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William Carey University: Study Travel and Excavation Program

STEP 2013 Italy
9-19 March 2013 (Spring Break)

Magna Graecia, Campania, Sicily, and Rome

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IMAGES	DAY	THE PLAN!	IMAGES
	Day 1 Sat 9 Mar	Depart for Italy; overnight flight to Naples via Paris. RIGHT: Paestum temples at night
	Day 2 Sun 10 Mar	Midday arrival in Naples; after securing our vans, we'll see Herculaneum, one of the two major cities destroyed by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in AD 79. Overnight at Pompeii  AT LEFT:  the 2010 STEP group in the baths at Herculaneum AT RIGHT: Sarah checks a wall decoration at Oplontis; the villa of Nero's wife, buried by Vesuvius
	Day 3 Mon 11 Mar	Depending on the weather, possibly an early ascent up Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum, with views of the whole Naples Bay area; then, an extensive exploration of Pompeii, the famous city covered by Vesuvius' eruption in AD 79; other sites if time allows; overnight at Pompeii AT LEFT; ABOVE: Sarah looks toward Pompeii from the caldera crater of Mt. Vesuvius;     BELOW: the view back to Mt. Vesuvius from the forum at Pompeii AT RIGHT; ABOVE: Travis contemplates the Amphitheater at Pompeii;     BELOW: the streets of Pompeii in 2010
	Day 4 Tues 12 Mar	If weather permits, a beautiful morning drive along the Amalfi Coast (with stunning and romantic views!); visit Paestum (Greek Poseidonia), originally a Greek colony and later a Roman city, with very well-preserved temples; return to Naples Bay for overnight ferry to Sicily AT LEFT: the 2088 STEP group in front of Greek temples at Paestum AT RIGHT: Georganna, Rachel, Stewart, and West with another Greek temple at Paestum
	Day 5 Wed 13 Mar	Early morning arrival in Palermo, Sicily; drive across the island to Syracuse for an extensive visit including: the most ancient part of Syracuse and the Temple of Athena which became the Christian Duomo, Syracuse's huge rock-cut theater, old city, and early Christian catacombs; continue to Agrigento, a dramatic city with impressive and picturesque temples for overnight. AT LEFT: Georganna, Sarah, and Russell check out the Doric columns of the Temple of Athena, now part of the wall of the Duomo in Syracuse AT RIGHT:  Travis contemplates the large rock-cut theater at Syracuse
	Day 6 Thurs 14 Mar	Greek temple day! At Agrigento walk along the "Valley of Temples;" then on to Selinunte (ancient Greek Selinus), for even more Greek temples in various states of preservation; and another at Segesta, before taking the overnight ferry back to Naples. AT LEFT above: Sarah and Russell check out the "Temple of Concord" at Agrigento LEFT, below: 2008 STEP group at Selinus/Selinunte AT RIGHT: Felicia holds up a temple at Segesta in Sicily
	Day 7 Fri 15 Mar	Early morning arrival in Naples Bay; depending on weather and if not done earlier, ascend Mt Vesuvius for views of the area; other morning options include the Phlegrian Fields (volcanic vents) and a fine amphitheater at Puteoli; drive to Rome, with a stop at the most famous Roman Road, the Appian Way; overnight in Rome AT LEFT:  Stewart in the "tunnel to Hell" at Baia AT RIGHT: Sarah and DCB near volcanic vents at the Solfatara; hot!
	Day 8 Sat 16 Mar	The environs of Rome, starting with the Etruscan cemetery site of Cerveteri, followed by Ostia, a port of Rome with impressive remains, and an afternoon descent to a catacomb; then, back to Rome for night exploration and overnight. AT LEFT: Sarah and Russell at an Etruscan tomb at Cerveteri AT RIGHT: The group on the ancient Appian Way among tombs outside Rome; West, Rachel and Stewart in front of the Colosseum
	Day 9 Sun 17 Mar	A full day in Rome: the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, The Capitoline, Imperial Fora, Nero's Golden House, St. Peter in Chains, Nero's Golden House, and the Trevi Fountain!  AT LEFT, ABOVE: Stewart, Rachel, and West in the Colosseum; BELOW: Rachel on the Palatine Hill above the Roman Forum AT RIGHT, ABOVE: Georganna and Felicia at the Arch of Titus leading into the Roman Forum; BELOW: Ame', Georganna, and Travis at the Trevi Fountain.
	Day 10 Mon 18 Mar	Morning visit to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, followed by a special tour through the excavations under St. Peter's where a fist century cemetery may contain the actual tomb of Peter; then, a visit to St. Peter's basilica itself; in the afternoon, visit St. Paul's Outside the Walls, where an ancient church marked the original grave of Paul; then evening in the area of the Pantheon and Piazza Navona; overnight in Rome. AT LEFT: in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls AT RIGHT; ABOVE: Felicia and Georganna at the Pantheon, built by the Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century
	Day 11 Tues 19 Mar	Return flight to the USA AT LEFT: Sarah and Russell visit with Constantine the Great (or is it "large?") RIGHT: STEP group at an ancient aqueduct near the Via Appia

all photos by Daniel C Browning, Jr

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Updated: 11 December 2012