Private tour in Naples Raffaele R

Explore Herculaneum: Guided Tour with your Local Archaeologist + Driver Included

5.0

(5) reviews

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Hours icon 4 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-7 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
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-
Hours icon 4 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-7 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Raffaele R.

5.0

Guide rating

243

Reviews

Tours delivered

6 hrs

Avg. response time

Ciao! I am Raffaele, a Neapolitan Archaeologist with 14 years of field experience on my neck and I am an Official Tour Guide of the Campania Region. I am an Authorized Tour Guide since 2015 and I am also a specialized Archaeologist; I did many archaeological surveys and excavations throughout Italy in particular Naples, Pompeii, Pollena Trocchia, Cimitile, Sorrento, Rome, Molise and Pisa. My Studies CV: I got a BA in Archaeology and History of Art with a dissertation on "burials ad Sanctos"; after that, I took a MA in Archaeology and History of Art with a dissertation on "the imperial and late roman amphoras from the Catacomb of San Gennaro in Naples", both degrees are from University of Naples Federico II. I obtained the Post- Graduate Diploma in Archaeology of Scuola di Specializzazione at University of Campania (Naples). Currently I am running a project for the restoration of an ancient Pompeii's building and its opening to the public. Through these studies I found commercial relationship within Naples bay and the other cities along the Mediterrean Sea during the Roman Empire (II BC -V AD). Guide / Archaeological work highlights: - In December 2021 the Nobel Prize Prof. Mario Capecchi was on a tour with me at the Archaeological Museum of Naples. - In March 2021 I discovered during an archaeological excavation a roman villa built outside the city walls of the ancient Pompeii (photo about it on my profile pic collection) - The municipality of City of Pompeii has awarded me the Prize for great and honorable guide and I am proud of it! (Oct 2019) - In September 2019 the Nobel Prize for Medicine 2011 Dr. B. Beutler was with me for a tour of Pompeii. (see pics on the slideshow) - I am also the owner of a TO "Grand Tour Experience", a team of guides all specialized in archaeology, history art and local culture! I travelled a lot, living for two years in London where I worked as conservator-restorer for the HMS Belfast better known as Imperial War Museum. Both travels and the experience of living abroad have made me understand how lucky I am to live in Naples! It's a city with a unique charm, where you can breathe history and art in every street corner, a place where people's energies are so strong and powerful that you can feel at home everywhere and in every moment of the day. A city, maybe, one of the most important in Europe and Italy, an unformed diamond waiting to be crafted. My strongest passions are archaeology and art. I love my land and I could not choose better job than this, where I can show the beauties, the story, the archaeology, the art, I can tell the tales and legends, I can bring you through the secret and veiled wonders of this place. Perhaps there's art in my DNA, or maybe I was born in the art. When I was a child, I was fascinated staring at my father when he was painting, watching colors mixing between themselves on a canvas, tasting theirs smell. On the side of my studies about classical archaeology and history of art, I love so deep the late Manierism and the Baroque in art. I am taking also a rediscovering of typical products of my land, as ' Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio ', one of the many exellences of Campania. For this reason I am the President of the association ' Le Ali della Terra ', that has to restore the unworked lands with clean coltures as the Piennolo's tomatoes. And for sure, as a good Italian I LOVE wine. I love my job as a tour guide so much to get excited all the time! Meeting new people is a power skill of this job. If you are not looking for a common tour guide, but you're looking for an archaeologist and art historian then you are in the right profile! - Specialized active Archaeologist - Licensed Tourist Guide - PhD/School of Specialization in Archeology at University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli - Dissertation about Pompeii (Bath House) - Master Degree in Archeology and Cultural Heritage at University Federico II of Naples - Dissertation about roman pottery - Bachelor degree in Archeology and History of Art at University Federico II of Naples - Dissertation about late roman burials I am not a driver but I can accompany you in a vehicle or I can arrange for a separate car and private driver.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Raffaele R.

Overview of your Naples tour

Let's get together the magic of Herculaneum: the dazzling ancient city! Your private driver will drop you off to the entrance to Herculaneum park, and I'll be there to live with you this amazing trip back in time! Even if smaller than Pompeii, Herculaneum is even more precious: it's closer to Vesuvius but you can see an almost intact city! It was the city that rich romans chose as a vacation: many houses are still by the beach, and you'll immediately notice the luxury and the preciousness of the decorations. Many roman shops still preserve what they sold: I'll show you how 2floors building survived to the vesuvian eruption! I had the chance to work as an Archaeologist on the preicous Herculaneum pottery and I'll tell you about these amazing studies. We'll see the most fascinating private homes, and recently reopened to the public is the seashore, where we can see the skeletons from the eruption of 79AD.

