Organized Tours

Pompeii & Vesuvius

I have taken many tours offered by both ITT and USO. I would recommend them all. I have been on just about every day trip, and as many as we can afford of the extended tours.

Tours offered by ITT

September 2002 Tours

26 Sept., Thursday:  NEGOMBO SPA…$45.00…Enjoy a FULL day by relaxing on the beach or soaking your cares away in one of the 15 thermal pools at one of Ischia's famous resorts! For an extra charge, pamper yourself with beauty treatments. We'll set up your appointments at the time of sign up! You must set up an appointment in advance to be guaranteed a beauty treatment. A list of the treatments is available at ITT. The trip includes bus, ferry, taxi, entrance fees and Euro 3.00 off for each treatment costing Euro 20.00 or more. Bring Euro for lunch and treatments and don't forget your swimsuits and towels!

27 Sept., Friday:  SHOP VOMERO MARKET…$2.00...Located in a wonderful area of town, this large market sells anything you need: house wares, linens, clothing and produce.

28 Sept., Saturday:  SHOP SORRENTO with Lunch…$25.00…Enjoy a leisurely, carefree day shopping in Sorrento. Known for its inlaid wood, the entire town has picturesque alleys, quaint shops and beautiful views. You will enjoy a great lunch and you will have a lot of time to shop and to browse.

29  Sept., Sunday:  No Tour.

30 Sept., Monday:  CASTLES of NAPLES…$25.00…Travel back in time to the 13th century, exploring, with Aldo, the Castles that once provided fortification for the city of Naples. You will have an external tour of Castle Dell'Ovo & Castle Nuovo and an internal tour of Castle St. Elmo.

October 2002 Tours

1 Oct., Tuesday:  PAESTUM and TEMPLES...$27.00...Join Aldo and visit this beautiful archeological site discovered, by chance, in 1750. We'll take you for a tour of these monuments still standing since 600 B.C.

2 Oct., Wednesday:   BEST OF NAPLES..$35.00...Aldo will take you to see the Veiled Christ, a Greek quarry, and a famous Cathedral. Shorts, tank tops & mini skirts are not acceptable for this tour.

3 Oct., Thursday:  POSILLIPO MARKET...$2.00...A medium sized market with clothing, shoes and house wares, located at a park near Via Porta.

4 Oct., Friday:  ISOLA DI CAPRI WITH LUNCH...$50.00...Take this tour with Aldo to the 'Island of Paradise.' The tour includes bus, hydrofoil, cable car to Piazza Umberto - Capri's main square - and lunch. Beverages are not included. Visit the Gardens of Augustus and the beautiful shops. Don't forget to people watch!

5 Oct., Saturday:  POMPEII MARINA GATE & CAMEO FACTORY...$30.00…Join Aldo and visit the ruins of Pompeii, which were buried in 79AD by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Explore its outdoor theaters, banks, bars, public baths, health clinics and brothels. After the tour, visit a Cameo factory for a unique demonstration by skilled artisans.

6 Oct., Sunday:  VILLA ADRIANI, Tivoli...$35.00...Completely designed by Emperor Hadrian, it is probably the most costly building project from antiquity. It dates back to 134 A.C. Don't miss this magnificent villa. Lunch is not included. NEW! NEW! NEW!

7 Oct., Monday:  CAPODIMONTE FACTORY SHOPPING…$2.00…Visit the Capodimonte factory and see the process of making these famous figurines and works of art. Bargain shopping will begin immediately afterwards.

8 Oct., Tuesday:  WINE TASTING IN BENEVENTO...$18.00...Come and enjoy one of the best wines in Benevento and visit this old and enchanting winery. Lunch is included. NEW! NEW! NEW!

9 Oct., Wednesday:  SHOP NOLA MARKET…$2.00…Join us for a trip to this open air market and shop for many great bargains.

10 Oct., Thursday:  NO TOUR

11 Oct., Friday:  IKEA SHOPPING...$10.00...Shop at IKEA for world-renowned Swedish household products.

12 Oct., Saturday:  NAPLES DOWN THE HILL...$18.00...Walk down the same ancient roads as Greek and Roman soldiers traveled, having Aldo explain details about every nook and cranny. Bring money for pizza and wear comfortable shoes!

13 Oct., Sunday:  ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM..$20.00...Join Aldo and tour one of the most famous museums in Italy. World-renowned for its collection of ancient artifacts from Pompeii and Ercolano, this is a must see tour!

14 Oct., Monday:  ERCOLANO & CAMEO FACTORY…$30.00…Visit the ruins of Ercolano, which was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Then, see how Cameos are made and compare them to the ones found in the Ercolano ruins.

