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Overview
Dates Sep 16 — Sep 27, 2008
Activity Level Moderately active
Rome, "the eternal city," and Florence, often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, provide the framework for this special program celebrating the glories of Italian history, culture, and cuisine. In Rome, do as the Romans do--eat, drink, and surround yourself with historic and contemporary masterpieces. Special guided walking tours of gourmet markets and meals at legendary restaurants are interwoven with visits to artists' quarters and private off-hours access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Travel to Florence, where fascinating sites are on a scale both grand--the exquisite Duomo and Baptistery, the Uffizi's Vasary Corridor, and intimate--private visits to leather, marbled paper, and perfume producers, where artisans use generations-old techniques. Between these two great Italian cities, marvel at the Etruscan necropolises in Cerveteri and Tarquina, the beauty of Bonifacio on the island of Corsica, the renowned red coral jewelry and pecorino cheese synonymous with Sardinia, and the splendid Campo dei Miracoli in Pisa. There is ample time between stops to relish the exhilarating sailing experience for which the Sea Cloud is renowned.
To download a full brochure for this program, click the PDF button at the top right side of this page.
Map
Itinerary
- Days 1 and 2 — U.S. / Rome, Italy
- Day 3 — Rome
- Day 4 — Rome / Cerveteri & Tarquinia / Civitavecchia (Embark)
- Day 5 — At Sea
- Day 6 — Alghero, Sardinia
- Day 7 — Bonifacio, Corsica
- Day 8 — Portoferraio, Elba
- Day 9 — Genoa (Disembark), Pisa, Florence
- Days 10 and 11 — Florence
- Day 12 — Florence / U.S.
Highlights
- Marvel at breathtaking mosaics, Greco-Roman sculptures, frescoed ceilings, exquisite tapestries, and the masterpieces of Michelangelo in the Vatican Museums.
- Walk among thousands of tombs at the necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, where colorful wall paintings have helped historians reconstruct the life of the Etruscans.
- Sample and learn about the specialties of Italian cuisine, including pecorino cheese, robust red wines, hearty pasta dishes, and rainbow-colored gelato.
- Visit the Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School) in Florence, whose stunning hand-crafted leather goods are coveted by commoners and royalty alike.
- Relax aboard the legendary Sea Cloud, a magnificent four-masted yacht that offers a beauty, grace, and elegance unparalleled among sailing ships.
Program Leaders
Jennifer Neils
Jennifer Neils, a classical archaeologist, is the Ruth Coulter Heede Professor of Art History and Classics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. A seasoned excavator, Professor Neils has worked at and published material from ancient sites in Tuscany, northern Greece, and Sicily. Her most recent book, The Parthenon from Antiquity to the Present, was published in 2005, and her exhibition, "Coming of Age in Ancient Greece: Images of Childhood from the Classical Past," toured the U.S. in 2003-2004. She has been a study leader on numerous trips to the Mediterranean.
Inge Jackson Reist
Inge Jackson Reist is Chief of Research Collections and Programs at the Frick Art Reference Library of the Frick Collection in New York City, where she has also served as both a lecturer and an assistant curator. In addition, Dr. Reist spent several years teaching art humanities at Columbia University, Southern Baroque art at Hunter College in New York, and Italian High Renaissance painting and sculpture at Rutgers University. She has lectured on a broad range of topics on European art at venues that include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, and Chrysler Museum, and on other programs for AMNH Expeditions.
Sponsors
American Museum of Natural History Expeditions
MIT Alumni Travel Program
Smithsonian Journeys
Accommodations
Cruise Ship
The Sea Cloud
The Sea Cloud is a legendary ship without comparison. This beautiful yacht's snow-white hull, warm teak superstructures, and gleaming brass fittings define her rich tradition and heritage. Although she is equipped with auxiliary diesel engines, sails are the essence of the cruise experience and they are unfurled as often as possible. Built in 1931 with the greatest attention to detail and fine craftsmanship, Sea Cloud is decorated with original oil paintings, antique furniture, rich wood paneling, and brass and bronze fixtures. Original staterooms are beautifully appointed in their own style, some with fireplaces, and each with a private marble bath with either a tub or shower. Lunch and dinner include fine wine and beer, and there is one seating at dinner. Sea Cloudis outfitted with the latest technical equipment, including radar, satellite navigational aids, and satellite communications. A journey aboard Sea Cloud, which carries only 64 passengers, is an intimate experience on one of the most elegant and luxurious vessels afloat.
Program Rates
Airfare
U.S. domestic and international airfare, from the U.S. to Rome with return from Florence to the U.S., is not included in the program rates. High Country Passage is happy to help you with your air travel arrangements.
Program Rates
From $10,995 per person, double occupancy; $14,395 single