We will be in Rome the 1st week in March 2008. We are interested in doing a day trip to Pompeii and stopping in Naples to visit Cappella Sansevero on the way.
I'm thinking the train would be our best bet for transportation but my traveling companions would rather take a shuttle or tour (private car for the 3 of us would probably be too expensive).
Does anyone have any ideas as to the best way to do this?
Thanks as always for the excellent info to come.

I think the train would be best for this - Capella Sansevero is fairly close to the main Naples train station where you will also catch the Circumvesuviana (you could cab over to the chapel or take a bus to a nearby location, the actual street is very narrow), but driving in and out of the City would eat up too much of your day. You need to check the hours for the chapel - we visited in the morning but it definitely has limited opening hours. Also, if you are on Via dei Tribunali, which is a wonderful atmospheric one to visit, in a fascinating neighborhood, there are other things including fexcellent pizza (de Mattei, very close!)to explore.

If Caravaggio and great art generally is an interest, you will appreciate the Art Gallery at Capidomonte, with the superb Farnese collection (including a wonderful Caravaggio that I contemplated alone for some time on a Sunday morning last year.

You will enjoy this trip much more if you spend a night in the Naples area to make your trip more relaxed.

This is not exactly the answer to your question, but if you are staying in Rome and considering renting a car/guide for Pompeii, you might want to consider Ostia Antica - less commerical, same period, and you can take a public bus from the center of Rome
http://www.ostia-antica.org/

Hi JB - Public transport would be best IMO.

Train is easy enough, with a stopoff in Naples for Capella Sansevero.

The shuttle alternative is the Rome-Pompeii bus (- operator: Marozzi)

Dep 07.00 Rome (- Roma Tiburtina)
Arr 10.00 Pompeii

Fare: € 16.00 single

www.marozzivt.it

After visiting Pompeii you could return to Naples on the Circumvesuviana for Capella Sansevero in the afternoon - then catch the train back to Rome.

As JJ says, check opening hours.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Hi JB,

I would take the train.

The Capella Sansevero is open 10:00 - 19:00, Sun until 13:00, closed Tuesdays.

Ira - Where did you find that?

The opening hours from their website for March are:

10.00-17.40 Mon-Sat (- closed Tues)

10.00-13.10 Sundays & public holidays

€6 entrance

http://www.museosansevero.it/html/or...riffe_stat.php

Steve

Thanks everyone.

I agree on taking the train. I think my friends are concerned because none of us speaks Italian and the hustle & bustle of the train is a little outside their comfort zone.
Well, that's the way to grow so I'll show them your posts.

Thanks, again.

The Italian trains are really, really good. I took them all over Italy by myself for two weeks in October and I speak not three words of Italian. The signs are good, and on the Eurostar trains announcements are made in Italian and English. But it's quite obvious in most cases where to get off. From Rome, you get off at Naples, follow the signs to the Circumvesuvia, buy a ticket before you get on. Just make sure you always validate your tickets before getting on any of the trains (except a Eurostar or ICPlus-type train where you have a reservation and your train time is printed right on the ticket). Other than the Circumvesuvia you can just use ticket machines at the train stations (in English, accept credit cards).

The trains are great and easy to negotiate and you can buy your tickets in the US on the Trenitalia site if you know when you want to travel, but it isn't necessary. It is 1.5 hours to Naples on the ES train and then the Circumvesuviana train will take you to Pompeii. It will be a long day. If you are really ambitious you could catch Herculaneum as well (also on the Circ.train route)It is 20 euro to see both and Herculaneum is much smaller than Pompeii.