Travel AAIA Tour Art and Archaeology of Athens Tour Leaders: Dr Lita Tzortzopoulou Gregory, Professor Timothy Gregory, Ms Cindy Davis and Professor Bob Davis May 3 to May 13, 2016 In May 2016, the AAIA will sponsor an exciting new tour dedicated to sketching while exploring in ancient, medieval, and modern Athens. During this ten-day programme both novice and experienced artists will find wonderful opportunities to more deeply understand the aesthetic and historical pleasures of Greece. Non-artists can also enjoy an inside view of this unique and enchanting culture, as offered by the lecturers and guides who will lead the group. The variety of activities provided here will especially give couples a shared, rewarding experience. During the programme, guests will be conducted to sites selected for their beauty, cultural, and historical importance. All our destinations are within a short drive from our hotel, located near the Parthenon in Athens. Art instruction includes individual coaching, demonstrations, technical explanation, and group discussions. Exclusive tours of archaeological sites not open to the general public will be conducted by host archaeologists, who are personally involved in the excavations. Most evenings will include an informal talk by one of our three academic hosts at the AAIA Hostel, where participants will be able to share their views and ask questions of the three professors accompanying us.
The Art Gallery Hotel, your base in Athens TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Day trip to the island of Aegina. Visits to Athens Museums, including the Cycladic, Byzantine, and Benaki Museums. Walking and sketching tours of archaeological and cultural sites in Athens. Evening trip to the Psiri district of Athens to sample nightlife and local music. Scenic coach trip to Sounion and its spectacular temple. Visit to the ancient Kerameikos cemetery. Day trip via train to Korinth and Isthmia for exclusive tour of its important archaeological sites and museums. Morning excursion to the 11th-century Kesariani Monastery complex on wooded slopes of Mt Hymmetus. An evening wine tasting with the Athens Friends of the AAIA. PRICE: AU$3339 land only (approximately US$2350*) inclusive of domestic transport in Greece + single supplement AU$600 (approx. US$425*) For further information, and bookings, please contact arts.aaia@sydney.edu.au or call +61 (2) 9351 4759 Image: Sunset at Cape Sounion by Kuno Lechner. License CC BY-SA 3.0 *nov. exchange rate
The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens is uniquely placed through its expertise and experience to offer a tour that brings to participants insider knowledge of the archaeological sites of ancient Athens, the city s many museums, and its spectacular setting. Participants will have an opportunity to explore a cityscape where antiquities interact and are part of a busy, often chaotic, modern European city, that blends eastern and western influences. This is a boutique tour, for a maximum of 15 people, accompanied by archaeologists with years of experience in the field, in museums and in education. ABOUT US: The AAIA was established in 1980. It is one of the seventeen Foreign Schools in Athens, scholarly institutions in the capital of Greece, each of which represents a different nation. Some of these institutions have been in existence for well over a century. The AAIA exists to promote research about the Hellenic World in Australia and in Greece. Its legal role is to negotiate permits with the relevant Ministry for Australian scholars to undertake fieldwork in Greece. It has hosted major excavations at the site of Torone in northern Greece and the site of Zagora on the Cycladic Island of Andros, and also supports excavations at Nea Paphos in Cyprus. In addition to its formal role, the AAIA supports students through scholarships, and operates libraries in both Sydney and Athens as well as a hostel in Athens. TOUR INCLUSIONS: 10 nights accommodation at the Art Gallery Hotel in Athens All breakfasts and dinners (with wine) and 8 lunches All transportation to places in the itinerary Talks and guided visits by qualified archaeologists and historians Art instruction All art materials, including use of easels Entry fees for museums and archaeological sites The AAIA Premises at the University of Sydney Audience at the AAIA s 30th Anniversary Celebrations Supporters walk out to our excavations at Zagora NOT INCLUDED: International Airfares Travel Insurance Expenses of a personal nature (including laundry & phone calls) Drinks Interior of the AAIA Hostel in Athens
