Sacred Connections. September 10 th to September 23 rd Welcome to Rome, Italy

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1 Sacred Connections September 10 th to September 23 rd 2015 Lisa and Christine, of Mercurial Connections, wish to guide you on a sacred journey throughout Italy and Greece. We will visit many beautiful destinations and sacred sites whilst immersing in our own personal journeys across the Mediterranean. Throughout this sacred tour we will hold group lectures around the themes of the tour and reflect on the energies of our personal encounters along the way.. The gods and goddesses will guide us in our exploration of the archetypes as our mythical journey unfolds. Welcome to Rome, Italy Day One September 10th Start the tour by checking into your room at Hotel Marco Polo once settled you may have time to explore Rome or just wish to relax before we meet at 6pm for pre dinner drinks at the hotel, our time to connect as a group for the first time. Then we will all venture out as a group for a lovely three course dinner at a local restaurant. As the Italians do, we will share the table, food and experience and all Rome has to offer in the tastes of this beautiful Italian feast. After our senses are fully alive and satisfied we can stroll back to the hotel before we prepare for the first Roman experience in the morning.

2 Rome and the Colosseum Day Two - September 11 Today we venture out to the first of our sacred sites on the tour. A private coach will collect us from the hotel with our English speaking guide and take us to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum for a half day tour. The Colosseum is situated east of the Roman Forum and is an elliptical amphitheatre and was considered the largest in the Roman Empire and is the largest in the world. In its day it housed gladiator contests and other public spectacles including classical mythological dramas. Although it stands partly ruined due to earthquakes and stone robbers, it is an icon of the Roman Empire and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Rome. We will then head to the Roman Forum which for years was classed as the most splendid square in Ancient Rome. Located between Rome s two famous hills of Palatine and Capitoline, this area began excavation in 1870 and uncovered the marble ruins that can be seen today. We can explore the Temple of Castor and Pollux, or Dioscuri, situated near the smaller Temple of Vesta and the surrounding complex of the vestal virgins, all of which were rebuilt after the rise of Imperial Rome. Located at the western end of the Roman Forum is the Temple of Vespasian and Titus between the Temples of Concordia and Saturn. The afternoon is then free to continue exploring Rome for yourself.

3 Rome and a Walking tour by night Day Three - September 12 Today is a free day to explore the sights, culture and food in Rome. Be sure to visit the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, a church in Rome that has a crypt located under the church. Bones of 4000 Capuchin Friars are displayed on the walls of the crypt. The church itself, built between 1626 and 1631, has a dramatic altarpiece of St. Michael the Archangel and several side chapels and a tomb contains the body of St. Felix of Cantalice. We will meet in the afternoon for a walking tour of Rome which will incorporate visiting the Trevvi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps. Headphones will be used along the way and of course we have the expertise of our English speaking guide. Seeing these famous sights as the sun sets should add to their mystery and enhance their beauty. After our lovely walking tour enjoy your last dinner in Rome before we depart for Naples.

4 Arrival in Naples, Italy Day Four - September 13 Today we farewell Rome and climb aboard our private coach that will take us from Rome to Naples. We will check into the Grand Hotel Europa for the next 4 nights. The rest of the day is free time once we arrive, but ensure a good night s sleep before our big day tomorrow. Pompeii and Herculaneum Day Five - September 14 Today we take our private coach to Pompeii and Herculaneum with our English speaking guide.

5 Both sites were destroyed and buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. In the 18th century the sites were excavated and we have an opportunity to explore the ruins and view how the town was when approximately 11,000 people were buried. Pompeii had a complex water system, amphitheatre, gymnasium and port, so we can see how life may have been in the Ancient Roman area known as Campania. As we travel to Herculaneum we see another site that is quite different to Pompeii. Whereas Pompeii was vastly destroyed, Herculaneum was mainly affected by pyroclastic flows preserving much of the wooden roof tops, building beams, beds, doors and even food. Herculaneum was a wealthier town and therefore possesses a higher density of finely built homes with lavish marble cladding. Herculaneum was thought to be evacuated at the time of the devastation but recently 300 skeletons have been found on the sea shore, to the delight of excavators. Due to the sites preservation there is much to see here, revealing life in the city during this period. Paestum, Italy Day Six - September 15 Today is a half day tour to The Archaeological Site of Paestum, or Poseidonia. Our coach will collect us again, with our English speaking guide, and take us on our journey into this site founded by the Greeks In the 6th century BC. The Greeks built three temples between 550 and 450 BC, the first dedicated to Hera and two more with unknown dedications. The Romans colonised the city in 273 BC and latinised the name to Paestum.

6 The Romans added infrastructure of roads, forum and theatres and the Christians moved in around the 5th century AD, converting one of the temples to a church. In the 9th century the population became decimated by Saracen raids and malaria and became abandoned. It was then overtaken by forest and was not rediscovered until the 18th century. The three temples we will visit are the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Neptune(or Apollo or Hera II) and the Temple of Ceres(or Athena). There is a forum and amphitheatre at the site also. Before we head back to town, we will have lunch together and share the time spent together this morning, when we return to our hotel the rest of the day remains free for your to explore more of Naples. The Amalfi Coast and The Isle of Capri Day Seven - September 16 Once again we board our coach with our English speaking guide and visit the beautiful Amalfi Coast. We will start our day in the town of Sorrento and take a ferry out to the Isle of Capri. The island has beautiful views from the hilltop village of Anacapri, home to Villa San Michele with fabulous eateries are abundant. The Villa is optional to enter and is built on ancient ruins and the views are absolutely spectacular.

