Day
1
 |
After
a welcome from our staff and a lunch at the hoteI we
will take you to explore the inside of two of the Roman
aqueducts. These marvels of engineering carried water
from the Appenines a distance of 50 miles (80 km) to
Rome.
90 % of the aqueduct was cut in the tuffo stone underground.
In the afternoon we will visit Hadrian’s Villa. This
huge estate was planned and designed in large part by
the emperor Hadrian himself. Critics of the emperor’s
architectural skills lived dangerously in those times
– the Greek architect, Apollodoros, having offered his
negative opinion one too many times, was ordered executed. |
Day
2
Today
we’re off to the old city of Monterano, abandoned around
1799 when French Napoleonic troops attacked and sacked
the town. The town and its environs have many other
interesting sites which we will see, such as Etruscan
roads which are cut deep in the tuffo stone, tombs and
Roman aqueducts. In the evening we’ll slack our thirsts
in the cantina of a winery in the hills of Frascati
where we will also stay for dinner. |
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Day
3
 |
We
couldn’t invite you to Rome without showing you a small
but important part of its art treasures. Therefore,
we will visit the Vatican Museums with all the amazing
art which, in 1503, Pope Julius the Second started to
collect here. This will be followed by a visit of the
Sistine Chapel, the Basillica of St. Peter, and the
picturesque town of Castel Gandolfo, which is the Pope’s
summer residence. We will have dinner in one of the
small towns in the Roman Hills known as the Castelli
Romani. |
Day
4
Today,
we will hike in an area north of Rome, and on our way
there we will pass several villages which were founded
by the Etruscans. Once arrived, we will start our hike
on a Roman road--our goal, a Roman city with its defence
walls still standing. We’ll have dinner in Rome followed
by a lovely stroll of the city at night. Rome is heroic
by day, but romantic by night. |
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Day
5
 |
Italy
also has its (modest) canyons which are called forre.
In the summertime these canyons are nice and cool and
good places to hike. Soon we’ll descend into an underworld
which has a lush flora covered with ferns and mosses.
On our walk we will have to cross several small streams
and we’ll encounter many Etruscan tombs we can explore. |
Day
6
Making
a good road is an art. The Romans built them to last.
This morning we will hike along what is probably the
best preserved Roman road in Europe. Road construction
and maintenance were done by the Roman legionnaires.
Later when we visit the Appia Antica, we’ll also see
parts of the worst preserved Roman road. It actually
has nothing do with preservation, but more to do with
1,500 years of usage after the Roman Empire collapsed
and absolutely no maintenance. We will stay near the
Appia for Dinner. |
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Day
7
 |
A
day in Rome! We will visit Piazza Navona, the Pantheon,
the famous Trevi fountain, the Roman Forum, and the
Coliseum. Then we’ll go see one of the many catacombs.
Even if you have seen these beautiful sights before,
you’ll enjoy seeing them again when we explain the history
and mythology which surround them. Of course, our farewell
dinner will be in Rome. |
Day 8
Departure: after breakfast in the hotel, we’ll
take you wherever you need to go in Rome.
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