Pre-cruise tour: Caravaggio
Led by Dr Helen Langdon
18– 21 Sept 2008 • 5 days
Caravaggio, Lombardy to Rome
Thursday 18th September
Fly from London to Milan. Overnight Milan.
Friday 19th September
Visit the Ambrosiana and Brera Galleries in Milan in the morning. Travel by Eurostar train to Rome. After settling into the hotel there is a late afternoon walk which includes Caravaggio's paintings in San Luigi dei Franceschi and Sant'Agostino.
Note that participants are in the same Rome hotel, irrespective of the cabin category selected.
Saturday 20th September
In the morning visit the chapel with Caravaggio paintings in Sta Maria del Popolo and the National Gallery in the Palazzo Barberini. Along the Quirinal Hill are several great Baroque churches including Sta Susanna and Sta Maria della Vittoria, which contains Bernini’s Ecstasy of St Theresa. More paintings by Caravaggio and his peers are seen in the Capitoline Museums.
Sunday 21st September
The morning is free. Afternoon visits includes a special visit to the Casino Ludovisi. In the evening join others for the concert and the private viewing at the Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj.
Monday 22nd September
A selective tour of the Vatican and its museums includes Caravaggio’s Entombment of Christ, for long his most famous work, the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s Creation and Last Judgement, and Raphael’s stanze and loggie. In the afternoon transfer to the Galleria Borghese for the special opening. Drive to Civitavecchia and board the ship.
Practicalities
Price: see the cruise prices—in addition to the inclusions for the cruise, the price with pre-cruise tour includes:—air travel (economy class) on scheduled British Airways flights (Airbus A320) to Milan—private coach for transfers and excursions—rail travel between Milan and Rome on board an Italian Eurostar train—hotel accommodation as described below—breakfasts, two dinners with wine, water and coffee—all admissions to museums, sites etc. visited with the group—all gratuities for restaurant staff, drivers, etc.—all taxes—the services of the lecturer.
Hotels: in Milan (1 night): a smart, traditionally-furnished 4-star hotel close to the Duomo–in Rome (3 nights) a delightful 4-star hotel in a 17th-century palazzo close to the bottom of the Spanish Steps.
How strenuous? There is a lot of walking on this tour as coach access in the city centres (particularly Rome) is restricted–it would not be suitable for those who have difficulty with everyday walking and stair–climbing. Average distance by coach per day: 24 miles
Small group: this tour will operate with between 10 and 22 participants.