EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Fundamentalmente una aldea pesquera, Herculano era muy apreciada por su posición sobre la bahía de Nápoles. Se enriqueció porque fue elegida como resort de verano por los romanos acaudalados que construyeron hermosas villas adornadas con frescos, mosaicos y fantásticas esculturas. Herculano genera una sensación bastante diferente de la que generan otros centros mundiales antiguos descubiertos hasta hoy, incluida Pompeya. El torrente de lodo fluyendo cuesta abajo desde el volcán sirvió durante siglos como la mejor defensa posible contra los agentes atmosféricos y los excavadores ilegales. Contempla las casas, las tiendas, las termas, incluidos sus elementos en madera, los alimentos y las telas que se han conservado intactos y que nos ofrecen una visión única de cómo eran sus vidas hace mucho tiempo. Por el camino, visita una fábrica de camafeos cercana para ver cómo se fabrica la famosa joya y luego dispondrás de algo de tiempo para echar un vistazo a la tienda.

Enjoy an enlightening tour of Naples by visiting Spaccanapoli, the street that divides the city, and by savoring folded pizza, a classic Neapolitan treat.

After departing from the pier, you will begin a panoramic drive around Naples, taking in the views from locales such as Posillipo Hill in one of the city’s most affluent areas. Along the way, you will pass the imposing Castle Nuovo.

While parts of it date to the 13th century, it is still known as the new castle to distinguish it from the famed Egg Castle, which began as a 1st-century Roman villa. Castle Nuovo’s five towers make it one of Naples’ most recognizable landmarks. You will also see the Egg Castle, which holds a commanding position on the sea.

In time, you will reach Spaccanapoli, a long street whose name means “Naples splitter,” a reference to it seeming to divide the city in two. Here, you will visit the Jesuit church Gesú Nuovo and the Church of Santa Chiara, which was founded in 1310 and features an austere Provencal-Gothic style. Much of Santa Chiara had to be rebuilt after World War II.

For an even more authentic glimpse into daily life, you will walk through the narrow streets of Old Town, which UNESCO has declared a Cultural Heritage site. As you will discover, there is no better setting to eat portafoglio or folded pizza, as the dish was invented in Naples. A cup of fresh espresso at a nearby café standing at the counter as Neapolitan does will top off the experience.

Este tour a pie te permite conocer algunos de los secretos mejor guardados de Nápoles, entre ellos, castillos que se remontan al siglo 13, un túnel subterráneo construido por orden de Fernando II de Borbón y la plaza más monumental de la ciudad. Al salir del puerto a pie, la primera vista de la ciudad te permite remontarte al siglo 13 con el Castle Nuovo, una fortaleza sombría que sirvió de residencia a los reyes de Anjou, Aragón y los virreyes españoles. El paseo continúa rumbo a Piazza Plebiscito, una plaza noble, sin dudas la más famosa de Nápoles. Disfruta de un poco de tiempo libre para ir de compras o contemplar las vistas.

Cruzarás el túnel borbónico, diseñado por Fernando II de Borbón y su arquitecto hace unos 150 años. En el subterráneo, descubre el acueducto de Carmignano, un sendero militar del siglo XIX, los refugios antiaéreos que se usaron durante la Seguda Guerra Mundial y también coches y motos antiguos enterrados. Al volver al nivel de la calle, sigue por la costa para ver el Castillo del Huevo en Santa Lucía con sus espectaculares vistas de la ribera.

Enjoy the rare opportunity to drive through a still-active volcanic landscape and recount the experience while dining at an estate in the surrounding countryside. The Campi Flegrei or “burning fields” is an intriguingly hellish landscape within a massive volcanic caldera. While traveling through this incredibly picturesque area, you can expect to see steaming fumaroles, thermal pools and an archaeological site where an ancient Greek settlement was excavated. Stops along the way will allow time to snap photos of the hauntingly beautiful terrain and Casina Vanvitelliana, an 18th-century royal hunting lodge situated in the middle of Fusaro Lake. You will also see Lake Avernus, which was considered to be an entrance to the underworld in ancient times. After settling in at an estate nearby, you will be served a lunch of Neapolitan specialties made with ingredients grown in the area’s fertile volcanic soil.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Explore the active Campi Flegrei caldera with its steaming vents and thermal pools.
• Visit ancient ruins, Lake Avernus, and the elegant Casina Vanvitelliana.
• Enjoy a Neapolitan meal made from local, volcanic soil-grown ingredients.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Admire the most breathtaking views of Naples from high above the city in historical San Martino, from which you will descend on foot and by funicular.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a picturesque drive to Vomero, one of the more prosperous and fashionable districts of Naples. From this elevated plateau, you will enjoy sweeping views of the city that only improve as you hike up to San Martino.

