Amalfi Area - Best 3 out of 4 antique sites?
Apr 2nd, 2012, 03:51 PM
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Amalfi Area - Best 3 out of 4 antique sites?
Greetings. Any and all thoughts will be appreciated. Due to limited time as well as limited attention span and physical stamina of some in our group, I am trying to whittle down our impending visits to some Amalfi Coast sites. If you had to limit yourself to the best 3 out of the following 4, which would you choose? And we will have a car.
1. Pompeii
2. Herculaneum
3. Villa Oplontis
4. Paestum
Also, if we do visit 3 out of the 4 above, how much would we be missing by skipping the Archaeological Museum in Naples?
Grazie.
1. Pompeii
2. Herculaneum
3. Villa Oplontis
4. Paestum
Also, if we do visit 3 out of the 4 above, how much would we be missing by skipping the Archaeological Museum in Naples?
Grazie.
Apr 2nd, 2012, 04:23 PM
#3
What town are you staying in? That question needs to be answered first.
nytraveler's comment about the heat applies to all of these sights, especially if some in your group have stamina issues to begin with.
nytraveler's comment about the heat applies to all of these sights, especially if some in your group have stamina issues to begin with.
Apr 2nd, 2012, 06:51 PM
#5
Nocelle to Paestum is about 2 hours each way. That would be too far for me for a day trip. So, I would choose the other three on your list with Pompeii being #1.
I'm a museum junkie, and there's no way I would miss the Naples archeology museum. If your group is less interested in artifacts than the actual excavation sights, then I would skip the museum in favor of a stop at either at Villa Oplontis or Herculaneum on your way to Positano.
I'm a museum junkie, and there's no way I would miss the Naples archeology museum. If your group is less interested in artifacts than the actual excavation sights, then I would skip the museum in favor of a stop at either at Villa Oplontis or Herculaneum on your way to Positano.
Apr 3rd, 2012, 12:07 AM
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Of those, Oplontis is perhaps the one you could drop most easily... but, as it only takes an hour or so to see, doing that wouldn't actually save much?
A visit to the Naples archaeological museum (other than on their Tuesday closing day!) would fill in a lot of gaps - many of the things on display there came from those sites, and only a few have been replaced with reproductions... although very good ones in some cases:
http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione....ezioneRif=1767
Possibly that's an outing which the less-interested might forego?
......................................
Can't remember, but did I suggest having a look here - where you'll find pictures from many of the local places of interest....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele
(Note that, of those, Augustus' Villa near Somma Vesuviana and the Rione Terra in Pozzuoli almost certainly won't be accessible... I'm not immediately aware of any others that are closed at present, however it's ALWAYS wisest to phone and check a day or two beforehand!).
Although a good day's outing, you'd probably enjoy a visit to the area around Pozzuoli and the Campi Flegrei - where some quite remarkable "stuff" can be seen! With a car you'd certainly find the travelling easier than we have, using only buses and trains...
It's not great, but this might be a good place to start for a few more details - including those of closing days and times!!!!!!!!
http://www.incampania.com/en/benicul...=5&Menu_ID=200
................................................
Not sure how much of your visit you want to spend out and about, but perhaps arrange some of those like this...
- one day: Herculaneum for 2 hours or so, then Pompei - which now doesn't close until 19:30.
- another: start with a few hours in Salerno...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/salerno33
... and perhaps go up to the castle, which we missed...
http://www.incampania.com/EN/benicul...6&Info_ID=4520
... before then continuing on to Paestum...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/paestum
Personally, I'd try to arrange the various places along the AC a day to themselves - rather than breaking up the other journeys?
Peter
PS... You'd do well to watch for the April edition of this very useful magazine - which I've just been told should appear within the next few days now... the one currently there covered Christmas, and has a Santa on the cover, so keep an eye out for that changing...
http://www.inaples.it/ita/quinapoli.htm
PPS... for the current state of play at Herculaneum, see:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Campania.html
... and it might have been nice if only they'd produced something similar for Pompeii?
A visit to the Naples archaeological museum (other than on their Tuesday closing day!) would fill in a lot of gaps - many of the things on display there came from those sites, and only a few have been replaced with reproductions... although very good ones in some cases:
http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione....ezioneRif=1767
Possibly that's an outing which the less-interested might forego?
......................................
Can't remember, but did I suggest having a look here - where you'll find pictures from many of the local places of interest....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele
(Note that, of those, Augustus' Villa near Somma Vesuviana and the Rione Terra in Pozzuoli almost certainly won't be accessible... I'm not immediately aware of any others that are closed at present, however it's ALWAYS wisest to phone and check a day or two beforehand!).
Although a good day's outing, you'd probably enjoy a visit to the area around Pozzuoli and the Campi Flegrei - where some quite remarkable "stuff" can be seen! With a car you'd certainly find the travelling easier than we have, using only buses and trains...
It's not great, but this might be a good place to start for a few more details - including those of closing days and times!!!!!!!!
http://www.incampania.com/en/benicul...=5&Menu_ID=200
................................................
Not sure how much of your visit you want to spend out and about, but perhaps arrange some of those like this...
- one day: Herculaneum for 2 hours or so, then Pompei - which now doesn't close until 19:30.
- another: start with a few hours in Salerno...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/salerno33
... and perhaps go up to the castle, which we missed...
http://www.incampania.com/EN/benicul...6&Info_ID=4520
... before then continuing on to Paestum...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/paestum
Personally, I'd try to arrange the various places along the AC a day to themselves - rather than breaking up the other journeys?