TOUR LEADERS: Our tour will be led by artist Cindy Davis who will provide tuition in sketching. In addition, three archaeological professionals will provide commentary and context about archaeology in Greece and share stories and information on the sites and museums visited. (L to R): Our tour leaders Lita, Bob, Cindy and Tim Lita Tzortzopoulou Gregory holds degrees in Anthropology and Archaeology from the University of Sydney as well as a Doctorate from La Trobe University in Melbourne. She is Co-Director of the Australian Paliochora-Kythera Archaeological Survey, and currently is the Executive Officer in Athens of our Institute. Lita s Greek heritage makes her passionate about Greece, and she is looking forward to sharing her knowledge with tour participants. Tim Gregory (PhD University of Michigan) is Professor of History at The Ohio State University in the USA, with special research interests in Byzantine History and Classical Archaeology. He is Director of the OSU Excavations at Isthmia (in the Korinthia) and Co-Director of the Australian Paliochora-Archaeological Survey. Cindy Davis: While staying in Italy Cindy was introduced to Padre Diego Donati, a Franciscan artist who became her printmaking teacher. Further studies at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice and Florida Atlantic University completed her graphics education. She has exhibited internationally and her work is in many private collections. Cindy has used her extensive knowledge of Italy to develop a series of painting trips there for artists and enjoys kindling an artistic response to new surroundings. Bob Davis (PhD Johns Hopkins University) is Professor Emeritus of History at The Ohio State University. For the last thirty years he has studied and written on Italian and Mediterranean history, with particular focus on the lives of ordinary men and women in the past. Together with Cindy, he has lived in Italy for many years. For his available publications, link to his web page on Amazon.com. FITNESS LEVELS: Your comfort is essential to everyone s enjoyment on this trip. We want each participant to take part in all the activities, especially since our group is small and even one person would be missed! Therefore we ask that you assess your own ability to walk up a gentle slope, climb some steps, and sometimes be on your feet most of the day. The itinerary has been carefully planned to vary the level of activity and give rests and options for less vigorous guests. But please keep in mind that uneven pavement, loose stones and unpadded seating are part of any adventurous experience. A well broken-in pair of supportive walking shoes will not be out of style in this group. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss the physical requirements of this trip please contact us.
Weather The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens is a research institute based at the University of Sydney AAIA Tour The Art and Archaeology of Athens, May 2016 We can expect comfortable temperatures in Athens in early May (between 15 and 23 C). Some rain is possible, but we will not cancel activities if it does! Please bring appropriate clothing. Accommodation We will be staying at the charming Art Gallery Hotel, located near the Acropolis, in a residential neighbourhood. All rooms have private baths and an ample Greek breakfast is included. There is a friendly resident cat. www.artgalleryhotel.gr ART GALLERY HOTEL, ATHENS Day by Day Itinerary Day 1-Tuesday 3 May 2016 Participants arrive in Athens. Check-in at The Art Gallery Hotel. 6:00: Welcome orientation with drinks at the nearby AAIA Hostel Taverna dinner. Day 2-Wednesday 4 May 2016 After breakfast we walk to Philopappou Hill, west of the Acropolis, with spectacular views of the city, the sea, and the ancient monuments there. We will sketch/draw until noon, followed by a picnic lunch in the beautiful woods. In the afternoon, we will climb to the Acropolis for a tour of the important monuments on the iconic rock of Athens, including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and the Temple of Nike. 6:00: Evening talk and discussion with drinks at AAIA Hostel. Taverna dinner Day 3- Thursday 5 May 2016 This morning we will walk to the area of Anafiotika in Plaka (north of the Acropolis), with buildings 300+ years old, which is overlooked by most tour groups. We will sketch/draw until noon, followed by lunch in one of the Plaka tavernas. After lunch, we will visit the Acropolis Museum. There will be optional sketch/draw time along the Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian walk (between the Acropolis and the Museum). 6:00: Evening talk and discussion with drinks at AAIA Hostel. Taverna dinner. Day 4 -Friday 6 May 2016 After an early breakfast, we take taxis to Piraeus (port of Athens) to travel by hydrofoil to Aegina Island, on the Saronic Gulf. Aegina was a place of spiritual and cultural importance in ancient and medieval times and is now popular with Athenians looking to relax.
