Arkansas Arts Center. Rome. October 2013

Transcription

1 Arkansas Arts Center Rome October 2013 VIRTUOSO 915 CUMBERLAND P. O. BOX 2576 LITTLE ROCK, AR USA FAX

2 SECRET ROME Dear Travelers, I am happy to invite you on this very special installment of the Arkansas Arts Center s Traveling Seminar program. Rome, the Eternal City, has been a destination for those who love art and culture since the days of the Emperors. In no other city can you trace the development of Western culture from antiquity to the modern world with supreme examples at every turn. Typical of an Arkansas Arts Center trip, we have arranged private access visits and behind-the-scenes tours with the best tour guides the city has to offer. Joining me as a guide on this trip will be Elaine Ruffolo. Many of you may know her from her touring with Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and World Presidents Organization (WPO). From a stroll through the Pope s private gardens to dinner surrounded by one of the finest private art collections in Italy, this trip is filled with memorable experiences. Art, architecture, gardens, food, and wine this trip is a feast for the senses. And for those, like me, who are continually captivated by the Romantic beauty of Venice, we have included an optional four days for drinking in the art and atmosphere of La Serenissima, the most serene city. More special access for our group will bring this beautiful city to life and create a memorable experience. The number of travelers has been limited to 14 to ensure the best experience and personal attention. I hope you will join me on this Italian tour. Todd Herman, Ph.D. Executive Director Arkansas Arts Center

3 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 ARRIVAL DAY/CAMPUS MARTIUS Upon arrival at Fiumicino Airport, transfer to the Hotel Raphael located in the heart of the Eternal City. Join fellow travelers and program leaders in the lobby of the elegant Hotel Raphael and depart for a neighborhood walk. Visit the Campus Martius where you will gaze at the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Caravaggio paintings tucked away in local churches. End the afternoon with an exclusive visit to the Palazzo Farnese, once home to Popes and now the French Consulate. Return to the hotel and enjoy a reception on the rooftop with breathtaking views over the city. Dinner following the reception and opening remarks. Reception, Dinner SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 VILLAS AND GARDENS 9:00 am Begin the day with a visit to the charming Villa Farnesina once owned by the Pope s banker, Agostino Chigi. This perfect Renaissance Villa nestled in the neighborhood of Trastevere was designed as a pleasure palace for bankers, Popes, and Roman Nobility. Admire Raphael s sublime Galetea in the reception room. Continue on to the magnificent and opulent Villa Medici, once home to Pope Leo X and Clement VII. Today it s the French Academy and boasts one of the loveliest gardens in the city. Enjoy lunch on the Pincio Hill with spectacular views of Rome at the elegant Ristorante Pauline Borghese. 3:00 pm By special reservation, you will visit the Villa Borghese built for the Pope s nephew, Scipione Borghese, to house his incredible collection of antiquities and Renaissance and Baroque art. The Villa has been recently restored and returned to its original splendor. View masterpieces by Bernini, Caravaggio, Titian Raphael and others, just as Cardinal Borghese did. Breakfast, Lunch

4 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 DAY IN THE COUNTRY Spend the day in the country and visit the gardens of the Villa Lante and Bomarzo. By special invitation, we will visit Villa Madama, designed by the Renaissance artist Raphael for Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, cousin of Leo X, and future pope Clement VII. Closed to the public, this beautifully decorated Renaissance villa and gardens is used by the Italian government for visiting dignitaries. Enjoy lunch and wine tasting in Viterbo. On the way back into Rome, stop at Renzo Piano s contemporary architectural masterpiece, the Parco della Musica. Breakfast, Lunch, Wine Tasting, Reception MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 PAPAL ROME Today you will visit Vatican City, the living, beating heart of Roman Catholicism and of High Renaissance art and architecture. No other complex in the world better combines Renaissance grandeur with the deeply rooted piety of a 2,000-year-old religious tradition. During this very special day, visit the Basilica of St. Peter s, the Vatican scavi or necropolis under St. Peter s and the Vatican gardens. Learn about the history of the pope, Michelangelo s breathtaking dome and heartbreaking Pietà. Hear about what lies hidden: the relics embedded in the walls, the ancient throne secreted in Bernini s enormous apse decorations, and the ancient pagan tombs hidden two stories beneath your feet. Just to the right of the Sacristy under another archway, you ll make your way to the scavi, or excavations, of the basilica leading to the remains of the via Cornelia. This is the path to the place where Saint Peter was buried. In the late morning, by special permission, you will visit the Vatican gardens for a rare look at life behind the Vatican. 1:30 pm Lunch with group 6:00 pm Depart the Hotel Raphael and transfer to the Vatican Museums for your private visit. The Sistine Chapel and Raphael s Stanze della Segnatura (the Papal apartments for Julius II) will be opened just for us. Enjoy this private visit to see some of the world s most beautiful and breathtaking works of art. Breakfast, Lunch

