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Group’s field trip to Stabia
December, 2015
At the end of the working season as usual we have organized a day of study at the villas of ancient Stabiae.
Our archaeologist-guide Paolo Gardelli, expert of the site, accompanied us on a fantastic tour that made us discover unpublished frescoes and graffiti’s of precious archaeological site.
It is important to stay current on the latest archaeological discoveries, and we do not miss an opportunity to do so.
The day ended with a great lunch at Restaurant La Bettola del Gusto, our favourite restaurant in Pompeii.
Pliny the Younger, the eye witness of the eruption of the Mount Vesuvius in 79AD
At the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79 the Roman fleet under the command of Pliny the Elder was stationed across the Bay of Naples at Misenum.
Pliny was a scientist, a historian and a naturalist and he felt the need to get closer to observe the phenomenon of the eruption.
He decided to land in Stabia, where lived his friend, but he died because of the toxic gases.

The route taken by Pliny the Elder from Miseno to Stabia during the eruption in 79AD
Pliny’s nephew, whom we know as Pliny the Younger, was with him at Misenum, but did not venture out on the ships with his uncle. He stayed back at Misenum and observed the events from there. He also received first-hand reports from those who had been with his uncle at his death. Based on this information Pliny the Younger wrote two letters to the historian Tacitus that recount the events surrounding the eruption of Vesuvius and the death of Pliny the Elder.
The letters survive and provide a vivid account of the events.
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The certificate of excellence by Tripadvisor
I am very pleased to share with you this new goal.
Thanks to all my clients who have contributed with their reviews to make me get this certificate.
The boat of Heeculaneum
The well preserved fishing boat was found in 1984 during the excavations of the beach. It was totally carbonized form the Vesuvius eruption of the year 79 AD. Suddenly after the discovery was patiently restaured and consolidated by italian specialists in the presevatin of the ancient wood. This extraordaniry find is now displayed in a museum next to the archaeological site. Unfortunately, the museum is only occasionally open becaus of the luck of fundings.
Pompeii in 3 D – Film

Pompeii 3 D – Film
Pompeii (referred to by marketing as Pompeii in 3D) is an upcoming American disaster-adventure film co-written, produced and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, the film starsKit Harington, Emily Browning, Carrie-Anne Moss, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas, with Jared Harris, and Kiefer Sutherland.
The Theaters of Pompeii
The two centers of entertainment in Pompeii were the Amphitheater, located in the eastern part of the city, and the Theaters located further west, near Port Stabiana.
From the VI century BC. C. Greeks used natural slopes were used to construct the stands. In Pompeii the neighborhood of the theaters included several important buildings.
The Teatro Grande is dated the second century BC. It has preserved its original appearance despite the constant remakes, including the restoration of the Augustan age. The scene that was originally with floors in imitation of the front of a building, was entirely rebuilt after the damage reported by the earthquake of 62 AD. C. In the Augustan era were built parodoi, side aisles covered access to the orchestra, gaining on them of the boxes (tribunalia) for guests of honor. One of parodoi is connected to a courtyard with a staircase leading to the Triangular Forum.
The cavea (tiers) is divided into three areas, that were said: ima reserved for senators, media to the guilds of the middle class, and summa for the populace.
This theater could accommodate about 5000 spectators, was restored during the Bourbon age and has, unfortunately, recently had a questionable vigorous action.
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The Odeion or Small Theatre, formed a homogeneous group with the Teatro Grande, it could accommodate about 500 spectators, was smaller then the previous and covered with a roof. Was used for musical auditions, although some recent speculations recognize it as a building for political meetings. The construction of the building around 80 BC was financed by the two magistrates C. Q. Valgus and M. Porcius. Even here there were tribunalia intended for privileged spectators, and the auditorium was divided into three sectors. The decorations were very elegant, it is shown by the marbled orchestra and the two stone telamons found on the steps.

Map of the theater district

The big Theater in Pompeii
The eruptions of the Vesuvius in the course of time
Vesuvius has erupted many times since and is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years. Today, it is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of the population of 3,000,000 people living nearby and its tendency towards explosive (Plinian) eruptions. It is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world.
Date | Eruption type | Notes |
79 | explosive | Ash-fall, pomices and lahars |
472 | effusive-explosive | Lava flow and lahars to north-western flank |
512 | ??? | —– |
26 February 685 | effusive | Imposing lava flow |
787 | effusive-explosive | Lahars and imposing lava flow |
968 | ??? | Lava flow to sea |
27 January 1037 | ??? | Lava flow to sea |
29 May 1139 | explosive | Ash-fall |
1500 | explosive | Ash-fall |
16 December 1631 | effusive-explosive | Cone collapse; lava flow to sea |
3 July 1660 | explosive | Ash-fall to north-east flank |
13 April 1694 | effusive | Lava toward Torre del Greco |
25 May 1698 | effusive-explosive | Damage by ash-fall to south-east flank |
28 July 1707 | effusive-explosive | —– |
20 May 1737 | effusive-explosive | A lava flow invades T. del Greco; ash-fall and lahars |
23 December 1760 | effusive-explosive | Opening of lateral vents on southern flank (150 m asl) |
19 October 1767 | effusive-explosive | Two lava flows toward T.Annunziata and S. Giorgio a C. |
8 August 1779 | explosive | Ash and bombs over Ottaviano |
15 June 1794 | effusive-explosive | Opening of lateral vents on SO flank (470 m asl) |
22 October 1822 | effusive-explosive | Two lava flows toward T. del Greco and Boscotrecase |
23 August 1834 | effusive-explosive |
A lava flow toward Poggiomarino |
6 February 1850 | effusive-explosive | —– |
1 May 1855 | effusive | A lava flow invades Massa and S.Sebastiano |
8 December 1861 | effusive-explosive | Opening of lateral vents on SO flank (290 m asl) |
15 November 1868 | effusive | —– |
24 April 1872 | effusive-explosive | A lava flow invades Massa and S.Sebastiano |
4 April 1906 | effusive-explosive | A lava flow toward T.Annunziata, strong explosive activity |
3 June 1929 | effusive-explosive | A lava flow toward Terzigno |
18 March 1944 | effusive-explosive | A lava flow invades Massa and S.Sebastiano |

The 79AD eruption
Vesuvius Tour:
At the top of the volcano is a crater rim that affords a view into the crater that still fumes slightly. Besides that you will have a stunning panorama overseeing the Bay of Naples, Capri, Ischia, the edge of the Sorrento coast and more. Everyone has to walk up the last 500m steeply uphill. Closed-in shoes are essential.