Experience the glory of imperial and classical Rome at the Piazza Venezia, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum.
Visit the ancient city of Pompeii, entombed in volcanic ash and pumice almost 2,000 years ago. Tour the extensively excavated UNESCO World Heritage Site to get a vivid glimpse into daily life in the Pax Romana.
Marozzi (www.marozzivt.it) operates daily buses (three hours, €16) from Rome to Pompeii's Piazza Esedra. Alternatively, trains connect Rome to Naples, where you can either switch trains or take a bus to Pompeii.
Rome abounds in all levels of accommodation, from five-star luxury to budget youth hostels. If you wish to stay overnight in Pompeii, however, your best bet is to find lodgings in nearby Naples, which, like Rome, has it all.
Although neither central nor southern Italy have extreme winters, the most pleasant weather can be found between April and June, when it is sunny but not stiflingly hot. Tourist numbers peak in July and August, along with the prices and temperature.
