Relive a day in the life of the Romans at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii. This private guided tour gives visitors a vivid snapshot of an ancient civilisation frozen in time. Francesca, one of our local guides, says, ‘Although Pompeii is known as ‘the city of death’, it teaches us so much about 1st-century Italy. You’ll see all shades of life through elegant villas, amphitheatres, temples, workshops and markets as well as a glimpse of Pompeii’s final moments before the 79 AD eruption.

Start your journey by taking a peek at grand buildings, elite residences and shops that line the most important street in Pompeii, Street of Abundance. This bustling walkway leads to the Forum – an enormous piazza and hub of daily Roman life. Snap pictures of the impressive centaur statue and ancient columns. From here, you’ll see the basilica, marketplace and temples dedicated to Apollo, Jupiter and Venus – ask your guide to focus on any particular interests.

Despite being buried under ash for over 2000 years, you can picture the Romans socialising in the swimming areas or cooking at the Thermopolia. ‘These small shops served hot food for the lower classes whose houses rarely had kitchens’, says local guide Francesca. Pompeii’s amphitheatre is definitely something to shout about. It was built to accommodate over 20,000 people and is even older than the Colosseum in Rome. Francesca adds ‘Discovering Pompeii is like leafing through the pages of a history book.’