about its early settlement, and this includes the rise of Christianity. This can be seen most clearly at local underground burial sites, or catacombs, and we begin today with a tour of one of the most important: the catacombs of San Gennaro (St Januarius), patron saint of Naples. Unlike most ancient catacombs, these are spacious and almost airy, and may have pre-Christian origins as well. Afterwards, we continue to Capodimonte, a panoramic location for a favourite Bourbon hunting lodge. Today it houses a staggering painting collection. It is difficult to speak of highlights in a collection this extensive, but they include Caravaggio’s Flagellation of Christ, Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes and Titian’s Danaë, as we discover on our guided visit. Returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure.

WEDNESDAY 07 APRIL – CAPRI (B)

The physical beauty of the island of Capri has made it a holiday destination for the rich and powerful, from the time of the Roman emperors down to jetsetters like Jackie Onassis. Today we board a fast boat to the island. Our first destination is Anacapri, the small village where, in the nineteenth century, a Swedish doctor called Axel Munthe dedicated himself to his passion project: the Villa San Michele. Boasting an extraordinary panoramic position, it is also decorated with found objects ranging from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. After time for lunch at leisure, we continue to the town centre ofCapri, where there is the opportunity to browse the exclusive boutiques or take a scenic stroll of the extraordinary engineering feat of Via Krupp. We return to Naples by fast boat and return to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Please note that this excursion is dependent on the weather and an alternative program may be substituted on the day if necessary.

THURSDAY 08 APRIL – ON THE STREETS WITH CARAVAGGIO (B)

Caravaggio spent two key periods in Naples – firstly while avoiding a Roman murder charge, and then again in his final artistic period, before his death during an attempted return to Rome. While in Naples, Caravaggio undertook some of the most important, best paid and celebrated works of his career, and made some significant changes to his style. After a talk by Mary Jane in our hotel, we meet our guide to admire Caravaggio’s Martyrdom of St Ursula. The last work that the painter completed, it is now displayed in one of Naples’ major historic banks. Afterwards, we take a guidedwalking tour of the Quartieri Spagnoli, or Spanish Quarters, a seventeenth-century district developed by Naples’ Baroque rulers. In Caravaggio’s time, it was a neighbourhood of taverns, shops and bassi (tenements) and the Quartieri still retain much of this popular flavour. Today’s program concludes with an optional visit to the Certosa di San Martino, a large former monastery with a breathtaking view over the Bay of Naples – and an idiosyncratic collection that includes excellent examples of historic presepi or Nativity scenes. Returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure.

FRIDAY 09 APRIL – GLADIATORS IN CAPUA & SANT’ANGELO IN FORMIS (B, L)

Today we take an excursion outside Naples by private coach, to visit two significant sites. We travel first to Capua, an ancient town that was a large and wealthy Roman centre. Located on the Appian Way and historically connected to Rome, nevertheless the city chose to ally itself to Carthage during the Punic Wars and Rome’s response was swift and fierce. Later, in 73 BCE, Spartacus led a significant gladiators’ revolt here. We visit the local museum and impressive amphitheatre, perhaps a model for Rome’s Colosseum, before a farewell lunch nearby. Afterwards, we call in at Sant’Angelo in Formis, an eleventh-century Benedictine abbey church funded by Abbot Desiderius of Monte Cassino. Its well-preserved Byzantine frescoes are some of the most influential to be found in Europe. Returning to Naples, we enjoy farewell drinks together. Final night in Naples.

SATURDAY 10 APRIL – DEPARTURE (B)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast in our hotel. It is a short journey by taxi to Naples Capodichino airport, for flights connecting to European destinations. High-speed trains from Napoli Centrale railway station provide convenient connections to Italian cities in the north, as well as further south.

Grand Hotel Santa Lucia 4* Naples, 11 nights

https://www.santalucia.it/en/

Naples currently offers few centrally-located 4* hotels that can accommodate a small group. This elegant property is located opposite the marina of Santa Lucia, so the breakfast room offers panoramic views onto the Castel dell’Ovo. The waterfront is lined with restaurants, offering a wide choice for independent dining.

We have chosen rooms in the Classic category, decorated in a modern style. An upgrade to sea-view rooms can be organised on request and according to availability; please contact us at the time of booking to arrange.

NB: hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.

• 11 nights’ accommodation at a 4* hotel

• All breakfasts and 3 lunches or dinners, including drinks

• All ground transport, guided tours and entrance fees to sites as mentioned in the itinerary, and tipping

• As the itinerary begins and ends at our hotel in Naples, no arrival or departure transfers are included in the price of the tour

• Talks and commentary by an expert tour leader throughout

A $1,500pp deposit is required at the time of booking to hold your place on tour.

A second deposit of $2,000pp is due on 30 November 2026.

We will invoice you for final payment for the tour, due on 14 January 2027.

When you book on one of tours, we ask you to accept our terms and conditions. You can read our terms and conditions here.