We will spend the morning exploring Aegina town, the Museum, and the archaeological site of Kolonna, with ample time for sketching/drawing. We will lunch at a seaside taverna, followed by a bus/ taxi trip to the site of Aphaia with its well-preserved Archaic temple, for more sketching and drawing. On our return to Aegina Town, we will stop at the church and monastery of Saint Nektarios, an important pilgrimage site, with an optional walk to the nearby medieval town of Palaiochora. We will be returning to Piraeus on the evening boat, getting back to our Hotel in time for dinner at a local taverna. Day 5-Saturday 7 May 2016 After breakfast we will travel by taxi to the Museum of Cycladic Art, a fantastic private collection of artefacts from the Aegean Civilizations, housed in a complex of remarkable 19th century houses. Here we will have the opportunity to draw/sketch some of the magnificent artefacts on display. At noon, we will walk to Syntagma Square (Greek Parliament) to watch the Change of Guards Ceremony. Then we will enter the National Gardens for a picnic lunch. After lunch, we will be guided through the park (former Royal Gardens commissioned by Queen Amalia-first Queen of Greece-in 1838), for sketching/drawing. We will also visit Zappeion (magnificent late 19th century neo-classical building complex used for exhibitions), and perhaps enjoy a beverage at the Zappeion café. Walking back to the Hotel, we will visit important ancient and medieval sites, such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Arch of Hadrian, with optional sketching/drawing. After our 6:00pm evening talk and discussion at the AAIA Hostel, we will take a taxi to Psiri, the decidedly un-touristy nightlife district of Athens. This working class area is a famous haven for anti-establishment poets and musicians. Dinner at Psiri taverna with Rebetika music. Day 6-Sunday 8 May 2016 After breakfast we will travel by taxi to the Byzantine Museum. This Museum houses an important collection of art, which clearly influenced Modern Art from the 1920s till the present. We will have an opportunity to sketch/draw some of the magnificent objects on display at the Museum, followed by a picnic lunch. After lunch, there is free time, with an optional trip to Lycabbetus Hill, offering panoramic views of Athens. At 5:00 pm we will meet at the AAIA Hostel for sharing, discussion, and review of artworks. 6:00 Evening talk and discussion with drinks at the AAIA Hostel Dinner at a local taverna. Day 7-Monday 9 May 2016 Morning and lunch on your own. Optional sketching with Cindy Davis will be in a nearby park. At 1:00 the group will depart from the Hotel by coach to Attica coast and Sounion. This is a drive of approximately 45kms with amazing views along the coast to the temple of Poseidon, high above the sea. There will be drawing/sketching time at the site, followed by dinner at a seaside taverna. Late return to Athens. Day 8- Tuesday 10 May 2016 After breakfast we will take the Metro to Kerameikos, the ancient Cemetery of Athens, with many surviving monuments and beautiful funerary sculpture. Opportunity to draw/sketch at the site and Museum, followed by a picnic lunch. After lunch, we will gather at the AAIA Hostel for sharing, discussion, and review of artworks. In the afternoon, there will be an optional tour of the Benaki Museum. 6:00: Evening talk and discussion with drinks at AAIA Hostel. Taverna dinner. Day 9-Wednesday 11 May 2016 Early breakfast and departure for metro/proastiakos (Suburban rail) to Korinth. Travel by taxis to Isthmia, one of the four panhellenic and athletic sanctuaries like Olympia and Delphi, located on one of the important crossroads of the ancient world. This is the site of ongoing excavations by the Ohio State University, directed by Timothy Gregory. Tim and Lita will give a tour of the site and Museum. In the Excavation House, we will learn about the importance of archaeological artefact drawing, and we will be able to handle and draw some of the artefacts found at the site. After a picnic style lunch, we visit Ancient Korinth with its Museum and have beverages at a café overlooking the ruins. From there, we will have the opportunity to draw/sketch the archaeological site. Departure from A. Korinth will be in the early evening, in time for dinner in our Athens taverna. Day 10-Thursday 12 May After breakfast, we will set off for the Kesariani Monastery by taxi. This lovely medieval monastery complex is located on the wooded slopes of Mt. Hymmetus, overlooking the city of Athens. We will draw and sketch until noon, enjoy a picnic lunch, and return to the Hotel soon after. The afternoon is free, with an optional sketching/drawing session with Cindy in a nearby location. At 6:00pm we will gather at the AAIA Hostel, where we will join the Athens Friends of the Australian Archaeological Institute for a wine tasting event. This will be an opportunity for us to mingle with some local Athenians, and share our new appreciation of Greek culture. The evening will conclude with a wrap-up of the programme and farewells, and dinner at our local taverna.