Recent Reviews

Vals O.United States
November 2025

We spent two exceptional days with Raffaele. The first an introduction to the Archeological Museum in Naples, unfortunately abbreviated by two hours due to train delays, and the second in Pompeii and Herculaneaum. Raffaele's immersive approach to both the museum and archeological sites is masterful! His deep historical knowledge of the subject and working experience of the sites, his strategic oranizational approach and superb delivery made this experience unexpectadly rich and fulfilling for our small group. Raffaele also managed all the logistics: luxury car and driver, lunch recommendation,and advance purchase of entry tickets. For my husband and me (both art historians and educators), it was among the very best educational experiences we have had during our many years of travel Thank you, Raffaele, for bringing Pompeii and Herculanaeum alive for us!

Gregory S.United States
October 2025

EXCELLENT TOUR. Raffaele took us on a wonderful and informative tour of Herculaneum. When I scheduled it, I asked about the best time to tour with less crowds. He had us picked up by 8:15 and we were the first to arrive and enter Herculaneum that day. It was just our group of 5 including him that went through the city. He made sure we were able to see everything, and he gave us a vivid picture of daily life. Including the day it ended. Great details of how they built things, how they cooked, ate and lived. It was Great!

Katherine L.United States
June 2025

This was the best tour of our trip and a wonderful highlight. We are so glad to have chosen Herculaneum over Pompeii. Raffael was the most wonderful tour guide. He was brilliant and his love for archeology and this site was truly evident. We felt as though we were transported through time and could really understand what life was like 2000 years ago. I cannot recommend Raffael more.

Nicholas M.United States
December 2023

We spent several hours with Raffaele at Ercolano. He is the perfect guide - informed, passionate and so animated and interested in sharing his knowledge. He was able to bring the city alive and helped us imagine life in the city both before and during the great eruption. The hours flew by. We want to return to the area to do more exploration. We will definitely seek Raffaele out for future tours to Pompeii, the archeologic museum......

Curtis S.United States
June 2023

A hugh thank you to Raffaele! To say that we absolutely loved our Herculaneaum tour is an understatement. Raffaele was a wealth of knowlege and we learned more than we expected. Thank you Raffaele for the wonderful tour - it exceeded all of our expecations.

Your Naples tour itinerary

- Tour starts from the ancient shoreline where people tried to find a refuge from the heat, but no chance! - Following the road backwards we will reach the vibrant center of the town where we could still see wooden stairs, second floor, shops with incredible marble decorations, houses with intact rich painting walls and mosaics made of gold! - Together we'll understand how works a roman bath house (here in Herculaneum is preserved the most beautiful of all the roman time!). - With great critical sense we will understand the reason for the interruption of the excavations and how the modern restorations are proceeding. - At the end of the tour I will show you also a a Roman boat CARBONIZED by the eruption truly intact and few artifacts discovered by my Teacher during the last excavations of the '80s.

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Transport details
Type: Private Transportation / Category: Minivan

Private driver in Luxury Van A/C Walking guided tour inside Herculaneum Archaeological Park

What's included
Other: Private driver in Luxury Van A/C Guided tour with a professional Archaeologist (2 hours) Skip the line service
Private Guide
Private Transportation
What's not included
Tickets: I can help to get them on the spot
Meeting location

Campania, Campania, Italy

- Port of Naples - Port of Salerno - Central Railway Station of Naples - International Airport of Naples - Or any hotels or accommodations

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
History
Tour reference number
760868
Languages
English
Italian
Activity level
Minimal
Accessibility
Kid Friendly
Wheelchair Accessible

Traveller reviews

5.0

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Ercolano best suited for?

This private tour in Ercolano is perfect for history enthusiasts, especially those interested in ancient Roman history and archaeology. It's also ideal for families, as it is kid-friendly and wheelchair accessible. With a minimal activity level, it's suitable for seniors and travellers with mobility concerns. Additionally, cruise ship passengers can enjoy this as a shore excursion.

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

Is this private tour in Ercolano suitable for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion?

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What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

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AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 4 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-7 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-7 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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