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Wellesley Education Expedition
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| Sicily:
Ancient Crossroads of the Mediterranean |
2006
October 10 – 20
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In October, the
warm and gentle breezes of the Mediterranean
still caress the historic towns, lush gardens,
and panoramic ruins of Sicily. Walking amidst
its citrus groves, ancient Greek temples, and
baroque piazzas, it's impossible not to be moved
by what Sicily has to offer. The island has enchanted
countless visitors with its ample sunshine and
picturesque countryside and villages. Even the
ancient Romans came here in search of cultural
inspiration!
We'll begin our journey in the bustling
capital of Palermo, once the
most celebrated court in medieval Europe. Accompanied
by Richard Wallace, a specialist in Italian art
and Professor of Art at Wellesley College for
more than 40 years, we'll marvel at the mosaics
of Monreale, discover beautiful
churches and gardens, and join two prominent
noble families for meals in their historic homes.
Next, we'll take in the arcadian splendor of
the temple of Segesta and meet with a premier
wine distributor at his private country villa.
After visiting a famous Sicilian ceramist and
admiring the fairytale village of Cefalù with
its immense cathedral, we'll spend two nights
in tranquil Agrigento, famed
for its magnificent collection of Greek temples.
One of the great wonders of the ancient world
awaits us in Casale, where the stunning, colorful
mosaic floors of an Imperial Roman villa have
been perfectly preserved. Throughout our journey,
you will marvel at Sicily's remarkable procession
of civilizations.
On Sicily's eastern coast, we'll
enjoy the colorful port town of Siracusa,
which was once ancient Greece's most powerful
overseas colony. Temples, caverns, and museums
enrich the lovely old town of honey-brown stone
and swaying palm trees. The tour ends more than
a thousand feet over the Mediterranean in the
storied village of Taormina,
where we'll visit old churches, the famous Roman
theater, and elegant private gardens and homes.
Throughout the tour, we'll enjoy
deluxe accommodations, behind-thescenes cultural
visits, seasoned academic leadership, and the
natural warmth and beauty of Sicily.
Don't miss this journey of cultural and sensory delights, a rare opportunity
to discover the Mediterranean's most diverse and spectacular island in unique
Wellesley style. |
Richard Wallace is
a specialist in Italian art of the Renaissance and Baroque periods and
has lived in Italy for extended periods as a Fulbright Scholar and an
American Council of Learned Societies Fellow.
For over 40 years, he was
Professor of Art at Wellesley College, where he taught courses on 16th-
and 17th-century painting and sculpture in southern Europe and on graphic
art in Italy. He received the Pinanski Prize for Excellence in Teaching
in 1987.
He has published numerous books and articles in The Art Bulletin,
The Burlington Magazine, Apollo, The Journal of The Warburg and Courtauld
Institutes, and The Gazette des Beaux-Arts, and has organized important
museum exhibitions in the field.
He has led many tours to Italy and is
a frequent speaker to Alumnae groups and to the Wellesley Friends of
Art. |
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More Information
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Trip Details
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| For reservation
and/or a detailed itinerary of this tour, please
contact:
Jayne Lew, Assistant
Director of Travel
Phone: 781-283-2389
Email: travelprograms@alum.wellesley.edu
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Duration: 10 days
Activity Level: Moderate
Cost: Past - wait
listed
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