Nat Geo Day Tour: Rione Terra - Tales of Ancient History and Personal Redemption

Set off with your local guide from Naples to Pozzuoli, where you'll visit Rione Terra, the city's ancient core, recently resurrected from decades of abandonment following seismic activity. This area has undergone extensive restoration since 1993, unearthing historical treasures and reviving its legacy. Collaborating with the Puteoli Sacra project, your tour is enriched by guides who are reorienting their lives after incarceration, sharing local history but also their personal stories of redemption.

Your exploration starts at the 17th-century baroque Cathedral of Pozzuoli, erected over the remnants of ancient temples, including a marble shrine to Augustus. Although ravaged by fire in 1964, the destruction also exposed these underlying historical layers, adding depth to your visit. Inside, marvel at works by Artemisia Gentileschi, a pioneering female artist of the Baroque period, known for her feminist undertones and exceptional life story in a male-dominated field.

The next stop is the Diocesan Museum, safeguarding Rione Terra's art since the area's evacuation in the 1970s. The collection spans baroque masterpieces to sacred artifacts. Then venture underground to the Roman city of Puteoli, established in 194 B.C., where ancient streets and structures are unusually well preserved.

Accompanied by your Puteoli Sacra guides, the tour ends with an aperitif in a private garden overlooking the sea or with tea indoors - depending on the weather - and a selection of Neapolitan nibbles.