The highest point in Vomero, San Martino exudes a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. You might think of it as an oasis from the urban sprawl below. During free time, you will enjoy spectacular views of its star-shaped fortress Castel Sant’Elmo and the former 14th-century Carthusian monastery that now houses the esteemed National Museum of San Martino.

More fabulous vistas await you while walking downhill along the Pedamentina, a set of several hundred steps dating to the 1500s. Although outdoor staircases and steps are abundant in hilly Naples, few compare to the Pedamentina for being scenic.

In time, you will reach Corso Vitttorio Emanuele, a charming street where you will hop aboard a funicular and continue your descent.

You will disembark in Piazza Augusteo, where you will have the option of returning to the cruise ship with the guide or remaining in Naples and returning later on your own.

Capri, que desde la antigua Roma ha sido un destino famoso entre los que buscan el placer, se ha ganado una reputación como la "Isla del amor". Un rápido paseo por la bahía de Nápoles te llevará al Puerto Marina Grande en Capri. Desde allí, un miniautobús te llevará a Anacapri, donde disfrutarás de hermosas vistas panorámicas. Visitarás Villa San Michele y luego tendrás algo de tiempo libre hasta que prosigas el camino hasta la ciudad de Capri para comer. Disfruta dando un paseo rumbo a la "piazzetta", pasando por antiguas calles adoquinadas y los Jardines de Augusto. Desde allí disfrutarás de unas imponentes vistas panorámicas y tendrás tiempo para explorar los alrededores por tu cuenta antes de subir al minibús para regresar a Nápoles.

Make the most of your time in Naples with this one-of-a-kind Attraction Pass that includes entrance to the most emblematic and historical sites with art treasures while you enjoy a curated path designed with the best Naples has to offer. A special shuttle bus will take you to your first attraction, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, one of the most famous and visited museums in Italy with impressive architecture and collections, a true journey into the world of antiquity. Then explore the city center of Naples by taking a Walking Tour around the must-see attractions while you learn about the culture and experience the day-to-day first-hand. Pass through the Basilique San Francesco de Paola, Palazzo Reale di Napoli, the Castel Nuovo. After that, you will enjoy leisure time to explore and enter the attraction you choose from three listed such as Museo Civico di Castel Nuovo, Napoli Soterranea and the Royal Palace. If you are interested in the history of Naples, the Royal Palace is for you, this museum includes rooms dating back to the Spanish and bourbon periods and important paintings and frescoes by artists of the time, if you are a treasure hunter you might choose walking through the ancient passageway in the Napoli Soterranea while discovering the fascinating half-light of the tunnel and underground passages. If you are passionate about architecture, then you delight in visiting the Museo civico di Castel Nuovo. Take home the best memories of Naples with this exclusive tour!

HIGHLIGHTS
• Use the Attraction Pass to see Naples’s best attractions at no additional cost.
• Ride a bus around town, stopping at the attractions included in our curate path. The must-see of the city!
• Discover the city center by the hand of your guide in a walking tour.
• Visit the attraction that interests you most in your leisure time.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore two UNESCO World Heritage sites that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. destroyed and buried in volcanic ash and pumice and come away with a deeper understanding of ancient Roman life. In the Pompeii suburb of Oplontis, you will explore luxurious villas now beneath street level that feature some of the best-preserved frescoes and mosaics of that time period. National Geographic funded the excavation of the villas and an expert archaeologist will describe their historical and cultural importance in fascinating detail. The ruins in nearby Pompeii will reveal other sides of ancient life as it was a bigger city with a forum, theater, shops and bath house. While walking along the cobblestone streets, you can expect to see the once lavish and large House of Faun and Casa della Regina Carolina and the Thermopolium, a retail snack bar of sorts that could be likened to ancient fast-food restaurant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit Pompeii and Oplontis, two sites that Mt. Vesuvius’ eruption destroyed in 79 A.D.
• Be awed by the frescoes and murals that adorn the villas of the wealthy in Oplontis.
• Gain insight into National Geographic’s role funding the excavations.
• See a broader range of excavated sites in Pompeii, including a forum and bath house.
• Recognize the reasons UNESCO declared Pompeii and Oplontis World Heritage sites.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Descubre rincones ocultos, tesoros artísticos y aprende sobre la turbulenta historia de la ciudad mientras recorres Nápoles en bicicleta haciendo paradas por el camino. Acompañarás a tu guía local en un breve recorrido a pie por el centro de la ciudad, hasta el lugar donde recogerás tu bicicleta y conocerás al líder del grupo para comenzar el paseo en bici. Podrás sentir el ambiente singular de la ciudad al pasar por el área comercial de Nápoles. Continuarás hacia la costa para pedalear por una senda para ciclistas, mientras admiras el popular paseo antes de hacer una parada en Borgo Marinari para ver el famoso Castillo del Huevo con sus espectaculares vistas de la ribera.

