Pompeii Guided Tour: Roman New Year's Eve Night Experience

🎆 New Year's Eve in the magical caupona

🗺️ Overview

New Year's Eve in the magical caupona invites you to celebrate the turn of the year in an authentic ancient Roman tavern setting inspired by Pompeii. Step into a living reconstruction of a Roman caupona, dine from terracotta plates, sip wine from amphorae and cantari, and wear period costumes as you join a ritual New Year banquet. Between theater, music, and games, this immersive evening blends ancient Rome and contemporary flavors for a unique historical celebration.

✨ What to Expect

Your evening begins in the garden of the themed restaurant Caupona, where you are welcomed into the MARCO LUCREZIO FRONTONE ROOM for the traditional Roman salutatio. Musicians and a priestess greet you with flutes, drums, and ritual atmosphere, recalling the ancient cult of Janus in Pompeii and the Roman belief in music as protection against negative influences.

All guests are then offered Roman-style garments to wear, transforming you into consuls, matrons, and citizens of the Imperial age. Dressed in your toga, you move to the LUCIO PLACIDO THERMOPOLY, a faithful evocation of a Roman tavern, with solid wood tables in a Spartan style and terracotta tableware, where the grand New Year’s banquet begins.

The menu is inspired by the gastronomic heritage brought to Rome after the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, when the conquest of Egypt by Octavian opened the doors to the treasures of the East. You will taste dishes that recall the banquets of Lucullus, Apicius, and Columella, with a combination of typical ancient Pompeii and Roman recipes and contemporary creations.

During the evening you will enjoy theatrical scenes from Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra”, evoking the encounter of two worlds, power and beauty, passion and reason. Between acts, you can take part in traditional Roman-style games of dice and the special TUMULA, a tombola-like game using a pyramid-shaped basket symbolizing a volcano, from which numbers, anecdotes, stories, and small gifts emerge for the guests.

Over approximately seven hours, New Year's Eve in the magical caupona offers an easy, fully hosted historical experience, where food, theater, music, and play merge into a single journey through time, from the last day of the old year 31 BC to your own New Year’s Eve.

🌟 Highlights

• 🎭 Immersive New Year celebration in a themed caupona inspired by ancient Pompeii and Rome
• 🍷 Authentic Roman atmosphere with terracotta dishes, amphorae for wine, and drinking in traditional cantari
• 👗 Period dress-up experience with Roman garments and togas offered to all guests
• 🍽️ Grand New Year banquet inspired by Lucullus, Apicius, and Columella, with ancient Roman and contemporary dishes
• 🎶 Live music with flutes, drums, and ritual ambience recalling the cult of Janus in Pompeii
• 🎬 Theatrical scenes from Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra”, set against the backdrop of 31 BC and the Battle of Actium
• 🎲 Traditional games including dice and the unique TUMULA (tombola) with stories, anecdotes, and small gifts

🧭 Itinerary

• Arrival in the garden of Caupona
  Guests enter the garden of the themed restaurant and are welcomed into the MARCO LUCREZIO FRONTONE ROOM and the LUCIO PLACIDO THERMOPOLY.
• Ritual welcome and music
  At the entrance you are greeted by the priestess Licoride and musicians. To the sound of flutes and drums, you are introduced to the atmosphere of ancient Pompeii and the cult of Janus, with music used as a ritual to ward off negative influences.
• Vestition and passage
  All guests are offered Roman clothes to wear. Dressed in togas, you pass through the ritual salutatio and reach your solid wood table in the style of the old caupone to begin the evening.
• Banquet of Apicius and Columella
  The New Year’s banquet is served, with a grand menu based on typical dishes of ancient Rome and Pompeii alongside contemporary creations, honoring the gastronomic jewels that arrived in Rome after the conquest of Egypt.
• Theater: Antony and Cleopatra
  Scenes from Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra” evoke the last day of the old year 31 BC, the Battle of Actium, and the end of the love between Antony and Cleopatra. The performance explores the encounter of two cultures and the inner war between passion and reason.
• Games: Dadi and Tumula
  Guests can join in traditional dice games, recalling Roman banquets where denarii were wagered on lucky throws. The TUMULA (tombola) uses a pyramid-shaped basket, symbolizing a volcano, from which numbers, anecdotes, stories, and gifts are drawn for the diners.
• New Year ritual conclusion
  The evening closes with good wishes for the new year, shared among consuls, matrons, friends, and customers, in a unique blend of ancient ritual and modern celebration.

