Global Journeys Greece And Italy Program Enhancements


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While in Greece: Kalambaka (Meteora - Monasteries in Mountains) Full Day Excursion From Delphi we will travel by motor coach to the town of Kalambaka which is right next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the “Meteora” – incredible natural stony pillars that are topped with monasteries from the Byzantine period. Film buffs will recognize this area which was featured in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only”! The name Meteora comes from the Greek adjective ‘meteoros’ which means hanging in midair – and the pillars and monasteries certainly seem to be doing just that. How and why were the monasteries built in such a difficult place to get to, you might ask? From around the 9th century, due to the increasing power of Byzantium and threats by invaders, hermits lived in the caverns of Meteora. During this period Monks were searching for inaccessible places to build their monasteries – and the Meteora was the ideal place for them! Initially the monasteries were reached by using swinging nets or baskets and ladders – which carried food and people slowly up to the top. Today they are accessed by steps carved into the rocks. *Travel Tip:* Appropriate clothing is required to visit the monasteries. Sleeveless clothing and shorts are prohibited. Skirts and shawls are available at the entrance for those who are deemed to be unacceptably dressed (including guys wearing shorts and tank tops). So not to worry, you will most likely not be sent all the way back down to change! Delos Full Day Excursion We will take a boat from the Port in Mykonos to Delos for a guided tour of the island and museum and enjoy the spectacular views of other surrounding islands in the Aegean. A sister island of Mykonos and the mythical birthplace of the twin gods Apollo and Artemis, Delos has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most important archaeological locations in Greece. Remains of the Mycenaean period were uncovered and are now housed in the museum on this once sacred island along with other beautiful artifacts of antiquities including mosaics from the homes of the wealthy inhabitants. Delos was considered an international harbour and the absence of taxes enticed foreigners to populate the island. Wealthy merchants and bankers, not only from other parts of Greece but also from Africa and the Middle East, became the main inhabitants making Delos a major centre for commerce in the Mediterranean. In fact in the 2nd century BC it was one of the main slave trading centres in the region for the Romans. Several of the temples and ruins you will see, were built for the gods the foreigners worshipped, however the key temples dating from the 8th century BC were dedicated to Apollo. Eventually the religious importance of the island diminished after the wars against the Romans and gradually ancient religions were replaced with Christianity. While in Italy: Day on Island of Capri Full Day Excursion Only 5 km across the sea from Sorrento is this beautiful island with its mountainous landscape, fascinating geological formations, quaint medieval villages, amazing beaches and numerous grottos. Capri was a favourite place for Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius where they spent much of their time in magnificent imperial villas. To get to Capri we will take a ferry across and explore the island for the day! Upon our arrival we will embark on a tour of the many grottos around the island including the Blue Grotto - a sunken cavern 20 m. below sea level and because of its position there is no source of direct sunlight except for an opening under the sea. This penetrating sunlight creates unusual light effects where everything reflected has turquoise and silvery tones. The boat enters through an opening at sea level and goes through winding passages and tunnels often full of stalactites, and here we can also see remains of a small Roman quay. It is believed that the area was once a complex subterranean system that connected Roman buildings above. On this tour you will also visit the Faraglioni – a series of geological rock formations for which Capri is known! Later we will take a cable car up to the central square of Capri - “piazzetta”, and give you time to hike around the island, shop, visit the ancient ruins and of course enjoy the beaches and incredible scenery! Naples (Napoli) & Hike up Mount Vesuvius Full Day Excursion Our coach will take us to the base of Mount Vesuvius but we will hike up the last 500m so bring good walking shoes and lots of water. The winding trail up to the summit will take about 1 hour. Once you arrive you will be able to walk around the rim and peer into the empty hole of the volcano. Before the massive eruption in 79 A.D. the area was a basin covered with dense growth of vegetation and was used as a camp for rebel slaves led by Spartacus in 73 BC – until thousands of Roman soldiers attacked! As you look deep into the crater you begin to understand the sheer force of the volcano that blew the basin and caused the destruction of the ancient city Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 A.D. Steam still escapes from the volcano today, although it is presently dormant! After our morning hike we will head to Naples and give you time to enjoy the city and a great traditional lunch such as the Napolitano Pizza made with tomatoes, garlic, basil and anchovies – you can hold the anchovies if you wish! Naples is situated in the Bay of Naples, and is overshadowed by the imposing sight of Mount Vesuvius. Originally occupied by the Ancient Greeks and called Palaepolis (old city), Neapolis (new city) later developed in the surrounding areas. Naples’s early character was, as a result, influenced by its Greek roots as well as by the Romans who later settled there - evidence of which can still be found today. After centuries of conquests and occupations, it finally became part of Italy in 1860 and now is a major trading port. Paestum Half Day Excursion Our journey will take us along the coast from Sorrento to our first destination- Paestum - , a site with 3 incredibly preserved Greek Doric temples from the 7th century B.C. The city itself originally called Poseidonia, in honour of the god of the sea, was famous all over the Greek world and was often cited in Greek mythology. The city became known as Paestum once it was taken over by the Romans in the 3rd century B.C. Paestum served a very important strategic and commercial role for many centuries due to its geographical position near waterways and fertile lands enabling a culturally and artistically rich society to develop. Its temples were models for many of the subsequent temples built in other parts of the world. Between the 13th and 16th centuries little was mentioned or known about Paestum. Its "rediscovery" can be attributed to poets and writers of the 16th and 17th centuries who referred to the "lost" site in many of their works. These references lead may well known artists and writers of the 18th century to visit Paestum and experience its incredible history and beauty while on their Grand Tour of Europe. We continue our journey south to the area of Palinuro passing significant towns along the way which where once key trading ports. We will board a boat for a tour of the Tyrrhenian coast line, an area known for its natural caves at sea level, inside which light is reflected in beautiful blue hues. And of course you will have time to relax on the white sandy beaches and and swim in the clear water bays along the Tyrrhenian coast for which this region is famous. Hadrian’s Villa/Tivoli Half Day Excursion One of the most beautiful imperial villas built, Hadrian’s Villa, in the 2nd century A.D, is situated outside of Rome in Tivoli and was the holiday home of the Emperor Hadrian. The sheer size of this villa is impressive! Hadrian loved to travel and much of what you will see in this villa is based on monuments and buildings he explored around the world. The Pantheon in Rome, which you will have seen by the time we head out on this excursion, was rebuilt by this very same emperor in this region. You will also have the opportunity to explore Tivoli, the Baths of Tivoli and Villa d’Este – a villa from the Renaissance, housed with numerous fountains and Italian gardens.	Our programs are enhanced by additional excursions which go beyond the focus of the course and give students the option to explore areas outside of the region in which our programs are located, in a supervised environment with private coaches and guides. Schedules and costs of these excursions are provided to students in March.
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