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5 The Colosseum in Rome. 

Travel to Italy to experience first hand the monuments of ancient Roman, Greek and Etruscan civilizations. The thrill of standing on the Palatine Hill in Rome and strolling through the Colosseum is enhanced by leaving the bustle of the city for the relative quiet of well-preserved Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome that was abandoned over a thousand years ago. Marvel at the classical splendor of the ancient towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii, frozen in time in the year 79AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. South of Pompeii, wander among the magnificent classical Greek temples at Paestum, one of the finest such collections anywhere.

On this trip, explore the tenacity of our fascination with the classical world. For twelve centuries from the founding of Rome in the eighth century BC to the end of its empire in the fifth century AD, Roman civilization dominated Mediterranean Europe laying a foundation for much of Western European civilization. Throughout the fifteen centuries since the fall of Rome, the classical civilizations of the Greeks, Romans and pre-Roman Etruscans have influenced architecture, sculpture as well as the formation of governments and other institutions in the western world. In America, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers studied the classics through the lens of those who came before them particularly Andrea Palladio, an Italian Renaissance architect who visited the classical monuments of Rome to "see with my own eyes and measure everything with my own hands." Jefferson counseled in 1816 that in matters of architecture Palladio "is the Bible. Stick close to it."

Arrival Day
Arrive in Rome which will serve as your base for three days.

5 The Roman Forum.

Day 1: Classical Rome
Today visit the center of classical Rome—the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill.

5 Porta Marina at Ostia Antica.

Day 2: Ostia Antica
Visit Rome's ancient international port city of Ostia Antica which in ancient times was at the mouth of the Tiber River. The site provides a vivid impression of an ancient city. Here, you'll find remains of temples, an amphitheater, and various neighborhood and business districts. The Guild Square and the Baths of Neptune have some of the best-preserved mosaics of the Roman world.

Day 3: Herculaneum
Travel south from Rome to reach Herculaneum. An eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 buried this seaside resort town in volcanic debris to a depth of up to forty feet. Here are well-preserved vacation homes of the elite including mosaics, wall paintings, and furniture. Vaulted warehouses at the former coastline were the last resting place of hundreds of city residents who tried to flee the volcano’s wrath. Settle into your hotel at Pompeii, your base for three nights.

5 Street in Pompeii.

Day 4: Pompeii
Pompeii was a large city with a population of over ten thousand people by the year 50. The walled city had a large forum, temples, statues, homes, businesses, an amphitheater, and a water system. On August 24 in the year 79, Vesuvius erupted and ash buried Pompeii. Walk the stone streets of the excavated city and examine objects of daily life. Ponder the grooves of the chariots and wagons that once clattered down the city's streets. At the Villa of the Mysteries you'll find one of the best examples of a first century Italian suburban villa. The wall paintings are particularly outstanding.

5 Historic photo of Temple of Poseidon at Paestum by Giorgio Sommer circa 1900.

5 Mosaic from the House of the Faun in Pompeii now at the National Archaeology Museum, Naples.

Day 6: Naples
Begin the day at Naples to tour the National Archaeology Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale), one of the most comprehensive collections of Greek and Roman artifacts in the world. The museum houses many of the mosaics, frescoes and murals from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Return to the region of Rome for your overnight accommodations.

5 Painting in the Tomb of the Leopards at Tarquinia.

5 Cross section of Palladio's Villa Capra by Bertotti Scamozzi circa 1780.

Day 8: Palladio's Grand Villas
In the Veneto region outside of Venice, tour several of Palladio's villas to see how he translated the architectural glory of the Roman empire into grand villas for wealthy Renaissance patrons. A farewell dinner concludes your journey through Italy.

Departure Day
Travel to the airport in Venice for your departure. Or extend your stay in Italy with several nights in Venice where you can visit additional works by Palladio.

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5 Photochrom print of Pompeii circa 1900.

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The image in the top banner is from a photo by Amy Osaki.
All other images are from the public domain.

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