15 Oct., Tuesday:  CASERTA ROYAL PALACE & GARDENS...$20.00...Visit one of the world's greatest royal palaces built in the 1700's. Aldo will show you why this palace is a showcase for architecture, paintings, and marble sculptures.

16 Oct., Wednesday:  DUOMO & UNDERGROUND...$20.00...Visit the beautiful Cathedral of Naples dating back to the 15th century. Greek and Roman ruins are buried below it. Mini skirts, shorts and tank tops are not acceptable. This tour is not recommended for small children and for people who have difficulty walking long distances.

17 Oct., Thursday:  PORTE DI NAPOLI…$2.00…Leave the driving to us and we'll leave the shopping to you! Have a great time purchasing quality name brands at any of the great 70 stores in this fantastic mall!

18 Oct., Friday:  MOZZARELLA FACTORY...$2.00...Join us on a whirlwind tour to Caserta Sud to see how mozzarella is made. Fresh cheeses are available at reasonable prices.

19 Oct., Saturday:  ANCIENT OSTIA...$35.00...Join us in a visit to this 4th century B.C. Roman city. We'll guide you through these ancient ruins and excavations. NEW! NEW! NEW!

20 Oct., Sunday:  EMPEROR NERO'S WIFE'S VILLA and CAMEO FACTORY...$25.00...Join Aldo on this excursion through one of the best-preserved mansions still intact from the 1st century BC, having time to visit the Cameo factory, too.

21 Oct., Monday:  SHOE ALLEY...$2.00... A large market with just about anything you could possibly want; housewares, small furniture, baskets, shoes, clothing and food. There is a paved area with large aisles which is convenient for strollers.

22 Oct., Tuesday:  CHOCOLATE FACTORY...$2.00...Come and see how authentic Italian chocolates are made. Bring extra Euro, so you can take some samples home!

23 Oct., Wednesday:  MONTECASSINO ABBEY...$25.00...Join Aldo for a guided tour of the famous Montecassino Abbey, which was used by the Germans as their headquarters in W W II. Mini skirts, shorts and tank tops are not allowed.

24 Oct., Thursday:  FUORIGROTTA MARKET...$2.00...This market is one of the largest and best markets in the area. You can buy fabulous fruits, vegetables, cheeses, household items and more. The smaller outdoor market has clothing, shoes, fabrics etc.…

25 Oct., Friday:  NAPLES IN THE EVENING...$16.00...Take this historic tour with Aldo for panoramic views of beautiful Naples and its bay at night. You will be traveling by bus and on foot. Then, it's off to Piazza Plebiscito, the heart of Naples, to enjoy a pizza, a 'gelato', a 'cappuccino' and/or a 'dolce' at any of the wonderful local establishments. Please, bring Euro for food and drinks.

26 Oct., Saturday:  SORRENTO/AMALFI COAST…$42.00…Join Aldo for a historical look at Sorrento, a beautiful town known for its inlaid wood. Afterwards, enjoy a drive along the famous coast of Amalfi. Stop at Amalfi town for lunch. You will have free time on your own to visit the Duomo and to shop.

27 Oct., Sunday:  HISTORICAL BAIA...$22.00...Visit the archeological area of Baia including the museum inside the castle, where you can see a collection of artifacts from the Shrine of the Augustals in Miseno. It also includes a tour through Baia's historic spa resort.

28 Oct., Monday:  CHURCHES OF NAPLES...$18.00...This is a guided tour of the oldest and most beautiful churches of Naples. Shorts, tank tops or mini skirts are not acceptable for this tour.

29 Oct., Tuesday:  CASTLE OF LAURO...$35.00...Join Aldo for a tour through this medieval castle and ancient charterhouse turned into a luxurious hotel, where one of the oldest wine presses is preserved. Then, visit a Franciscan convent built over roman ruins. All this topped off with a "home made" lunch.

30 Oct., Wednesday:  CASERTA MARKET...$5.00...A large market with just about anything you could possibly want: house wares, small furniture, baskets, shoes, clothing and food. There is a paved area with large aisles, which is convenient for strollers.

31 Oct., Thursday:  CASTLES OF NAPLES...$25.00...Travel back in time to the 13th century, exploring, with Aldo, the Castles that once provided fortification for the city of Naples. You will have an external tour of Castle Dell'Ovo & Castle Nuovo and an internal tour of Castle St. Elmo.

