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MINI TOURS |
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One month in Italy a lifetime to say you were there! Take a passage through time walking the paths of the most vibrant cities in the world! Mini Tour of Rome, Florence, Tivoli, Capri and Naples to combine study and life. Taken at your own pace these tours can be a leisurely experience….. sipping wine in the company of locals or exploring some of the medieval markets. Whatever
you fancy, Italy
offers a taste for all senses! We have organized a number of mini guided tours of Italy to combine with your courses. However, these tour are optional and come at an additional cost. But no worries, the city of Rome is at hand, only 20 minutes away ! So even if you will be self exploring, Rome in itself will be a big source for self tailored mini tours.
ROME Rome is a chaotic, sensuous, and addictive place. Travelers are often overwhelmed and enchanted at the same time by the exuberance and friendliness of the locals, by the weight of the history and by the sheer beauty of the city. We Romans have a spiritual crisis whenever we must leave our eternal city. However, tourists often find themselves in the throes of the wild, confusing circus, unable to absorb the many delights, adventures and wonders Rome generously offers to everyone brave enough to accept the challenge. Rome is not just a city of culture, history, and crumbling marble, but a lively city that's a lot of fun for young people. Simply hanging out in the piazzas and on the steps of churches and old buildings is the best way to meet young locals as well as other travelers. There are also plenty of cafes, pubs, and bars offering all kinds of live music. A list of cool places to go and things to do is provided by weekly magazines such as Roma C'e' (look for the small English section at the back), the bi-monthly Wanted in Rome (completely in English). Take
note that some of the most important and beautiful sites in Rome can be
experienced gratis. Always
free: Roman
Forum - Capitoline Hill -
Trevi Fountain - Spanish Steps -
Pantheon - Colosseum
(exterior) - Castel Sant'Angelo (exterior) - Mouth of Truth - Piazza Navona - St. Peter's Basilica And
don't forget, every church in Rome is free. Whether you have a passion
for mosaics, paintings, sculptures, or martyrs' bones and relics, there
are world-class examples of each inside almost every church in the
historical center. Free
the last Sunday of the month:
Vatican
Museums and Sistine Chapel Capitoline
Museums and Tabularium
For more information on Rome History and places to visit click on this link: www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/rome/ |
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MINI TOURS IN DETAIL
The mini tours are 1 day to 2 days excursions organized for the weekends. For dates look at the course session you are interested in (fall, winter or spring)
CLASSICAL ROME Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, St Peter’s Basilica And Piazza Navona. Approx
3 hours An itinerary by coach and on foot to visit the classic monuments of Rome.
Crossing
Piazza della Repubblica with the fountain of the Nayads,
our local guide will take you on a pleasant stroll through the
historical centre, where you can admire the Trevi
Fountain, La Colonna di Marco Aurelio, the Palazzo
di Montecitorio, designed by Bernini, the Pantheon (visit
inside), Palazzo Madama - seat of the Senate, and Piazza
Navona. Passing
alongside Castel S. Angelo our coach will take you to the Basilica
of St Peter*, (visit inside except when there are religious
celebrations) where you can admire one of Michelangelo’s magnificent
works of art - “La Pietà”. Return to The New Village School. COST:
50,00 *N.B.
Entrance to churches requires appropriate attire (no shorts, miniskirts
or uncovered shoulders). IMPERIAL
ROME Piazza Venezia, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Basilica of St Paul Outside The Walls Approx 3 hours Arriving
by coach at Piazza Venezia with its impressive monument dedicated
to King Victor Emanuel II and the unknown soldier you then
continue on foot to the famous Piazza del Campidoglio designed by
Michelangelo from where you will have a fantastic view of the Roman
Forum. Our coach will continue by the Circus Maximus and the Pyramid
of Caius Cestius before arriving at the Basilica of St Paul
outside the walls* (visit inside). The tour will be completed with a
stop at the imposing Colosseum. Return
to The New Village School. COST:
50,00 *N.B. Entrance to churches requires appropriate attire (no shorts, miniskirts or uncovered shoulders). ROMAN
CASTLES Approx
3 - 4 hours An opportunity to leave the metropolis and immerse yourself in the natural and artistic beauty of the small medieval villages outside Rome. Leaving
Rome we drive by the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla and onto the
Ancient Appian Way by the Chapel of “Domine Quo Vadis”. This
tour takes us along the ‘Road of the Lakes’ through one of the hilly
areas of volcanic origin that characterize the outskirts of Rome; the Colli
Albani with its many growing villages. Castelgandolfo on the
shores of a vulcanic lake, where the Pope has his summer residence, Rocca
di Papa and Grottaferrata, known for their culture sights and
gastronomic delicacies which include the traditional “porchetta”.
