GREECE & ITALY

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Classical Civilization

This specialized tour of Greece and Italy explores the art and archaeology of classical civilization, combining onsite tours of archaeological sites, historical monuments, and art museums with academic and professional lectures to boost your knowledge and deepen current teaching practices.

Our journey begins in Athens to explore the city’s numerous archaeological sites and museums. A licensed tour guide will lead us to the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Hephaestus, the Roman Agora, the Arch of Hadrian, the Cemetery of the Kerameikos, the Temple of Zeus, and the beautiful Sanctuary of Poseidon and Athena in Sounion. In addition, guest lecturers in the field of Classics and Art History from the University of Toronto will guide us in visiting the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum. We’ll also visit the Canadian Institute in Greece for a special lecture and to make use of the Classics library.

Day trips from Athens will take us to the Theatre of Epidaurus; the Lion Gate, citadel and grave / tholos tombs at Mycenae; and the Sanctuary of Olympia. After fully exploring the city of Athens, our travels take us north to the Sanctuary of Delphi, home of the ancient Oracle. Built on a mountain with a breathtaking view of the gulf of Itea, this site was believed to be the omphalos, or navel, of the ancient world. We’ll explore the extensive archaeological site and the Delphi Museum with expert guides and archaeologists.

You’ll also have the option of heading to the island of Mykonos, our base for exploring the incredible archaeological site of Delos, only a short ferry away. You’ll have the opportunity to hear about current excavations on Delos by archaeologists from the French School of Athens.

Our journey takes us next to Italy and the eternal city of Rome. A licensed tour guide will lead us to the incredible ruins and sites of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, Trajan’s Markets and the Column of Trajan, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, and the Baths of Diocletian and Caracalla. In addition, guest lecturers in the field of Classics from the University of Toronto will guide us in the Capitoline Museum, the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, and the Vatican Museums. Further afield we’ll visit Hadrian’s Villa and the Villa of the Quintili, as well as the tombs of the Via Latina and Via Appia Antica. We’ll also spend an evening at the British School in Rome for a special lecture.

From Rome we’ll head south to visit the beautiful Sorrento region where we can easily explore the Bay of Naples, including major archaeological sites at Paestum, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Oplontis. At Pompeii, we’ll visit the House of Caecilius and speak with the President and Founder of the Caecilius Project, working to build a new roof over the ancient ruins.

For a DAILY ITINERARY, please contact our office.