USO Daily Tours

Monday:

Naples After Work - $19.00

Tuesday:

Herculaneum -  $49.00

Wednesday:

Christian Rome - $55.00

(Includes Papal Audience & St. Peter's Basilica Tour

 

Walk of Historical Naples - $29.00

(Includes Underground & Veiled Christ)

Thursday:

Sorrento & Amalfi Coast - $35.00

 

Gricignano Market Shuttle - Free
(includes leather factory of Cesa)

Friday:

Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius - $49.00

 

Wine Tasting After Work - $39.00

Saturday:

Mini Cruise of the Amalfi Coast - $45.00

Sunday:

Rome of the Caesar's - $55.00
(an Historical Rome Tour)

LIBERTY, Recreation for Singles

The LIBERTY program is designed for 18 - 25 year old single service members and civilians.  It offers day trips to local restaurants, movies, sporting events, tourist spots and more.  Plus, each month of the year, LIBERTY takes one extended trip to exciting places and events throughout Europe such as, New Year’s in London, St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, or Bullfighting in Spain.  All LIBERTY events are discounted to help give everyone the chance to enjoy Europe.  LIBERTY also offers terrific special events such as the annual Body Building Contest and a free Spring party at Carney Park with great food and entertainment. The LIBERTY office is located at Capodichino, in the basement of building #443.  Just look for the green awning and go down the steps.

 

Things to do at the Underground
There are three pool tables, a ping pong table, air hockey and a 51 inch TV for your video game entertainment.  Do you like to surf the web or just check your e-mail, there are four computers for you!  Do you like to watch movies?  Liberty has 500 movies that you can watch on the 61 inch big screen TV with leather couches and recliners!  Liberty get movies 3 weeks before the video store and they're FREE! 

 

MAJOR Discounts and FREE Stuff!
Hey Single Service Members are you a Liberty Card holder? Don't miss out on MWR DEALS available through the Liberty Card Program. Become a Liberty Card holder today and you will receive a coupon booklet full of discounts as well as you will qualify yourself for free stuff at MWR facilities. To apply, bring a copy of your LES or Page 2, your Passport (if you have one) and your ID to the Liberty office and get all the DETAILS and DEALS!

Liberty Activities for October

LIFE-SIZE CHECKERS & BBQ ~ Thursday, Oct 3 ~ 7-9PM · Free
Liberty is offering you this unique opportunity to play checkers with life-size checkers pieces. Move your pieces to be kinged or captured while the Liberty Staff fires up the grill. Join us and you will enjoy the day! Great prizes for the winner.

LIBERTY U ~ 7-8PM · Free
Tuesday, Oct. 8 -ITALIAN 101 ~ -Cultural Differences
Tuesday, Oct. 15 -ITALIAN 201 ~ Greetings
Tuesday, Oct. 22 -ITALIAN 301 ~ Farewells
Tuesday, Oct. 29 -ITALIAN 40 1 ~ Italian/American similarities
Make your overseas time in Italy more enjoyable. In 4 short lessons, Liberty will try to provide you enough basic Italian and cultural background that you will fully enjoy this beautiful country. No prior knowledge of Italian is required. The courses are taught by The Underground Staff Members in a dynamic and friendly atmosphere. Come by The Underground to pick up a Liberty U class schedule and sign up now for classes! This is the 1st session offered, so join us to learn some helpful greetings and learn about the differences between American and Italian cultures. 

SPADES NIGHT ~ Thursday, October 24 ~ 7-10PM · Free
Spades is played widely in the USA and is the most popular game on U.S. Navy Ships. Spades is a game where strong is the strategic tension between not taking enough tricks, and taking too many. Can you play? Well, bring your Spades partner down and we'll have the cards. Liberty will award prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Snacks and sodas for all the participants. 

LAST BUCK AND HALLOWEEN PARTY ~ Thursday, October 31, 2002 ~ 7-9PM · Free
In 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended October 31st. It is told that on that day, the spirits of those who had died the previous year would come back to possess the bodies of the living. To avoid being possessed, come to The Underground; Liberty wants to celebrate this traditional festival with all SSM "treating" every participant with pumpkin carving contest, games, trivia and free pasta.

Liberty Day Trips for October

GRAPE STOMP AND COOKING WITH MARIA ~ Saturday, October 5
E6 & below $20
E7 & above $25
Dep: 9am Ret: 5pm
In the cellar everything is ready for the grapes that are being picked. Once the grapes have been harvested, they are crushed (in practice they are squashed) and de-stemmed (separated from the stems). Maria wants to show us the "old way" of crushing the grapes by feet. It is important, after the grapes have been crushed to separate out the stalks from the grapes. Once again will be done by hand. After all this work, lunchtime will come around quickly. We have a great opportunity to taste Maria's superb cooking again. Don't miss it. Limited Seats.