Towards the northerly part of the Colli Albani, we reach Frascati popular
with visitors both for its beauty and considerable wine production. Here
we stop for a taste of local wine and to absorb the flavor of village
life. Return to The New Village School. COST:
55,00 TIVOLI
VILLA
ADRIANA, VILLA D’ESTE AND ITS FOUNTAINS Approx
4 hours Following the ancient Via Tiburtina 30 Kms. east of Rome, this tour allows you to visit and compare two very splendid villas from two different ages. The Villa Adriana dating back to Roman Times and the Villa D’Este from the Renaissance period.
At
the foot of the Tiburtini hills , source of the springs that supply the
spa town of Bagni di Tivoli and which are dominated by vast quarries of
travertine marble , you will stop first to visit the ruins of Villa
Adriana which can only hint at the grandeur and beauty of this Villa
built by Emperor Hadrian to remind him of the monuments and sites he had
admired during his travels in the East. We then continue to the Villa
D’Este, one of the most beautiful residences of the Renaissance. The
Villa’s countless fountains, set in the heart of magnificent Italian
style gardens, create a delightfully graceful symphony of carved stone,
shade, sunlight and water. Return to The New Village School. COST:
66,00 ANCIENT
OSTIA Approx
4 hours Situated amongst cypress and Mediterranean pine trees, the ruins of the port of ancient Rome reveal more than any other monument in the capital, what everyday life must have been like in ancient times. Leaving
Rome and following the coast road, it takes about 30 minutes to reach Ostia,
the Roman city of the Imperial age whose Latin name ‘Ostium’ means
‘mouth of the river’, reflecting its position along the Tiber river.
Ostia was founded around the 4th century BC by King Anco Marzio and
became the harbour of Rome around which, throughout the following
centuries, a flourishing trade and business centre developed. Following
the Barbarian invasions the decline of Ostia began when the port was
abandoned and became silted up. The archaeological excavations
undertaken at the beginning of the XIX century have brought the ancient
city back to light, a rare witness to 900 years of Roman civilization.
During your walk through the ruins, your guide will tell you something
about the cultural and social life of this interesting commercial
settlement. Your visit to Ostia Antica itself starts at ‘Via delle
Tombe’ which leads to the ‘Porta Romana’, one of the city’s
three gates. This is the beginning of the ‘Decumanus Maximus’, the
main thoroughfare that crosses the city from north east to south west.
Then you will arrive at the ‘Terme di Nettuno’ where you can admire
the beautiful black and white mosaics representing Neptune and
Amphitrite, the theatre built by Agrippa and the Forum which formed the
centre of the city. Here you will discover the principle public
buildings, ‘Il Capitolium’ and the temple of Rome and Augustus, the
Basilica and the large thermal baths. Near the forum square you will
also find the House of Diana and the ‘Thermopolium’ an ancient Roman
bar with a marble counter and a fresco depicting the fruit and
foodstuffs that were sold there. At the end of Via dei Dipinti, the
Museo Ostiense displays some of the ancient sculptures and mosaics found
among the ruins. After this fascinating stroll through the past you will
return to The New Village School. COST:
66,00 ROME BY NIGHT WITH DINNER Approx
3 hours Panoramic
Tour of Rome + Dinner (drinks included)
After
an interesting panoramic tour of the city, which will also include a
stop at the Trevi Fountain, your guide will escort you to a
typical local restaurant for a traditional Roman dinner with drinks
included. After dinner, return to The New Village School. COST:
99,00
CAPRI Approx
13 hours Capri, situated in the gulf of Naples, surrounded by an emerald and turquoise sea, is often called the pearl of the Mediterranean. This Island of Dreams, has enchanted many people with the incomparable beauty of its rugged landscape, the mildness of its climate, the richness of its vegetation and its characteristic small white houses.
Leaving
Rome in a southerly direction you take the “Highway of the Sun”
crossing the fertile Roman countryside and the area known as “Castelli
Romani”. Approximately halfway along the highway you will be able to
see the Benedictin Abbey of Montecassino noted for the famous
battle and its complete destruction during the second World War.
Arriving in Naples you will board the Jet boat for the 45 minute
crossing to Marina Grande, the port of Capri. Here you
will then board motorboats to reach the Blue Grotto (if weather
and sea conditions permit). Minibuses are then used for a panoramic
drive to reach Anacapri situated at 280 metres above sea level
from where you will have a wonderful view of the bay of Naples. After
lunch in a local restaurant, you will have some free time to take
unforgettable photographs and purchase local products before returning
to Marina Grande to board the boat back to Naples. Entering the port of Naples , don’t miss this opportunity to admire the splendid Maschio Angioino (a fortress of the 12th century), the Certosa of San Martino and the Royal Palace. After disembarking you will then take the coach for the return journey of approx 3 hours, back to Rome. Return in The New Village School. COST:
145,00 Useful
information: During the journey from Rome to Naples, it will not always
be possible to make a comfort stop, but the boats for Capri have bar and
restroom facilities. We would recommend that you wear comfortable
clothes and especially comfortable shoes to assist you when boarding the
boats. During high season there may be delays in boarding the boats and
minibuses and we ask you to pay particular attention to your guide to
avoid getting separated from your group. N.B.
