Gourmet Lunch At The Vineyard

Five hours, two halves: the buried city of Pompeii, then wine tasting on Vesuvius, the volcano that buried it. Grand Tour Experience runs the day, rated 4.8 across 189 reviews. From €123.5, with free cancellation.

Overview

This tour pairs two hours inside Pompeii with a long, relaxed lunch at a winery on the lower slopes of Mount Vesuvius, all within a five hour window. You meet a licensed archaeologist at Porta Marina Superiore, walk in with skip-the-line tickets, and see the Basilica, the Forum, the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, Roman houses with frescoes and mosaics, the Plaster Casts, the Gladiators' Training Ground and the Great Theatre. From there a van carries you to the winery and brings you back to Pompeii at the end.

The second half is the part the page is named for. At Casa Setaro, a family-run vineyard at the foot of the volcano, a signature chef prepares a seasonal local lunch, and it is served with a guided tasting of four award-winning wines: a Vesuvian sparkling wine, a white, a red, and an amphora-aged wine made using methods inspired by ancient Roman techniques. All the grapes are grown on volcanic soil. Menus exist for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets if you tell the operator ahead of time.

It suits travellers who want Pompeii explained properly rather than wandered alone, and who would rather finish the day at a table than on another ruin. Reviewers praised both halves, calling the guided walk informative and the winery visit a perfect way to end the morning.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Porta Marina SuperioreArrive at the meeting point in Pompeii ten minutes before the start. Your guide holds the skip-the-line entrance tickets.
2. Guided tour of PompeiiA two hour walk with a licensed archaeologist covering the Basilica, Forum and Market, temples, Roman houses, the Plaster Casts, the Gladiators' Training Ground and the Great Theatre.
3. Van transfer to the wineryA 15 minute ride in an air-conditioned van from Pompeii to the vineyard on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.
4. Lunch and wine tasting at Casa SetaroRoughly 100 minutes for a seasonal gourmet lunch by a signature chef and a tasting of four award-winning wines, including the amphora-aged one.
5. Van transfer backA 15 minute van ride returning you to the Pompeii ruins area, where the tour ends.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the day easier, from ticket rules at Pompeii to what to wear for the walk.

• Bring ID. Pompeii's ticketing rules now require each participant's full name and surname on the ticket, so the operator needs your participant list in advance. Bring a passport or ID card on the day; a photo of it is accepted, and children need one too.
• Dress for heat. The listing asks for comfortable shoes and clothes. One reviewer noted the guide steered the group into shade because of the heat, so a hat and water are sensible additions in warm months.
• Pace and walking. Two hours at Pompeii covers a lot of ground, as one reviewer put it, so expect to be on your feet most of that stretch.
• Small group feel. The listing calls it a small-group experience, and reviewers repeatedly praised the manageable size. One couple reported having their departure entirely to themselves.
• Food and diets. Lunch is seasonal, local and chef-prepared, paired with the four-wine tasting. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menus are available, but you must inform the operator in advance.
• Getting there. The meeting point is Porta Marina Superiore, not the winery. Hotel pickup is listed as included as detailed at booking, so check the booking page for exactly what that covers for your accommodation, and note that public transport tickets are not included.

Common issues. The tour is not built for everyone. Pets, alcohol and drugs, and electric wheelchairs are not allowed, and the Pompeii portion involves sustained walking on ancient streets in whatever the weather brings. One reviewer found the winery portion only OK next to an excellent guided walk. Because tickets must be personalized, forgetting to send participant names or leaving ID at the hotel can cause problems at the gate.

Which Vesuvius Tour Fits Your Plans