7 Tour around the white-washed town of Capri, See the Faraglioni rock formations and the Blue Grotto if you wish. Take the ferry and we will head back to the port of Sorrento and explore the rest of the day for yourself. Sorrento lies in an area renowned for its limoncello production, and Sorrento lemon rinds are the secret ingredient, so time to stock up for souvenirs. There are also several cathedrals and churches and the Museo Correale de Nova, which contains examples of local inlaid woodwork as well as archaeological finds and pictures of the Bay of Naples. The Marina Piccola and Marina Grande are further sources of seaside sights and charm. Today is a full day tour and we will work our way back to Naples in time for dinner. Depart Italy, arrive in Corfu, Greece. Day Eight - September 17 Today we check out of our hotel at Naples and climb aboard our coach which will take us across the Italian countryside to Bari. It is here we will farewell Italy and board a ferry to take us to the beautiful Greek town of Corfu, in the Ionian Islands. It is a tranquil and relaxing journey across the water into the evening and we will all have a cabin to sleep in. There is full waiter service on the ferry so sit back and relax as beautiful Greece awaits our arrival.

8 Corfu, Greece Day Nine - September 18 We arrive early in Corfu and transfer to the Main Port to check in to our Hotel Cavalieri. The rest of today you are free to explore Corfu Town for yourself. Corfu Town, Kerkira or Kerkyra, as it is known in modern Greek, is the largest and most important town on the island. Old Corfu Town has many historical churches and sights to visit. There is the Esplanande which lies between the Old Fortress and the Old Town. The Old Fortress lies on the eastern point of the Corfu Town Peninsula and the Palace of St, Michael and St. George is at the North end of the Esplanade. Beautiful Beaches of Corfu

9 Sissi s Palace, Corfu Day Ten - September 19 Today we take a private bus with the expertise of our English speaking guide and go to the Achilleion area and Sissi's Palace. The palace was built with the mythical hero of Achilles as the central theme by an Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria, who was obsessed with beauty after the loss of her only son. Corfu was her favourite vacation place and we feel Corfu will touch a special place in all of our hearts too. From the palace there is a panoramic view of Corfu city to the north and across the whole of the southern part of the island. This is a half day tour so the rest of the day is free time to explore Corfu. Athens, Greece Day Eleven - September 20 We have an early morning check out from our hotel and transfer to the airport for our flight from Corfu to Athens. We check in to the Hotel Astor and the morning is free for you to visit the sights of Athens. There is the Acropolis, the Benaki

10 Museum, the Plaka, or old town, just to name a few things. In the afternoon we will all go to The Acropolis Museum. A great follow on from the Acropolis, if you choose to visit it. This is an archaeological museum opened to the public in 2009 and focuses on the findings from the Acropolis site. It lies on the archaeological site of Makrygianni and the ruins of part of the Roman and early Byzantine Athens. The museum is located on the southeastern slopes of the Acropolis hill, on the ancient road that leads to the sacred rock in more classical times. It is set only 400 metres from the Pantheon. After the visit to the museum we can all stroll into the Plaka and enjoy good coffee, food or a wine. Sounion, Greece Day Twelve - September 21 The morning chri is free for you to continue to explore Athens or even get some shopping in. This may be the last chance to get souvenirs or shopping in before heading home. In the afternoon we will take a private coach to Sounion Temple of Poseidon to share the last evening together. We will watch the sunset at the Cape of Sounion and see the ruins of this Ancient Greek Temple perched on the headland and surrounded by sea on three sides. What a peaceful place to begin our farewells to the group, the tour and to Greece. We begin our farewell at the temple of the God of the Sea, to Neptune the protector of all waters. Sailors once relied on him for a safe passage, as we will on our journeys home or on to our next place we visit. We return to Athens and stroll to the Plaka for dinner at a lovely Taverna, inclusive of a 1/2 bottle of local wine. This is our last night together so let's enjoy our Greek feast before strolling back to our hotel.

11 Athens, The Plaka Day Thirteen - September 22 Today we have our last breakfast at the hotel on the tour, before we all go our separate ways. We carry with us the images and reflections of the last 12 days. They have shaped us already and will continue to unfold as we journey on and go homewards. This trip includes, 13 days/12 nights accommodation, breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 2 dinners, all entry fees to sites and group tours, all private coach trips, boat trips and flight from Corfu to Athens. * Payment plans are available Travel insurance is highly recommended As this tour is priced in Australian dollars there may be overseas currency fluctuations. Therefore Mercurial Connections may impose extra charges due to major changes. This itinerary is subject to change if required and you will be notified immediately if this occurs. Prices are based on a minimum group of eight participants.

12 Twin Share pp inclusive* - paid in full by April 30 th $ Twin Share pp inclusive* - paid in full after April 30 th $ Deposits paid prior to March 15 th receive a bonus $100 off total price Single room add a further $680 Single cabin (on ferry) add a further $300 Non refundable deposit required $ Contact Wade Pease of Student Flights (02) or wade.pease@studentflights.com.au for great international fares Please contact us should you require extra nights at a discount rate before or after the trip Contact Lisa or Christine today for further information and enrolment info@mercurialconnections.com.au