Road Scholar : Home
Intergenerational Italian Classics: Rome, Florence and Venice

Program Number: 20211RJ
Start and End Dates:
6/26/2013 - 7/9/2013; 7/13/2013 - 7/26/2013; 7/22/2013 - 8/4/2013; 6/24/2014 - 7/7/2014; 7/7/2014 - 7/20/2014; 7/11/2014 - 7/24/2014; 7/19/2014 - 8/1/2014;
Duration: 13 nights
Location: Italy
Price starting at: $3,878.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Intergenerational
Intergenerational
Meals: 30; 12 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 9 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian; Gluten Free    

Program intended for grandchildren from 10 - 13 years of age.

Share the essence of Italy with your grandchild as you immerse yourselves in Roman history, Florentine art and Venetian traditions. With local experts, walk in the footsteps ancient Romans in the Forum and look down where Gladiators fought in the Colosseum, or try your hand at creating frescoes. In Venice, create your own Murano glass memento and thrill in a dragon boat race along a canal with the Venetian Crew Club. Along the way, sample local cuisine, brush up on your conversational Italian and take in some of the greatest masterpieces in the world.




Highlights

• Go on an exclusive underground exploration of Roman ruins with an archaeologist.
• Spend an afternoon at the Uffizi Gallery and delight in the masterpieces of Titian, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
• Create your own Venetian glass artwork at a glass-working school.



Activity Particulars

Walking up to two miles a day, mostly level terrain. Dirt paths and cobblestone streets in archaeological zones. Rest periods break up the longer walks.




Date Specific Information

6-26-2013

This program is for adults and youth age 14-17.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



7-13-2013

This program is for adults and youth age 14-17.



7-22-2013

This program is for adults and youth age 10-13.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



6-24-2014, 7-7-2014, 7-11-2014, 7-19-2014

Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Rome, 4 nights; train to Florence, 4 nights; train to Venice, 4 nights; departure.



Overnight flight from the U.S.A.
1 night
Arrival Rome
4 nights

Join archaeologists for an exploration of underground ancient Roman buildings, and walk around the area where Julius Caesar was assassinated. Thrill at the sight of Michelangelo's Pieta' and works by Bernini at St. Peter’s Basilica, and enjoy an opportunity to visit the Vatican Museums and Vatican Mosaic Laboratory. With a local expert, walk through the ancient Forum and see the majestic Colosseum. Examine masterpieces at the Capitoline Museum and learn about chariot racing at the Circus Maximus.



Train to Florence
4 nights

After journeying by high-speed train to Florence, try your hand at learning fresco painting techniques with an art instructor. With a local expert, view the artwork at Palazzo Vecchio — Florence's city hall — and see Machiavelli's study. Spend an afternoon at the Uffizi Gallery, taking in masterpieces by Titian, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and more. Join an expert for an excursion to view Michelangelo's “David” and the Archaeological Museum, and learn about the Chimera from Arezzo.



Train to Venice
4 nights
Departure

Journey to the island of Murano to create your own work in glass, and marvel in the mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica. Team up with the Venetian Crew Club for a dragon boat race along the canal before joining an expert to view the Peggy Guggenheim Collection of Modern Art. Spend a final day in Venice exploring the Rialto Bridge Marketplace, and visit the workshop of a gondola artisan.




Italy

“Dolce far niente,” the “sweetness of doing nothing.” This ode to leisure is a distinctly Italian phrase, and yet the expression does not do justice to the hard-work ethos of the nation’s inhabitants. The monuments, art and civilization bequeathed to the people of modern Italy are a testament to the industry of their forebears, and the legacy lives on in today’s Italians, who work hard to better enjoy the sweetness of repose.
Accommodations
Rome: A former 18th-century aristocratic residence converted into a hotel in the heart of Rome. Florence: Centrally located three-star hotel in proximity to all major sites. Venice: Four-star hotel overlooking the Grand Canal.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Rocky Ruggiero
Rocky Ruggiero is an art history professor at Syracuse University's Florence campus specializing in early Renaissance architecture. He has appeared in the History Channel series “Engineering an Empire" and in a PBS program focusing on the architecture of the Renaissance. Rocky shares his love of Florentine art as an advisory board member of Friends of Florence, a non-profit group that raised funds for the restoration of various works throughout the city.
 