If the sea conditions are so bad as to not permit the boats to leave
from Naples to Capri, it will be necessary to substitute this tour with
the tour of Pompeii and the difference in price will be reimbursed.
NAPLES AND POMPEI Approx
13 hours A
journey to discover art, history, folklore and archaeology in one of the
most typical regions of southern Italy.
Leaving
Rome in a southerly direction, we take the “Highway of the Sun”
crossing the fertile Roman countryside through the area known as the
‘Castelli Romani’. Approximately halfway along the highway you will
be able to see the Abbey of Montecassino, noted for its famous
battle and complete destruction during the second World War. Arriving in
Naples we will proceed towards the hill of Posillipo from where we can
enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples and the
volcano Vesuvius. Descending towards the port of Mergellina and
following the coastal road, we arrive in the ancient fishing quarter of Santa
Lucia and see the impressive Castel Dell’ovo. (photograph
stop). The city tour continues crossing the historical centre to see Piazza
Del Plebiscito, the Royal Palace, the Basilica of San
Francesco Di Paola, the San Carlo Opera House, the Gallery of
Umberto I and the imposing Maschio Angioino. Upon leaving the
city, we cross the fertile valley of Mount Vesuvius, passing the towns
of Ercolano, Torre del Greco and Torre Annunziata before finally
arriving at Pompeii where we stop first for lunch. After that we
will visit the excavations on foot with a local guide on an
archaeological journey through the ancient city. In approx 2 hours you
will see what has been discovered in the 1,700 plus years since Pompeii
was covered by ashes during the eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79 AD.
Through the remains and ruins of this ancient city, we can picture the
everyday life of the Imperial Age and imagine the panic felt by the
people in those last few minutes before the city was so disastrously
buried. At the end of the visit to Pompeii we will return to the coach
for a journey of approx 3 hours back to Rome. During this excursion we
will visit a Coral and Cameo factory where we will have the opportunity
to admire and purchase items of this ancient craft that dates back to
Greek times. COST:
118,00 Useful
information: We suggest that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes for
this excursion, and to wear sunglasses and sun hats in the summer
months. FLORENCE Approximately
15 hours Florence; the cradle of the Renaissance period, where you breathe art in its Medieval streets, the craftsmens’ workshops and the Renaissance Palaces. Here, the memories of the Medici family are linked with the splendour of the works of the renowned artists: Michelangelo, Leonardo and Botticelli.
Leaving
Rome in a northerly direction and crossing the green valley of the
Tiber, you pass the slopes of the Apennines covered with olive groves
and vineyards to reach the famous valley of Chianti before finally
arriving in Florence built on the banks of the river Arno. The city tour
will commence with a visit to the Academy Museum where you will
see the magnificent David by Michelangelo before continuing on
foot with your local guide to see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del
Fiore with its beautiful dome by Brunelleschi. Other treasures, the Baptistry
and Giotto’s Bell Tower can also be admired before reaching
Piazza della Signoria, the ‘heart’ of Florence. Your included
lunch will be served in a typical Florentine restaurant before
continuing with your walk in the afternoon. You will then continue on
foot to the Piazza Santa Croce where the church of the same name
is situated, to see the memorial to Dante and where great artists like
Michelangelo are buried. Then you will have the opportunity to visit a leather
school in order to admire one of the typical crafts of the city, and
here you will also have some free time to see the work of local
goldsmiths and other traditional craftsmen. Departure from Florence at
approximately 5.00 pm for the return journey to Rome. Return to the
vicinity of your hotel Useful
information: We suggest that you wear comfortable shoes, and remember
that it is not permitted to visit churches in shorts, miniskirts or
with uncovered shoulders COST
: 150,00
OVERNIGHT STAY IN FLORENCE
This opportunity for those who would like to extend their stay in Florence and have an opportunity to visit the city in more depth or to explore other beautiful areas around the city.
SUPPLEMENT
PER PERSON PER NIGHT: 3 STAR HOTEL Double
room e 69,00 Single room e 90,50 SUPPLEMENT
PER PERSON PER NIGHT: 4 STAR HOTEL Double
room e 97,50 Single room e 114,00
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