Tour Booking Form Name of Tour: Art and Archaeology of Athens Departure Date: Personal Details Participant 1 Title & full name (as it appears on your passport) Participant 2 Title & full name (as it appears on your passport) Address (number and street) Address (number and street) Suburb State Postcode Suburb State Postcode Country Country Preferred phone number Preferred phone number Email address Email address Passport number Expiry date Passport number Expiry date Country of Issue Date of Birth Country of Issue Date of Birth Emergency contact (name and phone number) Emergency contact (name and phone number) Relationship to emergency contact Relationship to emergency contact I would like: a sole-occupancy room a twin bed room* a double bed room* I would like: a sole-occupancy room a twin bed room* a double bed room* * to share with * to share with Where possible the AAIA can organize twin-share accommodation on your behalf. Please indicate if this is desired. Please include a photocopy of the photo page of your passport with this form as proof of identity Please return completed booking forms with a copy of your passport(s) to: post: AAIA Madsen Building (F09) University of Sydney, NSW, 2006 Australia fax: +61 +2 9351 7693 email: arts.aaia@sydney.edu.au
Dietary Needs & Medical Information Participant 1 I am vegetarian I have no special dietary needs/allergies I have the following special dietary needs/allergies Participant 2 I am vegetarian I have no special dietary needs/allergies I have the following special dietary needs/allergies I have no medical conditions that the AAIA needs to know about The AAIA needs to know that I have the following medical conditions I have no medical conditions that the AAIA needs to know about The AAIA needs to know that I have the following medical conditions I have read and can comply with the fitness guidelines I have read and can comply with the fitness guidelines Please inform the AAIA of any medication, including analgesics, you will be carrying with you. For prescription medication please obtain a letter from your doctor outlining requirements and dosages. Deposit To secure your position, a $500 non-refundable deposit, payable in Australian dollars, is required per person. Number of passenger(s) Total deposit $ I wish to pay by: Cheque Money order (Please make payable to the University of Sydney - AAIA) Visa American Express Card holder s name Card number Security code Signature of card holder Expiry date MasterCard Diners Club Booking Conditions PAYMENT. Final payment is due on 15 March. CANCELLATION. The $500 p.p. deposit due at booking is nonrefundable, but may be credited to a future AAIA tour. In the event of cancellation after final payment, the following refund of the total amount will be given 60 45 days before departure: 75% 44 30 days before departure: : 50% 29-15 days : 25% 14 days or less before departure: no refund TRAVEL INSURANCE. All participants are required to obtain comprehensive travel insurance and to provide the AAIA with the details of that policy before departure. PASSPORT AND VISAS. All participants must have a current passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the day of departure, and any required re-entry permits into Australia. The AAIA will inform participants of any visas needed for the countries visited on the tour, however it is the traveller s responsibilty to meet all visa and passport requirements. CHANGE IN PRICE OR ITINERARY. If it becomes necessary to alter the cost of the tour, or significantly alter the route, participants will be given the option of a full refund. A full refund will be given if the AAIA is forced to cancel the tour. Minor adjustments to the daily itinerary, such as a change in hotel or activity (due for example to closure or poor weather) may occur from time to time. The AAIA reserves the right to ask for a medical assessment to deem the fitness to travel of any indended participant. I/we, the undersigned, have completed this form correctly and in full, and have read the conditions and agree to and meet all terms Participant 1 Participant 2 Date