Linda O'Brien
Linda O'Brien pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, where she was awarded an advanced degree in art history and archaeology with honors from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She completed post-graduate work in symbolic anthropology at Stanford University and is currently professor of art history for the European Division of the University of Maryland.
 
Monica Chojnacka
Monica Chojnacka lives in Venice. She earned her Ph.D. in European history from Stanford University and her bachelor's from the London School of Economics and Political Science. From 1994-2007 she was a professor of history at the University of Georgia, where she authored numerous articles and publications. She has published books relating to Venice on topics as diverse as women of the Renaissance and food and wine. Monica continues to teach in Venice, primarily for study abroad programs for U.S. universities, as well as on-line courses.
 
Elisabetta Interdonato
Dr. Elisabetta Interdonato is a native Roman who earned her doctorate in classical archaeology at the University of Rome "La Sapienza." She did further post-doctoral studies at the University of Basilicata and at the Universite' de Haute Bretagne where she also taught as a visiting professor. She currently teaches at the Pantheon Institute. In addition to her teaching, she enjoys leading visitors on explorations of Rome.
 
Paolo Alei
Dr. Paolo Alei is an art historian with a specialization and publications on Renaissance and Baroque art in Rome and also in Venice. However, this does not mean that he has neglected Classical art, another of his passions. He earned his M.A. from Columbia University in art history and archaeology. Paolo teaches full time at the University of California System Rome program, and enjoys Italian cinema from the Neorealism period through the 70’s.
 
Rachel Potts
Rachel Potts is a licensed excursion leader in Rome. She graduated from Manchester University (UK) with a bachelor's in philosophy and French, and later studied garden design at the London Gardening School. Having grown up in Rome, she chose to return to Italy and share her knowledge and love of Rome and surrounding areas. Rachel leads visits to the major monuments and museums in Rome, including the Sistine Chapel, Pantheon and the Spanish Steps.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Hotel Tiziano
  Rome, Italy 4 nights
   Hotel Corona d'Italia
  Florence, Italy 4 nights
   Hotel Principe
  Venice, Italy 4 nights
 Hotel Tiziano
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Your program site hotel is in the heart of historical Rome and is within walking distance of Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Capitoline Hill, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna. The hotel was once the palace of a noble Roman family. It is situated at the intersection of two busy streets, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (named after the first king of unified Italy) and Largo Argentina.
  Contact info: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 110
Rome, NA 00186 Italy
phone: +39 06 686 5019
web: www.hoteltiziano.it
  Room amenities: Private bath in all rooms, hair dryer, safe box for valuables in room or front desk, touch tone phone, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, individual controls for heat and air conditioning, sound proof windows, mini bar
  Facility amenities: Breakfast served daily, all rooms have private bath. Sound proof windows. 24 hour concierge. Free wi-fi throughout the facility and internet point in the lobby. Lobby and breakfast room 6 steps from sidewalk entrance level.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: varies by season To book additional nights at the hotel, contact the hotel's online reservation system directly through the hotel website www.hoteltiziano.it, or, contact Lavinia Tour, Trinity College's partnering agency in Rome: info.reserv@laviniatour.it. Indicate to the hotel or agency at the time of your booking that you are with the Road Scholar group and every effort will be made to ensure continuity of room assignment.

 Hotel Corona d'Italia
Type: Hotel
  Description: Situated at the edge of the San Lorenzo market, the hotel is centrally located and convenient to the Santa Maria Novella train station, the Duomo and Accademia.
  Contact info: Via Nazionale 14
Florence, NA 50123 Italy
phone: +39 055 261 501
web: www.coronaditalia.com
  Room amenities: All rooms have private bathroom, individual AC/Heat controls, safe box for valuables, mini-bar, direct dial telephone, satellite TV, wi-fi access (hourly rate applies), hair dryer
  Facility amenities: Spacious lobby, marble and terracotta floors, wi-fi accessibility (hourly rate applies), meeting room, bar in the lobby open afternoon and evenings.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes

