Italian Winter Delight

Enjoy a leisurely exploration of southern Italy and all of its delights. Start with two nights in Rome, and visits with a Local Guide to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the excavations in Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Stay three nights in the bayside resort of Sorrento, and visit the Isle of Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Positano. On the way back to Rome, visit the Abbey of Montecassino.

One great aspect of this vacation is the guided walk tour of the excavations of pompeii! Here is a short history of what there is to see! On August 20th, the earth began to rumble and crack, and the usually calm sea gave way to giant waves. Horses, cattle and birds became uneasy and restless, as if they could foresee the disaster that awaited the town. Finally, on the morning of August 24th, 79 A. D. the volcano burst open with an earsplitting crack. Smoke, mud, flames and burning stones spewed from the summit of the mountain, sending a rain of ash and rock through the surrounding countryside. The mud seeped down the sides of Vesuvius, swallowing nearby farms, orchards and villas. Adding to the destruction were the mephitic vapors that accompanied the falling debris; the fumes first caused deliriousness in their victims, then suffocated them.

Some people of Pompeii grabbed their beasts of burden and attempted to flee the area; others perhaps chose to wait until the streets were clear of the panicked masses; still others sealed themselves up in rooms, supposing that the ashes and poisonous gasses would not harm them there. The unfortunate people who could not escape in time to avoid disaster were killed by falling buildings, overcome by the mephitic gas, or simply buried by the rapidly falling ash. Their bodies were quickly covered by the volcano's mineral deposits, which covered Pompeii in a layer more than 30 feet thick.

With Sceptre Tours you get the best experience of guided tours in Italy and will witness the magnificance of places such as Pompeii! They offer the lowest rates on vacation packages to Italy as well as the best service! Choose Sceptre Tours for your next vacation to Italy!