CICERO'S ITALY
Monday, June 29 - Saturday July 11, 2009
Direstor: Beverly Berg
OVERVIEW: this program follows Cicero in his peregrinations to his beloved villas south of Rome, including the places where he was born and where he died, and studies Cicero's sterling performances as a defense lawyer. The program officially begins with an excursion to Sulmona, birthplace of Ovid.
NOTE: all participants must have arrived in Rome by the evening of Sunday, June 28, in order to begin the program Monday morning. Director will help with your reservations in a Rome hotel. They will also need a hotel in Rome or elsewhere in Italy (depending on their post-program plans) for Saturday night, July 11, at the end of the program.
Pre-program (no-host, no fee):
Sat, June 27:
Optional no-host walking tour of Rome, including Altar of Peace, San Luigi dei Francesi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona (stadium of Domitian) and the Forum Boarium area.
Sun, June 28:
Optional no-host walking tour of Rome, including the Forum, the Imperial Fora, and San Clemente with a Roman Mithraeum beneath.
Itinerary
Mon, June 29:
Morning train to Sulmona, beautiful home town of Ovid. Discussion of selections from Ovid and walking tour of the town, including Roman floor mosaics and a medieval aquaduct. Overnight in Sulmona.
Tues, June 30:
Class on the life of Cicero, visit to the so-called Villa of Ovid in a lovely setting near Sulmona. Overnight in Sulmona.
Wed, July 1:
Morning train with a change in Avezzano to Sora. Pick up by hired bus for a visit to the spot near Arpinum where Cicero was born, lunch on the very spot where Cicero wrote some of his philosophical works in his island retreat, and walking tour of the charming town of Arpinum, whose native sons include Cicero, Marius the great Republican general, and Agrippa the right hand man of Augustus. Arrival at the Villa Vergiliana and welcome dinner.
Thu, July 2:
Class on the passages of Vergil's Aeneid VI relevant to Cuma, visit to ancient Cuma and the Sibyl's cave, introduction to Herculaneum and Pompeii.
Fri, July 3:
Visit to the small town of Herculaneum and the spectacular villa at Oplontis, both preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius. Return to the Villa Vergiliana for disussion of Cicero's Pro Cluentio.
Sat, July 4:
Visit the baths and fine small museum of Baia, where Cicero's client Caelius once cavorted, and near which Cicero's Villa Cumana was located, and on to Pozzuoli, where Cicero had another villa, to view the large and well-preserved amphitheater. Discussion of Cicero's Pro Caelio.
Sun, July 5:
The medieval church of Santa Chiara in Naples and the Archeological Museum of Naples with its peerless collection of Roman wall paintings and mosaics. Return to Villa Vergiliana for lunch and a discussion of Cicero's Pro Milone (Non Cicero scholars may prefer continuing to explore Naples this afternoon and take the public bus back to the gates of the Villa Vergiliana).
Mon, July 6:
Day trip via ferry from Naples to lovely Capri, hike up to the dramatic ruins of Tiberius' Villa Jovis (the less athletic may prefer exploring Capri town), continue to quaint town of Anacapri with a visit to Axel Munthe's evocative Villa San Michele.
Tue, July 7:
Pompeii (where Cicero had a villa), its forum, temples, theaters, amphitheater, baths, and homes preserved by Vesuvius. (Note: if we have a small group we would be dropped off this evening at a Salerno Hotel, a large group would return to the Villa Vergiliana.)
Wed, July 8:
Paestum (note: by bus from Villa or train from Salerno) with its three Greek temples, the best preserved in mainland Italy, and fine museum. Overnight in Salerno.
Thu, July 9:
Visit by public bus to the charming medieval towns of Amalfi, with the cathedral of San Andrea, and Ravello, including the Castello Rufolo and the cathedral with its fascinating bronze doors cast by Barisano of Trani. Overnight in Salerno.
Fri, July 10:
Visit by train the ruins of Velia, a Greek foundation in a lovely setting, home of Cicero's good friend Trebatius Testa and the place from which Cicero wrote one of his final letters. (note: size of group determines whether we overnight in Salerno, taking train to Formia next day, or at the Villa, using hired bus to Formia. Bags can be checked at Formia station).
Sat, July 11:
Formia, the spot where Cicero was assassinated, his so-called tomb, the fine small museum, and nearby Minturnae, where Cicero had a small roadhouse. Return by train to Rome.
Price: $2,495, $300 single supplement.
The price includes all meals while staying at the Villa Vergiliana (some lunches are on-site picnics), and breakfast in Salerno.
Applications:
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