 Hotel Principe
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Overlooking the Grand Canal, with a splendid terrace on the water, the Hotel Principe, is one of the 4 star hotels in Venice in a perfect position for discovering the charm and beauty of Venice on foot, or for easily reaching the Rialto or St. Mark's Square with a vaporetto, which stops just steps from the hotel.The hotel has a private dock on the Grand Canal for gondola and water taxi access.
  Contact info: Lista di Spagna 146/147
Venice, NA 30121 Italy
phone: +041-220-4010
web: www.hotelprincipevenice.it
  Room amenities: Hair dryer, AC/heat individual controls, mini-bar, safe, satellite television, complimentary toiletries.
  Facility amenities: Restaurant and terrace overlook the Grand Canal, snack bar, complimentary internet point in the lobby and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: varies by season To book additional nights at the hotel, email Lavinia Tour, Trinity College’s partnering agency in Rome, info.reserv@laviniatour.it. Another option is to book directly through the hotel’s online reservation system www.hotelprincipevenice.it. Indicate to the hotel or agency at the time of your booking that you are with the Road Scholar group and every effort will be made to ensure continuity of room assignment
  Check out time: 10:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Lunch provided for morning arrivals. Hotel check in 2:00 pm. Meet in lobby at 4:00 pm for Orientation. You will be staying at Hotel Tiziano that night.
  End of Program:
Hotel check out by 10:00 am, morning transfers to airport. You will be staying at Hotel Principe the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
  Train or bus availability: Train service from European and Italian points connects to Roma Termini, the main station. A separate line connects the airport to Roma Termini. The hotel is within walking distance from the station and a short taxi ride for luggage considerations
To Start of Program
  Location:  Rome
  Nearest city or town:  Rome
  Nearest highway: A1
  Nearest airport:  Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino
  Transportation to site: To reach the hotel on your own, from the Rome airport terminal, you have three options: public transportation, shared ride shuttle service and taxi. Public transportation option is train and taxi: In the airport terminal public area, follow the signs for the train, purchase tickets at the ticket counter on the station platform, stamp the ticket in the yellow box on the platform, and board the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini, the central station in Rome. Fare is EUR 14 pp. The ride takes 35 min. When you exit the Roma Termini train station take a taxi to the hotel. For door to door service you have 2 options: shared ride shuttle van or taxi. You can book shuttle service online at www.rome.airport-shuttle.com. Fares are about EUR 30 for 1 person; discounts apply if you book for multiple passengers. Taxi fare for direct service from the airport to the hotel is approx. EUR 60. Max 4 persons per taxi.
  From End of Program
  Location:  Venice
  Nearest city or town:  Venice
  Nearest airport:  Venice Marco Polo
  Transportation from site: To reach the airport on your own, there is public transportation by bus from Piazzale Roma, the point that connects Venice to the mainland, to the Venice Airport. Piazzale Roma is a 10 min. walk from the Hotel Principe. Note that the walk from the hotel to the bus stop entails crossing a high bridge that has long shallow steps and no ramp. The bus (fare EUR 6 and a 25 min. ride) leaves you off directly in front of the airport terminal. For direct service from the hotel dock to the airport dock, it is possible to book a water taxi. Fare is approx. EUR 100. Supplemental fees apply for service before 8 am. Max 10 passengers per taxi boat. When the water taxi arrives at the airport dock you can get a cart for the 10 min. walk to the terminal along a covered path. If you are continuing your travels by train, from the hotel you can reach the train station on foot very easily from the hotel.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Check-in \ Welcome Reception \ Orientation \ Neighborhood Walk
(Monday, July 22)
   
 Arrive To: Rome airport next morning, transfer to hotel.
 Morning: Leave luggage at hotel while waiting for lunch at 12:30. The room may be ready earlier than the official check-in time, but if not, the group leader will arrange a brief neighborhood walk for travelers with morning arrivals.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local eatery. Try your first gelato.
 Afternoon: Settle in room, meet at appointed time for Orientation, Welcome Reception, and Neighborhood Walk to familiarize yourself with banks, pharmacies and stores.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Tiziano
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Underground Rome \ Treasures of the Vatican and S. Peter's \ Forum and Colosseum
(Tuesday, July 23)