Historical Campi Flegrei: Pozzuoli, Baia and Cuma ~ Saturday, October 12
E6 & below $10 
E7 & above $15
Dep. 9am Ret. 5pm
The Phlegraean Fields is a fascinating area, owing to its various and pleasant landscape and to the numerous now extinct craters, with whose dormant volcanic activity, however, the phenomenon of bradyseism and the hot spring are connected. This very fertile and sunny land, with a mild climate and natural sheltered ports, was inhabited by primitive and mythical peoples. In fact, the origin of the name Phlegraean (burning) Fields is Greek and is justified by the volcanic activity so evident to the first Aegean sailors. Includes transportation and entrance fees. Will stop for lunch (not included).

TASTE OF NAPLES: " Home style Neapolitan dinner at La Bifora in Bacoli" ~ Friday, October 18
E6 & below $20.00 
E7 & above $25.00
Dep. 6am Ret. Midnight
Neapolitan cooking takes pride in the invention of three of the tastiest things to eat: pizza, pasta and ice cream. Naples' real masterpiece of cuisine is pizza. There are many Neapolitan dishes such as meatballs, genovese sauce, potato pie, sartu' di riso, fried veggies and so on that cannot be normally found on the restaurants' menus. Enjoy a night out with Liberty and experience a truly Neapolitan meal. Dinner & transportation included.

Spend a day on the Amalfi Coast and Pizza by the meter ~ Saturday October 19
E6 & below FREE 
E7 & above $5
Dep. 9am Ret. 5pm
The Amalfi Coast may be the most beautiful coastline in all of Europe. Steeped in history and legend, it boasts wealth of antiquities from the Roman Empire as well as the architectural and culinary influences of the Saracens from the East. Located south of Naples in the Bay of Salerno, the coastal towns - notably Amalfi, Positano and Ravello- are renowned for having more than their share of natural gifts; lush Mediterranean flora, superb seafood, delectable local wines, and panoramas of sea and sky that defy description. Local craftsmen and artisans keep alive the local traditions; making fine handmade papers, colorful ceramics and limoncello - the local lemon liqueur. Lunch at Pizza by the meter (not included).

Vesuvio and Pompei ~ Saturday, October 26
E6 & below $10 
E7 & above $15
Dep. 9am Ret. 5pm
Today two million people live in the immediate vicinity of Mount Vesuvius. This volcano has erupted more than 50 times since the eruption in 79 A.D., when it buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. In 1631, erupted again killing 4000 unsuspecting inhabitants. It was during the restoration after this eruption that workers discovered the ruins of Pompeii, buried and forgotten for nearly 1600 years. It would take another 300 years for the excavations to reveal the story of Pompeii and Herculaneum. There are artifacts and petrified humans still remaining that give the visitor a view of the roman life 2000 years ago. Includes entrance fee and transportation. Will stop for lunch (not included). If you wish to go to the very top of the Vesuvius to look inside and walk around the crater, there is an additional charge.

Liberty Extended Trips

HALLOWEEN IN LONDON
October 30 - November 2
· E6 & below: $TBA pp/do
· E7 & above: $TBA pp/do
· Non-Single: $TBA pp/do
London has so much to offer that it is almost frightening! See the torture chamber in the London Tower, visit the London Dungeon or spend Halloween with us at Bram Stoker's Pub. You will be intrigued by sights such as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and the Horse Guards Parade. You will also visit the Houses of Parliament and the famous 'Big Ben', Tower Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's elegantly-domed masterpiece.

VETERAN'S DAY IN SICILY
November 8 - November 11
· E6 & below: $100 pp/do
· E7 & above: $125 pp/do
· Non-Single: $135 pp/do
Spend a relaxing 3-day weekend in Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, and discover its rich heritage of history and art. Named “Trinacria” by the ancient Greeks because of its triangle shape, this fascinating island is prevalently mountainous and hilly. The highest mountains lie in the north-east and Mount Etna (3,340 m.) is the biggest volcano in Europe, where you can hike (free) or ski (at additional cost, weather permitting). You can also visit Taormina, a beautiful tourist town located on the coast, with its amphitheater, Greek theater, and many great shops. You may want to test your Italian driving skills on the go-carts in town. The trip includes: transportation, 3-night accommodation, (bungalow), excursions to Mt. Etna and Taormina, scavenger hunt to the local market, breakfast, one BBQ and one dinner.

THANKSGIVING IN PARIS
November 28 - December 1
· E6 & below: $TBA pp/do
· E7 & above: $TBA pp/do
· Non-Single: $TBA pp/do
Paris is known for such famous landmarks as Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Arch de Triomphe. Everyone knows Paris for its fashion and its food. It's one of the most stimulating cities in the world, awakening all the senses. You won't leave disappointed.