5 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29 CONTEMPORARY ART AND ROMAN NOBILITY Visit to the MAXXI contemporary Art museum. The MAXXI has been acclaimed as architect Zaha Hadid s finest built work to date" and a masterpiece fit to sit alongside Rome s ancient wonders. Free Afternoon Private visit and dinner at the Doria-Pamphilj Palace. The Doria-Pamphilj Palace is still inhabited by members of this historic family, its history dating back to the 15th century. Admire its original furniture, burnished mirrors and shimmering chandeliers. This privately owned collection is one of the finest in Rome and contains many masterpieces including Caravaggio s early Rest on the Flight into Egypt and Velasquez s painting depicting Pope Innocent X, a member of the Doria-Pamphilj family. An elegant, private dinner at the Doria Pamphilj will follow the visit. Breakfast, Dinner WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30 DEPARTURE FROM ROME EITHER HOMEWARDS OR TO VENICE Travel by first class train from Rome to Venice. Begin your immersion into the history of Venice with a visit lead by local Venetian expert to the Doge s Palace, the former seat of the Venetian Republic. Experience the history and legend of Venice as you explore both the extraordinary staterooms and the secret trails that run through the Doge s Palace. Explore the architecture of the Piazza and Piazetta of San Marco. 7:15 pm Private visit to San Marco This evening enjoy an exclusive, private opening at the Basilica of San Marco, a veritable reliquary of 800 years of Venetian civilization. Inside St. Mark s, wander slowly through this vast treasure chest of Byzantine and Western art. Golden mosaics cover more than 40,000 square feet (4,000 square meters) of the domes, walls and floor. Among the finest are those found in the atrium, depicting Old Testament stories. The Basilica also boasts the famed four bronze horses brought from Constantinople in At times overwhelming because of its size and beauty, the Basilica is one of the most important buildings in Italy and serves as a vivid reminder of the glories of the Venetian Republic. Enjoy dinner at Ristorante Do Forni, considered one of the best restaurants in Venice. Breakfast, Dinner

6 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 A DAY IN THE COUNTRY WITH PALLADIO 8:30 am Spend the day in the country exploring the great architect, Andrea Palladio. Palladio expert, Wilma Barbieri will take the group through the countryside visiting the major monuments of Palladio including his Villa Cornaro, Villa Barbaro and Teatro Olimpico. 1:00 pm Enjoy a group lunch at a private villa in the countryside, Ca Marcello, with Conte Jacopo as our host. be greeted by the owner of the Villa, Count Valmarana. 3:30 pm This afternoon, enjoy a private visit to the world famous La Rotonda, perhaps Palladio s most influential and memorable edifice. We will Return to Venice in the late afternoon and have the quintessential Venetian experience, a gentle gondola ride through the picturesque canals of Venice. During this special off-site, enjoy a late afternoon journey through Venice s loveliest canals as the sun begins to set, creating a spectacular glow throughout the city. Breakfast, Lunch FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 VENETIAN PAINTING (RENAISSANCE AND MODERN) 8:15 am Begin the day with an extensive tour through the Accademia Galleries - the great repository of 14th century to 18th century painting. Continue your exploration of Venetian painting with a visit to San Rocco with its complete painting cycle by Tintoretto, and the Franciscan basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, which houses works by Titian, Bellini and Donatello. By special appointment, the group will finish the morning with a private visit to the Archivio di Stato (the State Archives of Venice), where you will see first-hand, the historic manuscripts of the Venetian Republic. Free afternoon Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. In 1949, the palace was bought as a home by the American millionaire Peggy Guggenheim, a collector, dealer and patron of the arts. Today, the palazzo houses the Collezione Peggy Guggenheim, a museum that includes more than 200 paintings and sculptures representing almost every modern art movement. You will be welcomed to the Guggenheim by its curator and/or members of its management team, who will provide a special tour of this priceless collection. Farewell dinner at Harry s Dolci Breakfast, Reception, Dinner

7 PRICING Rome cost: US$ per person based on double occupancy Single supplement is US$ Venice cost: US$ per person based on double occupancy Single supplement is US$ Donation to Arkansas Arts Center is US$ Cost is based on 14 passengers at the current exchange rate of EUR 1.35

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