Note: In archaeological sites, terrain is uneven and steps may be without railing.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in the hotel dining room.
 Morning: Join archaeologists who lead an exclusive excursion to underground ancient Roman buildings.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Meet in lecture room where an art historian gives an illustrated lecture on the artistic highlights of masterpieces in the Vatican Museum including Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and S. Peter's Basilica. Late afternoon expert-led visit to the Forum, ancient downtown and center of civic and religious life and the Colosseum, imagine gladiatorial drama.
 Dinner: At a local restaurant.
 Evening: Walk around the area where Julius Caesar was assassinated. See who can spot the most cats.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Tiziano
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Reserved entrance Vatican Museums \ S. Peter's Basilica \ Mosaic Laboratory
(Wednesday, July 24)

Note: Expect crowds at the Vatican Museums. Walk a few flights of stairs to visit the various galleries and art filled rooms. Steps along the path to the Sistine Chapel.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in hotel dining hall.
 Morning: Transfer to the Vatican Museums for reserved entrance time. Meet the local expert who will lead you through this singular museum. The visit continues to S. Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's Pieta' and works by Bernini. With the free time that follows, some may desire to climb the 450 steps of Michelangelo's Dome. Catch your breath only to have it taken away by the stunning panorama of Rome.
 Lunch: At a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Participate in creating your own mosaic with instructors at a local art school. Coach to the hotel.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Tiziano
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Capitoline Museum \ Free Afternoon
(Thursday, July 25)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in hotel dining room.
 Morning: Expert-led visit at the Capitoline Museum where you can examine up close masterpieces of ancient art, including the famous bronze She Wolf, Marcus Aurelius and remains of the Constantine's colossal statue. Passing through the Tabularium you reach the Palazzo Nuovo wing where the Dying Gaul and Capitoline Venus are on display. Before exiting the museum, ascend the stairs to the balcony of the monument to Victor Emanuel II, for a splendid panoramic view of Rome. Continue on to the Circus Maximus and the "Mouth of Truth," returning to the hotel through the old Jewish Ghetto.
 Lunch: At a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Free Afternoon
 Dinner: Dinner on your own.
 Evening: A leisurely stroll to the Trevi Fountain for the traditional coin toss and Spanish Steps.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Tiziano
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Piazza Walk \ Train to Florence \ Renaissance Florence
(Friday, July 26)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in the hotel dining room.
 Morning: Have checked luggage ready for van transfer to the hotel in Florence. Leave hand luggage in the hotel deposit area. Short walk to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own. Group leader will offer suggestions. Meet at the appointed time to pick up your carry-on bag and transfer to the train station.
 Afternoon: Experience travel on a high speed train at speeds reaching 120 mph. Ride to Florence is 95 minutes. Check into the hotel and gather shortly after for a lecture on Renaissance Florence to help contextualize your stay in the city known as the Cradle of the Renaissance.
 Dinner: At a local restaurant.
 Evening: Excursion of the historical section of Florence to orient everyone on the layout of the city, locate landmarks, find ATM's and pharmacies.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Corona d'Italia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Michelangelo's David \ Archaeological Museum
(Saturday, July 27)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in the hotel dining hall.
 Morning: Expert-led visit to see Michelangelo's David and the Archaeological museum to see the Chimera from Arezzo.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Free time for walk of discovery or ascent for panoramic view from the bell tower of Giotto or the Duomo's cupola. Group leader will provide suggested activities and information about monument visiting hours.
 Dinner: At a local restaurant.
 Evening: Gelato tasting walk.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Corona d'Italia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Fresco Workshop \ Exclusive Visit Baptistery
(Sunday, July 28)

Note: The exclusive visit to the upper gallery of the Baptistery is reached by a narrow staircase, about 20 steep steps. One may remain below but miss the up-close view of the mosaics.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in hotel dining hall.
 Morning: Walk through Florence's central food and soft goods market toward S. Maria Novella. With your new found knowledge of fresco painting, an expert expounds on the frescoes by Masaccio and Ghirlandaio found in the church. Informative video presentation of Florence's Baptistery followed by special access to the upper level to get a close-up view of the mosaics.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own. The group leader will have suggestions for places to eat around the Baptistery.
 Afternoon: Learn from an art teacher the steps required to paint using the fresco technique; from creating the lines with a sack of coal dust, to spreading the fresh plaster and mixing the pigments. Once it dries you can take home the 6"x 9" tile you have created. Expert-led visit of Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's city hall, to see original pieces of art, including Donatello's Judith and Holofernes and sculptures by Michelangelo. See Machiavelli's study when he was Secretary of State for the Republic.
 Dinner: At a local restaurant.
 Evening: Enjoy walking in the squares closed to vehicular traffic. Be entertained by street performers as you savor a refreshing gelato.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Corona d'Italia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Uffizi Gallery
(Monday, July 29)

