It’s one thing to gaze upon archaeological sites, wandering amongst the bones of ancient empires or mysterious prehistoric monoliths. But another, far more rewarding approach is to be guided by an expert archaeologist whose passion and knowledge will bring sites alive and translate ancient clues into spell-binding living history. 
Recommended tour operator: Andante Travels
Andante Travels says
Pompeii, August 24 AD 79: Gaius Plinius Secundus (Pliny the Elder) is standing with his sister and nephew outside his villa in Misenum on the Bay of Naples. His sister suddenly draws his attention to an extraordinary umbrella-shaped cloud rising from the volcano of Vesuvius far away across the Bay.
Already famed as the author of ‘The Natural History’, Plinius is very excited by this phenomenon, and as admiral of the Mediterranean fleet, he sets sail immediately towards the eruption.
The nephew (now known as Pliny the Younger) records the events in great detail. “He ordered a boat to be available, and told me that I could come with him if I so wished. I replied that I preferred to continue with my studies, and as it happened he himself had given me some exercises to do.”
What begins as a voyage of research becomes a journey into the heart of one of the world’s most devastating natural disasters. The affluent and busy seaside towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum are suffocated in ash and lava, and the whole area has to be abandoned.
The younger Pliny’s report is one story amongst thousands uncovered by archaeology, depicting every aspect of Romans’ lives from slaves to senators.
In the hands of our experts, archaeology and ancient history combine to retell the stories of the past. They make for wonderful and intellectually stimulating holidays all over the world.
