"Survivors of Vesuvius: An Exploration of Post-Eruption Campania." A Vergilian Society Tour, July 14-24, 2026
Directed by Steven L. Tuck, Miami University
$3400 for double occupancy; single supplement $500
Tentative Itinerary
Tue July 14
Meet in Rome where we will spend a day setting the stage for our journey. We will spend the day surveying the reigns of Nero and the Flavian emperors: Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. Our particular focus will be imperial government disaster response including Nero’s response to the tsunami of 62, Great Fire of Rome of 64, and Flavian responses to the fire of 80 and – of course – the eruption of Vesuvius in 79.
Wed July 15
Depart Rome for the Villa Vergiliana, our base for the remainder of the tour. Stop at Capua for lunch and site and museum. Welcome reception and dinner at the Villa.
Thu July 16
In Campania we start with a visit to Herculaneum in the morning especially the locations associated with those who escaped (and some of those who didn’t!). After that we’ll have a pizza lunch near the site, and then in the afternoon we hike up Vesuvius where we study the eruption and read Pliny the Younger’s letters about the eruption in English and/or Latin.
Fri July 17
At Pompeii we explore the city through its temples, houses, shops, and tombs. This focuses on the spaces associated with survivors notably the tombs of Umbricius Scaurus and the Caltilius family, markers of members of escapee families. We trace the routes taken by escapees and explore the places they fled and where they gathered to escape. Today’s visit will focus on the west side of the city and the antiquarium of Pompeii.
Sat July 18
We return to Pompeii for a half day concentrating on the south side of the city and the exhibits in the quadriporticus. After Pompeii we will visit the antiquarium at Boscoreale as well for our final view of the eruption material from a rural perspective.
Sun July 19
In the morning we visit the site of Cumae and examine and discuss the rebuilding of the city to host escapees. After a lunch at the villa, our afternoon visits feature Baia, museum and site, and finally Misenum.
Mon July 20
A full day in Naples exploring some of the Roman material in and around the city (including the Titus inscription, theater, and possibly Underground Napoli) and the unparalleled collections at the National Archaeological Museum, the most important archaeology museum in Europe. Lunch at a classic Neapolitan pizzeria.
Tue July 21
Our furthest swing to the east and south takes us to Beneventum with a visit to the Arch of Trajan and the Museo del Sannio and the Arcos Egyptian section followed by Nola, Roman amphitheater and local museum.
Wed July 22
We head to the southern Bay of Naples and visit the Villas at Stabiae where we will investigate the landscape described by ancient authors and experienced by Pliny the Elder as he attempted to rescue people. Stops at the Stabiae museum and the National Archaeological Museum, Sarno.
Thu July 23
This day features a visit to the second city of Roman Italy, Pozzuoli. At this major commercial harbor we visit the Flavian amphitheater and ‘Serapeum’ as well as the solfatara (overlook). On our return to the villa we stop at Lake Avernus and the Arco Felice.
Fri July 24
Return to Rome on board our chartered bus. First a stop at an autogrill that marks the site of the city of Aquino. Then we stop at the Roman city of Ostia Antica where we will spend a few hours exploring the 2nd century city and especially the contributions of survivors from Pompeii. After the site and lunch we return to Rome for our farewells.
Description:
So often the story told of ancient Campania ends with the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum. In this tour, we will start in Rome to give some context for disaster recovery and response in the Roman world. The tour in Campania starts at Pompeii and Herculaneum to establish the background for the eruption and to see the results of the eruption itself. Then it moves to the post-eruption period exploring the communities around the Bay of Naples in the aftermath of the eruption. Next, we hike up Vesuvius, examining the geology, and reading the letters of Pliny the Younger. After that we explore the cities, villas, and farms that survived the eruption and follow the paths of some of the survivors themselves. These sites include the villas at Stabiae and the cities of Cumae, Puteoli, Naples (both the city and the National Archaeological Museum), Misenum, Baia, and Capua. On our return to Rome we visit Ostia to see the community of one of the most successful of survivor families that founded the Temple of Serapis and changed the religious face of that city.