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Contact UsArrival Naples. Meet your group and tour leader, Rachel Sotos, Ph D,
6:00 pm, meet at the hotel for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Introduction to “Magna Graecia” and pre-Socratic philosophy but our primary aim will be to enjoy Neapolitan “vino e cucina” and begin to know each other. Dinner
Morning drive to Velia a.k.a. Elea: visit and discussion about Parmenides, then proceed to Paestum, site of remarkable Greek Temples and Museum. Once the site of the city of Poseidona, Paestum is now a site of remarkably well preserved temples. We’ll visit the museum with Greek, Roman,Etruscan and Lucan treasures. Centering our discussion in the field of art, history and pre-Socratic philosophy, we will imagine ourselves the students of ancient Italian – Greek sages and consider the significance of Paestum’s Doric temples for the modern imagination. (”Sublime” said Goethe).
Early morning excursion to Mount Vesuvio. Hike to the crafter, brief readings of Empedocies, the mystic philosopher of love who ended his life, head first in Mount Etna in Sicily. After considering his quite different contemporary, Anaxagoras, the prophet of Nous, we will spend the afternoon wine-tasting in Vesuvius fertile Valleys.
A hydrofoil will bring us to the mytic home of Homer’s sirens in the beautiful island of Capri. Site-seeing walk, pausing sporadically at fun location to read from Plat’s Phaedrus, perhaps the most delightful book written in any language. Discussion of Love in classical antiquity.
Morning visit to Naples Archeological Museum as an introduction to the visit of Pompeii. Meet guide at the Museum. Afternoon and evening at leisure.
Walking tour with local academic guide reenacting the last days of Pompeii, visiting the famous brothel (lupanar) highlighting ancient comedy and the cult of Bacchus. After the tour, we spend some time on site with readings “in situ”: the comedies of Terence enhanced by the acoustic wonders of the ancient stone theater. Last we’ll fortify ourselves reading Cicero in the Forum.
Morning excursion to Herculaneum, the city resort buried by Vesuvius, Walking tour with local academic guide. We’ll take up the question of power and pleasure, since the city was a center for both Epicureans and Stoics. We’ll highlight Stoicism and Epicureanism. Afternoon at leisure.
Full day excursion along the coast to visit Positano Amalfi and Ravello. Free time to stroll around or continue some debates with tea or a glass of wine. At our farewell dinner, we will continue our discussion of cultural politics in the Augustan Age, remembering the poet Virgil in particular, Naples favorite son.
Breakfast and end of tour. Possibility of transfer to Naples airport or to extend your trip in Italy.
This sample tour is just an example of a specific itinerary related to the country we just described to give you an idea of what is available in that country when you travel.
All our trips are tailor-made and we are at your disposal to plan your trip in consideration of how many people will be traveling, how many days you wish to travel, the season, the standard and the location of the hotels, the amount of meals you wish to include, the guided tours or experiences which will show you not only the “must see” landmarks but also the special interest sites and events you will love that are off the beaten track.
Francoise is the president and founder of Celestial Voyagers. She graduated with a tourism degree at Nice University in France and has worked as a tour director and operations manager in France, Australia and Mexico. Settling in New York City, she founded Celestial Voyagers with the aim of creating uniquely curated group travel for adults and Academia.