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Wellesley Education Expedition
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Mosaics,
Masterpieces, and Villas of Northern Italy |
2007
April
10 - 20
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In
the quiet vales between the popular destinations
of Venice and Florence, a collection of smaller
Italian cities, each with its own artistic glories
and traditions, can be found. Despite their charms,
these cities are not on the typical tourist maps.
Instead, they remain thriving, authentically
Italian cities, where art, food, and culture
inform everyday life. For the traveler willing
to step off the beaten path, these small cities
offer an array of surprises.
Accompanied by Richard Wallace, a specialist in Italian art of the Renaissance
and Baroque periods, we’ll explore the treasures of Emilia-Romagna and
the Veneto. Our days will be spent appreciating artwork and architecture, regional
foods, and the company of local residents. Each day in Emilia-Romagna will bring
unique pleasures—from Bologna, with its rich musical and artistic traditions,
to Parma, Italy’s culinary center, famous for its prosciutto and parmesan
cheese. The early Christian mosaics of Ravenna, the ceramic ware of Faenza (birthplace
of fäence), and the medieval cityscape of Brisighella all attest to the
diversity and beauty of this tranquil corner of Italy.
Heading to the Veneto, a collection of fabled “cities of art” promises
to further reveal the genius of Italy. In Mantua, for example, we’ll visit
the Gonzaga court, known for its world-class renaissance art and architecture.
Then we’ll see Verona, home to Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers,
Romeo and Juliet. Even today, the city is dotted with cypress gardens and medieval
piazzas. In Vicenza, we will study the work of architect Andrea Palladio, the
town’s favorite son.
Along the way, our tour will be enriched by Professor Wallace’s insights
into the artistic legacies of the area. We will visit the studio of a famous
violinmaker and the home of an award-winning ceramist, for example. Other highlights
include meeting one of Italy’s most prolific wine exporters and collectors
of 20th-century Italian art, as well as a enjoying a Bolognese meal prepared
in the private home of a local cooking instructor. An optional post-tour extension
to Venice will be offered.
Join us next April for this special view of Northern Italy!
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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
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