Habrá una parada en un café local para tomar un refresco antes de seguir hasta la Piazza del Plebiscito. Esta noble plaza es una de las más famosas en Nápoles, flanqueada por el Palacio Real, el teatro de ópera San Carlos y la Iglesia de San Francisco. Sigue pedaleando hasta Piazza Municipio para ver el Maschio Angioino con el Castel Nuevo, una fortaleza sombría que solía ser la residencia de los reyes de la casa de Anjou, Aragón, y de los virreyes españoles.

Settle in for an immensely scenic drive, where you will enjoy an inspired wine tasting and a traditional Campanian lunch. While driving through the bucolic countryside, you will gaze out over one breathtaking landscape after another, punctuated with vineyards blanketing the hills. Upon reaching Tufo, within the district of Irpinia, you will sample a selection of locally produced wines. One in particular – made from the white grape Greco di Tufo – is revered over the others. It may be the centerpiece of your tasting as this Protected Designation of Origin wine is so characteristic of the local terroir. Wine will also be served with the lunch. Although the menu changes seasonally, it may include fusilli topped with sausage and aubergine or tagliatelle with a hearty wild boar sauce.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sample a selection characteristic Irpinia district wines such as the revered Greco di Tufo.
• Learn about the terroir that produces many Protected Designation of Origin wines.
• Enjoy a traditional Campanian lunch in a restaurant near Tufo Castle.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Sample a selection of signature products from the Sorrento Peninsula, culminating with a lunch of local specialties. The mode of transportation will be just as unique at times, as you will approach a farmhouse cheese factory by Ape Calessino, an iconic Italian vehicle that resembles a three-wheel golf cart. After seeing how the dairy cows are fed, you will sample several organic cheeses, including a distinctive mozzarella and ricotta. A tour of a nearby citrus farm and a demonstration of Limoncello liqueur-making, will add another dimension to your understanding of Sorrentine gastronomy. Afterwards, you will indulge in a traditional lunch that will likely include bruschetta and cold meats such as those found on a charcuterie board. All the ingredients will be from the surrounding area. Another stop at a canteen on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius will present a sampling of organic wines from grapes that thrive in the volcanic soil. Taralli crackers, salami and cheeses will complement the tasting.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy tastings of organic foods and wines produced on the Sorrento Peninsula.
• See how the products are made using traditional methods that respect the land.
• Settle in for a hearty lunch of traditional dishes and local specialties.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Become immersed in the world of pasta through a behind-the-scenes tour of one of Italy’s pasta factories, followed by a delightful pasta lunch. The venue for this enlightening experience will be Gragnano, an ancient city where durum wheat and semolina have been cultivated for thousands of years. It also has the ideal climate for air-drying pasta, a practice that is still observed to ensure quality. As you will learn while browsing a museum, pasta-making is a complex process that can’t be rushed. In fact, to achieve its Protected Designation of Origin status, Gragnano pasta must dry gradually for as many as four days and be extruded through a bronze die that imparts a rough texture that helps the pasta sauce cling to the noodle. The results are well worth the effort as you will discover while savoring a lunch of Gragnano pasta and locally made accompaniments.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Learn more than you ever imagined about pasta in Gragnano, a city synonymous with it.
• See how Gragnano pasta must be made to retain a Protected Designation of Origin status.
• Savor lunch that includes a Gragnano pasta dish and other Italian specialties.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.