Naples is one of Italy’s oldest and most artistic cities – with its historic centre a UNESCO World Heritage site, its archaeological treasures amongst the world’s most important, and with its wealth of historic palaces, castles and churches providing wonderful examples of Neapolitan Baroque architecture.
Highlights of our four day trip include the Roman coastal town of Herculaneum, the magnificent Villa Poppaea at Oplontis, the world renowned National Archaeological Museum and the Phlegraean Fields that have inspired poets from Homer to Dante.
We visit the baroque Church of Gesu Nuovo, the Certosa di San Martino with its commanding views over Naples, the gothic cloister of Santa Chiara clad in 18th century Majolica, and the Duomo of San Gennaro with its 6thC AD Christian mosaics. We visit the Bourbon Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte, home to the Farnese collection of art and the greatest collection of paintings in Italy, with works by Titian, Raphael, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Bellini, as well as Neapolitan painters such as Luca Giordano. We will also walk through the Chiaia district and the lively and colourful streets of Naples. There will be an option to attend a performance at the Teatro San Carlo, the oldest, active Opera House in the world (subject to schedules released later in the year).
We stay at the 4* Grand Hotel Santa Lucia well located on the seafront, opposite Castel dell’Ovo, on the Gulf of Naples. The visit will be led by a local, licensed expert guide, using an audio system.
Places on the trip are limited to 16 people.
The trip is organised with St. James’s Art Tours, founded by Jane Angelini 1998, working with Millennium Tours Ltd, and is renowned for its well planned cultural visits.
Full details of the trip, as well as booking forms, can be obtained now from: St James’s Art Tours.
Email: jane.angelini@btconnect.com Or call: 01959 571264
Details also from: The Arts Society Kensington & Chelsea Email: Gillian.Craig@artandculturaltravel.com
The price per person is £1,635 (deposit £350). The single room supplement is £295 per person, sea view room on request if available. The price is inclusive of British Airways flights from Gatwick, four nights’ accommodation, transport when required, three dinners and four lunches with wine, guide and entry fees.