✅ What’s Included

• Welcome in the garden of the themed restaurant Caupona
• Access to the MARCO LUCREZIO FRONTONE ROOM and LUCIO PLACIDO THERMOPOLY
• Greeting by priestess Licoride and musicians with flutes and drums
• Roman garments and togas offered to all guests for the evening
• Grand New Year banquet inspired by Apicius and Columella, with ancient Roman and contemporary dishes
• Theatrical performance based on Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra”
• Participation in traditional games of dice (Dadi) and TUMULA (tombola)
• Use of terracotta plates, amphorae for wine, and traditional drinking vessels

🚫 Exclusions

• Transportation to and from the Caupona location (not specified as included)
• Additional drinks or extras not mentioned in the banquet description (if any)
• Personal expenses or optional gratuities
• Any services not explicitly listed under “What’s Included”

ℹ️ Important Information

• Duration: The experience lasts approximately 7 hours, covering the full New Year’s Eve celebration.
• Difficulty: Classified as EASY, suitable for most guests who are comfortable with a full evening event.
• Dress code: Roman garments and togas are provided on site for all participants to wear during the evening.
• Atmosphere: The event takes place in a themed environment inspired by ancient Pompeii and Roman caupone, with solid wood tables and terracotta tableware.
• Location details: The exact meeting point address is not specified, but guests arrive directly at the garden of the Caupona themed restaurant.
• Accessibility and age limits: Specific accessibility details and age restrictions are not mentioned in the description.
• Weather and conditions: Some parts of the experience begin in the garden, so seasonal weather should be considered, but no specific weather policy is stated.
• Language: The narrative and performances are based on Roman history and Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra”, but the operating language is not explicitly specified.

🚀 Step Into the New Year Like a Roman

Welcome the future in the light of ancient flames.

Choose New Year's Eve in the magical caupona to celebrate the turn of the year with a ritual banquet, theater, music, and games in an authentic Roman tavern setting. Surrounded by togas, amphorae, and the flavors of ancient Pompeii and Rome, you will live a New Year’s Eve that feels like a true journey through time.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ

1. How long does the New Year's Eve in the magical caupona experience last?
The experience lasts about 7 hours, covering the full New Year’s Eve celebration from welcome to the end of the banquet and games. It is designed as a complete evening in the Caupona setting.

2. Will I receive a Roman costume to wear during the event?
Yes, all guests are offered Roman-style garments and togas to wear. The vestition is part of the ritual passage into the banquet and helps create the immersive ancient Roman atmosphere of New Year's Eve in the magical caupona.

3. What kind of food is served at the banquet?
The banquet is inspired by Apicius and Columella and features a grand menu based on typical dishes of ancient Rome and ancient Pompeii, together with contemporary dishes. It recalls the gastronomic jewels that reached Rome after the conquest of Egypt and the banquets of Lucullus.

4. What entertainment is included during the evening?
The evening includes live music with flutes and drums, a theatrical performance based on Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra”, and traditional games such as dice (Dadi) and the TUMULA (tombola). These elements are integrated into the ritual banquet of New Year's Eve in the magical caupona.

5. Is the meeting point or exact address of the Caupona specified?
The description states that guests arrive in the garden of the Caupona themed restaurant and are welcomed into the MARCO LUCREZIO FRONTONE ROOM and LUCIO PLACIDO THERMOPOLY. However, the exact street address or detailed meeting instructions are not specified.