Day 1 - CASERTA AND SANTA MARIA CAPUA VETERE
Upon arrival in Caserta, participants will be welcomed by our guide for a visit to the magnificent Palace of Caserta. This splendid palace, designed by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli in the 18th century, is one of the largest and most sumptuous ever built in Europe. During the visit, students will explore the palace’s sumptuous halls, royal apartments and the grand park with its fountains and waterfalls. The guide will provide information about the history of the Reggia, its importance in Baroque architecture and the role it played in the history of the Kingdom of Naples. After the visit, there will be a typical lunch in a local restaurant, where students can enjoy traditional dishes of Campania cuisine, thus enriching their cultural experience. In the afternoon, we will continue to Santa Maria Capua Vetere for the guided visit to the Roman Amphitheatre, one of the largest and oldest amphitheatres in Italy, second only to the Colosseum in Rome. Here, students will have the opportunity to better understand life in ancient Capua, one of the most important cities in Campania during Roman times. The visit will include the Gladiator Museum, where you will be shown the living conditions and stories of gladiators fighting in the arena. After this immersion in ancient history, we will transfer to the hotel for accommodation in rooms, dinner and overnight.
Day 2 - POMPEII AND NAPLES
After breakfast at the hotel and the loading of your luggage, the day will be dedicated to the discovery of Pompeii and Naples. Our first stop will be the archaeological area of Pompeii, where students will explore a perfectly preserved Roman city under the volcanic ash of Vesuvius since 79 A.D. The guided tour will include the most significant sites such as the Forum, the thermal baths, the houses of the rich patricians and the frescoes, offering an immersion in the daily life of a Roman city. After lunch, we will move to Naples for a guided tour of its charming historic center. Here, students will walk along Spaccanapoli, the road that cuts through the ancient city in two, and visit San Gregorio Armeno, famous for its handicraft nativity shops. The walk will continue with a visit to the Basilica of Santa Chiara, the Church of the New Jesus and the Obelisk of the Immaculate. The visit will culminate in the Sansevero Chapel, where students can observe the famous Veiled Christ, a sculptural work of extraordinary beauty. In the afternoon, after having tasted the unique atmosphere of Naples and having expanded their knowledge of the history and culture of this city, departure for the return.