Note: The Uffizi Gallery visit requires climbing 3 flights of stairs.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in the hotel dining hall.
 Morning: Lecture on Renaissance Art in preparation for the self-guided visit of the Uffizi Gallery.
 Lunch: At a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Reserved entrance to the Uffizi Gallery for self-directed visit. The group enters at the appointed time but you visit the gallery rooms at your own pace and stay as long as you want. At the end of the second corridor is a refreshment bar for snacks. The balcony has a wonderful view of Brunelleschi's Dome and the watch tower of Palazzo Vecchio. Free time follows.
 Dinner: Dinner on your own.
 Evening: Walk of discovery after dinner, perhaps cross Ponte Vecchio to explore the "Oltrarno" district.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Corona d'Italia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Train to Venice \ History of Venice
(Tuesday, July 30)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in hotel dining hall.
 Morning: Your bag goes by van. High speed train to Venice, a 2 hour ride. Short walk to the hotel.Your bag will be delivered to your room.
 Lunch: Lunch at the hotel restaurant and check-in to the rooms.
 Afternoon: Lecture on Venetian history and brief walk to familiarize yourself with Venice's unique 'streets' around the hotel.
 Dinner: At a local restaurant to savor Venetian cuisine.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Principe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Murano Glass Making Activity \ S. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace
(Wednesday, July 31)

Note: Vaporetto vessels are often crowded. Monumental staircase at the historic Ducal Palace.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in hotel dining hall.
 Morning: Receive vaporetto (public boat) pass and ride the boat to the island of Murano. Learn about glass making and create your own glass tile decoration under the supervision of an instructor at a glass working school. The tile you create will later be fused in the kiln and delivered to your hotel.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Expert-led visit S. Mark's Basilica. Marvel at the mosaics decorating the walls and ceilings, over 60,000 square feet. The visit continues to the Doge's Palace, Venice's government headquarters, decorated by Titian, Canaletto and Giorgione, just to mention a few.
 Dinner: At a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Principe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Dragon Boat Race \ Peggy Guggenheim Museum
(Thursday, August 1)

Note: Row, row, row your boat hard if you want to win; otherwise sit at the stern and enjoy the ride.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in the hotel dining hall.
 Morning: Team up with the Venetian Crew Club for a dragon boat race along the canal.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Having been surrounded by ancient and Renaissance masterpieces and structures, enjoy the modern art collection at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Relax in the courtyard of the palazzo on the Grand Canal while the docents introduce the life and times of the wealthy American collector. Once inside, the docents divide the group by age. The comments directed towards the younger students focus on having them express the form and function they see in the works of art.
 Dinner: Dinner on your own.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Principe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12: Rialto Bridge, Market and Artisan workshop
(Friday, August 2)

Note: Extended walking over bridges and through Venice streets and campos (squares).
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in hotel dining hall.
 Morning: Learn the Venetian manner of shopping at the market around the Rialto Bridge. Then, visit an artisan's workshop to learn about the carving techniques of making gondola oars and oar locks.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own.
 Afternoon: Free Afternoon. Use your Vaporetto pass to explore another corner of Venice.
 Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel restaurant. Your glass mementos will be available for you to gingerly pack them.
 Evening: Ride the Vaporetto to take some artistic evening photographs.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Principe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13: Departure day
(Saturday, August 3)
   