Peter
PS... You'd do well to watch for the April edition of this very useful magazine - which I've just been told should appear within the next few days now... the one currently there covered Christmas, and has a Santa on the cover, so keep an eye out for that changing...
http://www.inaples.it/ita/quinapoli.htm
PPS... for the current state of play at Herculaneum, see:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Campania.html
... and it might have been nice if only they'd produced something similar for Pompeii?
Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:02 AM
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AMV,
I don't know if you are from NYC or just flying out of there, but your question is a little bit like asking:
"We're headed to the Hamptons for 4 days, and I am trying to whittle down our impending visits to some NYC museums. If you had to limit yourself to the best 3 out of the following 4, which would you choose? The Metropolitan, the Guggenheim, the Whitney or the Frick? Thx -- oh, and will we really miss much if we don't see the Modern Museum of Art? Thx!"
I suggest you poll your group to decide if you are actually interested in exploring the archeological remains of antiquity, or if you would rather have a vacation by the sea. If you want to expore the archeological remains of an ancient culture, it takes time, and yes, the most valuable artifacts are locked up in a museum in Naples.
If you would like to walk around a disaster site gawking for a few hours, Pompei or Herculaneum should do you.
I don't know if you are from NYC or just flying out of there, but your question is a little bit like asking:
"We're headed to the Hamptons for 4 days, and I am trying to whittle down our impending visits to some NYC museums. If you had to limit yourself to the best 3 out of the following 4, which would you choose? The Metropolitan, the Guggenheim, the Whitney or the Frick? Thx -- oh, and will we really miss much if we don't see the Modern Museum of Art? Thx!"
I suggest you poll your group to decide if you are actually interested in exploring the archeological remains of antiquity, or if you would rather have a vacation by the sea. If you want to expore the archeological remains of an ancient culture, it takes time, and yes, the most valuable artifacts are locked up in a museum in Naples.
If you would like to walk around a disaster site gawking for a few hours, Pompei or Herculaneum should do you.
Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:02 PM
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Your 1st night is in Pompeii so I assume you'd want to visit Pompeii on Day 2 and then travel on later in the day?
See how the group's attention and stamina hold-up at Pompeii that will be the test
.
If good, then do both the Villa Pompea (200m from the Circumvesuviana station-1hr visit) and Herculaneum (10min downhill walk from the station and a 2hr visit).
The Naples Archeological Museum would be a shame to miss though.
Lastly perhaps a guided bustour to Paestum would be easier for the group if they are content with just a Pompeii visit and something less demanding.
Regards, Walter
See how the group's attention and stamina hold-up at Pompeii that will be the test
.If good, then do both the Villa Pompea (200m from the Circumvesuviana station-1hr visit) and Herculaneum (10min downhill walk from the station and a 2hr visit).
The Naples Archeological Museum would be a shame to miss though.
Lastly perhaps a guided bustour to Paestum would be easier for the group if they are content with just a Pompeii visit and something less demanding.
Regards, Walter
Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:14 PM
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Thanks to all those with helpful input. We are a small group with a car but some of the group do have some mobility issues. I had originally planned that the day of arrival we drive to hotel at Pompeii and check in early afternoon. Then spend remainder of day and evening exploring Pompeii. Next morning back track a bit to Naples to visit the Archaelogical Museum in the morning and then spend afternoon at Herculaneum and/or Villa Pompea before driving on to base camp in Positano area for 4 nights. Thought one of our day trips would be a drive to see both Cetara and Paestum. Another day trip would be via boat to Capri. Yet another day trip to Ravello and Amalfi. If we are unable to see everything we had hoped at the start of our trip, we could also visit on our drive up to Rome. We could even stay over in Herculaneum if it worked out as we have a free night between AC and Rome. Don't think we would want to overnight in Naples however. Thoughts?
Apr 3rd, 2012, 05:01 PM
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And I meant to spell Poppea right.
Oplontis is a town name and Villa Poppea is the actual villa site.
But both are very questionable; Is this location really ancient Oplontis?
And is this really the actual villa of Nero's wife Poppea?
Today basically both Oplontis and Villa Poppea mean the excavated villa in everyday usage.
IIRC There was also another villa discovered nearby which I assume archaeologists and historians have named Villa XXXXX in Oplontis?
Regards, Walter
.Oplontis is a town name and Villa Poppea is the actual villa site.
But both are very questionable; Is this location really ancient Oplontis?
And is this really the actual villa of Nero's wife Poppea?
Today basically both Oplontis and Villa Poppea mean the excavated villa in everyday usage.
IIRC There was also another villa discovered nearby which I assume archaeologists and historians have named Villa XXXXX in Oplontis?
Regards, Walter
Apr 3rd, 2012, 05:29 PM
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Or 3 sites in Oplontis that they just named A, B & C . http://oplontisproject.org/the-villas/
. http://oplontisproject.org/the-villas/
Apr 5th, 2012, 11:26 AM
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I would highly advise that you do NOT drive in Naples. As much as I loved Naples (to my surprise), traffic in that city is pure chaos, and only for the most-experienced Italian driver. Take the train (Circumvesuviana line) and then a taxi from the station to the museum.
Apr 5th, 2012, 05:47 PM
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Paestum is truly amazing - and in a beautiful spot with a wonderful museum. We have been to the AC three times and went to Paestum on each occasion. Very manageable in scale and much less tourist chaos than at the others. Some nice lunch/snack spots and easy parking. Given the dynamics you describe with your group, it seems like it would be an excellent choice.
We have been to Pompeii twice (six hours each time) as well as Herculaneum - haven't been to the Naples museum and don't feel like we needed to (although on future trips we would like). There are no "musts" - it's what works best for your group.
We have been to Pompeii twice (six hours each time) as well as Herculaneum - haven't been to the Naples museum and don't feel like we needed to (although on future trips we would like). There are no "musts" - it's what works best for your group.
