GUIDED TOUR OF HERCULANEUM AND  CATACOMBS OF SAN GENNARO IN NAPLES

Why should you choose this tour ?

• The archaeological excavations of Herculaneum, along with the Catacombs of San Gennaro in Naples, each possess unique characteristics that make them extraordinary and captivating, albeit in different ways.
• Combining visits to these two remarkable sites in a single day offers an exceptional experience, rarely available as part of general tour offerings.
• This tour is specifically designed to cater to individual preferences. Prior to making a reservation, potential participants are encouraged to communicate any desired adjustments to the proposed itinerary or alternative site preferences, ensuring a customized experience tailored to their interests.

Further Details :

At the agreed-upon time, we will meet at your ship, where our designated driver will be waiting with a Mercedes minivan. Your guide will accompany you throughout the day until the conclusion of the excursion, returning you to your ship (or accommodation).
Upon meeting, we will proceed directly to the archaeological site of Herculaneum. The private tour of the excavations, led by your personal archaeologist (or art historian), is planned to last approximately two hours.
Following the Herculaneum visit, we will have a little break near the ruins for a snack or a slice of pizza.
The afternoon itinerary includes a litle sightseeing of  Naples and the visit to the fascinating Catacombs of San Gennaro, offering a rich historical and cultural experience.

It is important to note that the management of the San Gennaro Catacombs is overseen by a local cooperative. As a result, the tour will be conducted by a local guide alongside other visitors. Nonetheless, your guide will remain with you throughout the visit and provide you with additional information inside the Catacombs.

Brief history of the Catacombs of San Gennaro in Naples:

The foundational section of the Catacombs of San Gennaro in Naples, which corresponds to the current lower vestibule, emerged around an original noble tomb (II, III c. A.D.). This tomb was gifted to the Christian community of Naples and became a revered site for Saint Agrippinus, recognized as the city’s first patron saint.

After the establishment of a funerary basilica over Agrippinus’s tomb, of which only the apse, several “arcosolia”, and a mosaic remain, Bishop John I (413–431) ordered the relocation of Saint Januarius’s remains from the “Agro Marciano” (an ancient site in the Phlegraean area, near Pozzuoli) to this site. This transfer significantly enhanced the proliferation of the martyr’s cult, which would be crucial to the city’s historical narrative.

Subsequently, the Catacombs became the final resting place for numerous Neapolitan dukes, including Cesarius Consul (878), and served as the episcopal seat for Bishop Paul II during the time when the Byzantine rite was dominant in the city amid the Iconoclast controversy.