Roma Caput Mundi

The group's excitement will build as students and teachers leave home, embark on their transatlantic flight, and depart for Italy! Meals Included: None

Say “Buongiorno” to il Bel Paese! After landing, clearing customs, and making their way to the city center, students will navigate the modern hustle and bustle of the Eternal City. They can stroll by major tourist attractions such as the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain before enjoying a welcome dinner, and an introduction to Italy’s delicious cuisine, with their travel companions. Meals Included: Dinner

Students will discover modern Rome’s layers of ancient history. They’ll explore well-known sites like the Forum and the Colosseum but also the Domus Aurea, Emperor Nero's vast palace complex now buried underneath the surrounding Oppian Hill. Meals Included: Breakfast

Students will visit the archeological complex at Ostia Antica, a less visited but sprawling, well-preserved site that will allow students to learn about the layout of Roman settlements and orient themselves for the days of exploration ahead. After returning to the city center, the group will enjoy a guided street food tour and, with the help of virtual and augmented reality, find the Circus Maximus sporting complex restored to some of its former glory. Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, the group will head south to discover Naples, a melting pot of Classical and modern civilizations. Students will spend the morning at the archeological site at Herculaneum, the first Vesuvian city to be uncovered and explored. Then, students will climb Mount Vesuvius to learn about the geological processes that formed the volcano and the volcanic activity that covered the nearby Roman settlements in 79 CE while enjoying expansive views of the surrounding countryside and coastline. They will conclude the day with a cooking class to learn how to make authentic Neapolitan pizza. Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

The students' textbooks will come alive as they explore Pompeii, one of the best-known Roman sites. Students can wander the sprawling urban complex and contemplate the layers of ash and rubble that preserved the city. Students will conclude the day with a visit to Naples Underground, a network of caverns, aqueducts, and tunnels built by the Greeks, improved by the Romans, and used throughout the history of the city. Meals Included: Breakfast

After a return train to Roma, students will visit Vatican City, the only sovereign country in the world where Latin is the official language. After exploring the Vatican Museums’ extensive collection and taking in the cavernous St. Peter’s Basilica, students will learn about ancient artisanal practices and try their hand at a painting or pottery workshop. Finally, they will celebrate a successful program abroad with a group farewell dinner. Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

After a final breakfast at the hotel, students will say "arrivederci" to Italy and all the amazing sites they have explored during their time abroad. They can browse photos and videos and discuss their transformational experience on the return flight to the United States. Meals Included: Breakfast