herculaneum

carol, Herculaneum (Ercolano) is a town located between Naples and Pompeii. It's easily possible to visit both sites in a day, with travel by Circumvesuviana (use station Ercolano-Scavi). Are you planning to also visit Pompeii? I don't know of any firms that provide day tours of Herculaneum and Vesuvius from Rome. You could consider travelling on your own by train, and then meeting a Guide at the site (although they may not also cover Vesuvius). There are some excellent Guides listed in the Italy Guidebook. Happy travels!

We took the fast train fr Rome, walked from the train stn to Herculaneum (this was 4 yrs ago, but I think it was 20-30min...not very far...and my brain is trying to tell me it wasn't even that long). Toured Herc for a few hours, stopped for pizza on the way back to the train stn (there is...or was...nowhere to get food at the site....I was getting hungry and grumpy, so eat first or take a snack)...there was a van/tour company set up outside the train stn to take you up Vesuvius...we got the last 2 seats...I'm sure there was more then one operating...and they actually squeezed us in by putting a folding chair in to fit everyone..(.thank God I wasn't sitting in that! lol). Up we went, I think we had an hour to look around, then back to the train stn...it was an awesome ride (and scary) on Vesu...and watching the huge tour buses navigating the hairpin turns. And we were back in Rome by 7-8pm (and we are late risers -prob left by 10am, and missed our stop and spent 45min waiting for a train to take us back...). Another thing...wear good shoes if doing Vesu...it is loose soil and stones and steep...sandals would not do...unless you like rocks in your shoes!