Classical Italy
Explore the incomparable heritage of Roman Italy; Etruscans, Sabines, Samnites, Latins, Greeks, Republic & Empire. Follow in the footsteps of the Gracchi, Sulla & Marius, the Triumvirates, Cicero & Caecilius. Trace the rise and fall of Republic and Empire through the public & private lives of the inhabitants.
This programme can easily be shortened to include archaeological sites and museums specific to your areas of study.
< Hadrian’s villa near Tivoli
Arrive Rome Airport. Courier assisted transfer by coach to Tivoli for the sumptuous gardens and fountains of Villa d’Este (Benedictine convent & Governor’s Palace) and Villa Adriana, private residence of Emperor Hadrian.
Rome Hotel and Evening Meal at local Trattoria.
Optional Rome by Night Coach Tour
< Ara Pacis Augustae
Morning at Foro Romano (with recent linked access to Fori Imperiali) and Palatine Hill (Museum and Domus of Augustus and Livia).
Lunch overlooking Ludus Magnus before visiting San Clemente’s Domus and Mithraeum.
< Colosseo, Rome – Courtesy of Haileybury College
Afternoon at Colosseo (access to both upper tiers & subterranean levels now available), Ara Pacis, Augustus’ Mausoleum and Pantheon.
Early evening visit to Capitoline Museums, look out for the insulae at the bottom of the steps.
Evening Meal at local Trattoria
Evening Walk via Circus Maximus, Forum Boarium, Isola Tiberina, Jewish Quarter and Theatre of Marcellus.
Rome Hotel
< Cerveteri Necropolis
Full Day coach excursion to the Etruscan towns, Necropoli and Museums of Tarquinia and Cerveteri. Lunch in town, at beach or Agritourismo Farm
Evening Meal at local Trattoria
Evening Walk to Campus Martius, Temple of Hadrian, Augustus’ Horologium and Piazza Navona
Rome Hotel
< Augustus Prima Porta, Vatican
Morning visit to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s
Lunch at Ostia Antica before transfer to Sorrento Hotel and Evening Meal
< Marina Grande, Sorrento
Sorrento (old name “Surrentum”) is perhaps linked with Homer’s legend of the Sirens. The town is constructed on grey tufa stone, overlooks Marina Grande, the original Greek harbour, now a pretty fishing port approached via Roman Arch on Greek foundations.
Day 5
< Vesuvius Crater
Full day coach excursion to Vesuvius (Bourbon Observatory with computer generated demonstrations of pyroclastic flows, optional) and Pompeii, home of Caecilius. Please check the Official Web Site in advance as many additional buildings have recently opened.
Sorrento Hotel and Evening Meal
< Villa Jovis, Capri
Full day excursion to Capri by ferry or hydrofoil. Funicular or minibus to Capri town and steep walk to the Villa of Tiberius. Continue to Ana Capri and the
< Villa San Michele, Capri
Romanesque Villa Museum San Michele, to enjoy the view and speculate on the differences between the original and replica statuary.
Sorrento Hotel and Evening Meal
< Cave of the Sibyl, Cumae
Full day coach excursion to Herculaneum, Pozzuoli and Cumae.
In addition to the Site of Herculaneum, the Theatre and Antiquarium may now be prebooked. Also, worth visiting is MAV, the Virtual Reality Museum
< Herculaneum
The small spa town of Pozzuoli, on the water’s edge, is home to many Roman remains including the small Flavian amphitheatre, Seraphaeum (perfect spot for lunch whilst watching the effects of Bradyseism) and remains of the Antoninus Pius Stadium commissioned for the Eusebeia.
Transfer to Cumae via Arco Felice to visit the oracle of the Ancient Sibyl as did Aeneas. Note Ilex Trees at the entrance!
Sorrento Hotel and Evening Meal
< Paestum
Full day coach excursion to the picturesque Amalfi Coast, stopping at Mediaeval town of Amalfi before lunch and afternoon at verdant Paestum’s Greek Temples and Roman housing; a Temenos in bucolic setting as intended. The Museum contains quite extraordinary Greek Tomb paintings.
Sorrento Hotel and Evening Meal
< Villa Poppaea, Oplontis
Coach transfer to Villas at Stabiae and Oplontis before lunch at Naples.
< Alexander the Great Mosaic, Naples Archaeological Museum
Afternoon at the National Archaeological Museum (repository of Pompeii and Herculaneum artefacts, recently opened Magna-Graecia galleries & new cafe).
Time permitting, visit Naples Underground. Two Tours are on offer, that of the Bourbon Galleries and the lesser known Greco-Romano Street of shops beneath San Lorenzo Maggiore.
Naples Airport for UK Flight
Feel free to contact us to tailor your own tour. 01342 324727
Optional Extras:
It is impossible ‘to do’ the Rome/Sorrento programme in one visit, so choose wisely – better still, visit at least twice!
< Villa Borghese
Rome: Quadriga Terrace above Victor Emmanuelle Monument, Baths of Diocletian (National Museum), Baths of Caracalla, National Etruscan Museum of Villa Guila, Villa Borghese and Galleria, Massimo Museum, Catacombs, Stadium of Domitian (beneath Piazza Navona), Castel San’Angelo, Palazzo Altemps Museum, Case Romane del Celio (Domus, Insulae and Nymphaeum – beautiful frescos), Republican Temples in basement of San Nicola in Carcere – walk the Appian Way, visit Via Latina or spend a few hours training at the Gladiator School!
< The Blinding of Polyphemus, Villa of Tiberius, Sperlonga
En route Rome to Sorrento: Villa of Tiberius and Grotto with Polyphemus statue at Sperlonga, Palestrina’s huge Terraced Temple and stunning mosaics, Nemi Lake with Temple to Diana and Museum for Caligula’s Barges, Amphitheatre, Gladiator Museum and Mithraeum of Capua.
< Piscina Mirabilis, Bacoli
Bay of Naples: Baiae Archaeological Site, Museum and ‘Sybilla’ glass bottomed boat, Piscina Mirablis, Pausilypon Tunnel, Villa & Theatre, Lake Avernus & Cape Misenum and Solfatara, the youngest volcano of the Phlegrean Fields, contains in its centre mud bubbles and hot springs, which constantly emit large clouds of steam.
< Sacello Augustali, Misenum
Sorrento Evening Activities: Pizza and Ice cream making, Tarantella Show (with or without meal)
Cross Curricular Departmental Joint Trips: consider inviting the Art, R/S or Modern History Department.
Blogs:
Three Days in Rome
A long weekend in Rome
Bay of Naples – New Hotels, TWO Glass Bottomed Boats and a new Site – Pausylipon (Seiano Grotto)!
What did the Romans (and Etruscans) ever do for Firenze? Part 1
What did the Romans (and Etruscans) ever do for Firenze? Part II
Walking Rome’s Obelisks