 Depart From: Transfer from the hotel to the Venice Marco Polo airport for departure.
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in hotel dining hall. Sack breakfast for those with early departure times.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Florence Botanical Gardens
extensive gardens and greenhouses where the Univiversity of Florence maintains 4 million botanical specimens in a wooded urban park, the "Giardino dei Semplici"
  Museums
Visit other museums in Florence such as the Stibbert Museum which houses a collection of weapons, armor and costumes from the 16th to the 20th century. The Marino Marini Museum exhibits works of the contemporary sculptor.
  Teatro della Pergola
Amici della Musica has a rich and varied program for concerts and recitals. Check the website below for further information. For additional information, visit www.amicimusica.fi.it/amuspro.htm
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Ancient Rome, Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of Rome's Past


Author: Zilah Deckker


Description: Readers of all ages will enjoy this thoroughly illustrated guide to the history, discovery and excavation of Ancient Rome -- from ancient writing tablets and beautiful mosaics to the scientists who continue to piece together the archaeological puzzle.



Ancient Rome: Art, Architecture, and History


Author: Ada Gabucci (Editor)


Description: This lively, illustrated survey of Ancient Rome's monuments, history and art is a terrific introduction.



Blue Guide Concise Italy


Author: Paul Blanchard


Description: The first ever guide to all of Italy by the venerable Blue Guides (which publishes individual guides to Northern, Southern, Central, Rome, Tuscany, Sicily et al), this lavishly illustrated, handy and compact guide covers key sights, museums, churches, art, dining and accommodations throughout Italy.



Brunelleschi's Dome, How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture


Author: Ross King


Description: The story of the design and construction of the dome in the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a tale rife with politics, cut-throat competition and mighty inspiration.



Dante's Daughter


Author: Kimberley Heuston


Description: In this richly drawn historical novel for young adults, the daughter of the famed poet must forge her own destiny in patriarchal 14th-century Florence, where her artistic talent and intelligence are often overlooked.



Italy Map


Author: Borch Maps


Description: A handy, laminated map.



Italy in Mind


Author: Alice Powers


Description: A terrific collection of some of the best literary writing on Italy, including pieces by Melville, Lawrence, Henry James, Mary McCarthy and many others.



Italy, A Short History


Author: Harry Hearder


Description: Elegantly written, generous and informative, this compact book takes in the sweep of Italian history from the Roman Republic through the Renaissance, World War II and up to the present.



La Bella Figura, A Field Guide to the Italian Mind


Author: Beppe Severgnini


Description: Italians themselves love this guide to the Italian character, which addresses the apparently never-ending passion for beauty, disorder and high emotion. Severgnini opens the book with a snapshot of the hubbub at Malpensa Airport, then moves on to Tuscany, Rome, Naples and Sardinia.



La Bella Lingua


Author: Dianne Hales


Description: Inebriated with the sounds of Italian, lovesick for its phrases and enamored of its earthy idioms, Hales, "a sensible woman of sturdy Polish stock," dives into the Italian of the piazza, literature, movies and streets in this charming memoir.



Leonardo Da Vinci


Author: Kathleen Krull


Description: Beginning with a vivid description of superstition and squalor in the Middle Ages, Krull sets Da Vinci's extraordinary life in the context of his extraordinary time. A volume in the Giants of Science series, geared for grades 4-8.



Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling


Author: Ross King


Description: Presented with flair and backed by a wealth of research, King's captivating chronicle of Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel tells the story of its conception and creation.



The Art of the Renaissance


Author: Peter Murray


Description: A classic, illustrated survey of the world of the Renaissance and its art. With chapters on Florence and its artists, the Netherlands, early illustrated books and many individual artists.



The City of Florence, Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings


Author: R.W.B. Lewis


Description: A vivid tour of the city and its riches by the fine biographer of Edith Wharton and Henry James. Lewis has written what he calls "a partial biography of Florence," beautifully interweaving the personal and the historical.



The Colosseum


Author: Keith Hopkins, Mary Beard


Description: This engaging overview of the history of the Colosseum deconstructs Hollywood-perpetrated misconceptions of gladiator-eating lions, Nero fiddling and other myths.



The House of Medici, Its Rise and Fall


Author: Christopher Hibbert


Description: A well-written, entertaining history of the Medicis in Renaissance Florence. Great to read before going to Florence, where the influence of the Medicis and the artists they supported is still very much in evidence.



The World of Venice


Author: Jan Morris


Description: Morris displays her talent for research, anecdote and well-wrought prose in this spirited history of a beloved city.





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