S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y Rome & Tuscan y: La Bella Vita Pageantry of the Palio June 25 to July 6, 2013 a program of the stanford alumni association
Enjoy la bella vita the good life in Italy next summer! There is no better way to visit Tuscany and Rome than by taking advantage of Stanford contacts forged over 50 years of the University s landmark Overseas Studies program in Florence. Gain insider access to monuments and museums with our outstanding guides and faculty, and experience traditional Tuscan life firsthand during a four-night stay at our own medieval castello. Enjoy extraordinary special events simply not available on mainstream trips, including an exclusive, after-hours visit to the Sistine Chapel and VIP seats at Siena s legendary Palio. It s an experience I guarantee you ll never forget! Brett S. Thompson, 83, Director, Stanford Travel/Study MICHELANGELO S DAVID Highlights DELIGHT in an afterhours visit to the Vatican Museums, where we see the Sistine Chapel free of the usual crowds of tourists. : CHEER for your favorite contrada at the Palio, a spectacular bareback horse race, from VIP seats above the throng in Siena s famous Piazza del Campo. RELAX amid the pleasures of Tuscan country life at the magical Castello di Gargonza, a restored 13th-century hilltop village. PIAZZA del campo, siena
Faculty Leader The academic element was outstanding across the board. Christine Junkerman, an expert in Renaissance painting, developed a popular series of courses on the art of Renaissance Florence, Venice, Rome and Siena for Stanford s Continuing Studies program. Dr. Junkerman enjoys how teachable art history is, evidenced by how her students readily absorb and respond to her lessons. Direct connection with the viewer is such an important element of Italian Renaissance and Baroque art, and there s no better way to understand that than standing in front of the art, says Dr. Junkerman. You look up at a sculpture and notice an eye that just might be Michelangelo s peering at you from behind a satyr s mask, or a Florentine patrician smiling at you from a fresco, and a powerful connection is made with the past. That kind of experience is what makes Travel/Study trips a pleasure. This will be Dr. Junkerman s 10th trip with Stanford Travel/Study. Taught art history at Stanford and UC-Berkeley Resident fellow, Stanford s Wilbur Hall, 1984 1992 Currently teaching European art history with a specialization in the Italian Renaissance at the School of Art and Design, San Jose State University Coordinator, California State University Summer Arts in Florence, Summer 2011 PhD, art history, 1988, UC-Berkeley Ed Ewing, Around Sicily, 2011 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y Reservation Form Rome & Tuscany SIGN UP ONLINE! MR. / MRS. / MS. MISS / DR. / PROF. NAME AGE STANFORD CLASS MR. / MRS. / MS. MISS / DR. / PROF. NAME AGE STANFORD CLASS ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP PHONE CELL / WORK / HOME EMAIL ADDRESS BED PREFERENCE: Twins Double Here is my deposit of $ ($1,000 per person) for space(s). Enclosed is my check (payable to Stanford Alumni Association) OR Charge my deposit to my: Visa MasterCard American Express I/We have read the Terms and Conditions for the program and agree to them. CARD # SIGNATURE If this is a reservation for one person, please indicate: I wish to have single accommodations. OR I plan to share accommodations with: OR I d like to know about possible roommates. EXPIRATION DATE CARDHOLDER SIGNATURE DATE Mail completed form to address on mail panel or fax to (650) 725-8675 or place your deposit online at alumni.stanford.edu/trip?rome2013. Submit your reservation only once to avoid multiple charges to your account. 8762
Ad Ligurian Sea Lucca Pisa Siena Florence Gargonza Cortona I TALY Tyrrhenian Sea Rome Itinerary Tuesday & Wednesday, June 25 & 26 U.S. / ROME, ITALY Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Rome. Upon arrival on Wednesday, transfer to our deluxe hotel in the heart of Rome s historic district. Gather this evening for a welcome wine reception on the rooftop terrace. GRAND HOTEL DE LA MINERVE Thursday, June 27 ROME Start the day with a morning walking tour of Rome s historic center that includes the Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. GRAND HOTEL DE LA MINERVE (B,D) Friday, June 28 ROME This morning s walking tour takes us to the ancient monuments of the Eternal City: the Forum, the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum, Rome s enormous amphitheater that once accommodated 50,000 spectators. After lunch and the afternoon on our own, visit the Vatican Museums for a special afterhours tour. Free of the perennially huge crowds, view room after room of masterpieces by Giotto, Botticelli, Caravaggio and Raphael, culminating in the masterfully restored Sistine Chapel. GRAND HOTEL DE LA MINERVE (B) Saturday, June 29 ROME / GARGONZA This morning visit the Villa Borghese, the palatial residence housing the the art collection of Cardinal Borghese, including masterpieces by Bernini, Botticelli, Titian and others. After lunch on our own, we make our way to the medieval hill town of Gargonza, superbly situated in the Tuscan countryside and our home for the next four days. Take the rest of the afternoon to read, relax or enjoy the swimming pool. CASTELLO DI GARGONZA (B,D) Sunday, June 30 SIENA This morning we visit Siena, the beautifully preserved Tuscan jewel of a town that still retains its medieval character, giving us a feel for what Tuscany was like in the Middle Ages. Our walking tour includes the Piazza del Campo, the Palazzo Pubblico with its spectacular frescoes and the Cathedral with its elaborate marble façade. Enjoy lunch on our own at one of Siena s many superb trattorie, then return to Gargonza for an afternoon of relaxation. Join the locals for a game of bocce or try mastering the art of making fresh pasta with Gargonza s chef. CASTELLO DI GARGONZA (B,D) Monday, July 1 CORTONA Enjoy a short drive to the Etruscan hilltop town of Cortona. Though it has been continuously inhabited for some 3,000 years, Cortona most recently gained fame as the locale in Frances Mayes lovely book, Under the Tuscan Sun. Soak up the highlights on our walking tour, and return to Gargonza for dinner. CASTELLO DI GARGONZA (B,D) Tuesday, July 2 SIENA Today we witness one of the world s most spectacular medieval pageants, Siena s Palio. Depart after lunch, arriving in Siena in time to stroll through the feverishly busy courtyards, piazzas and streets, where competing contrade (districts) of the city are making their final preparations. In late afternoon, watch the colorful parade and horse race from our seats in the stands, high above the 50,000-spectator crowd. CASTELLO DI GARGONZA (B,L,D) Wednesday, July 3 GARGONZA / LUCCA Join an optional early-morning hike through the scenic countryside around our castle. In late morning, depart for Lucca, stopping en route for wine tasting and lunch at Badia a Coltibuono. Arrive in Lucca in the
FLORENCE riatic Sea late afternoon and enjoy a walking tour of this charming town. HOTEL SAN LUCA (B,L) Thursday, July 4 LUCCA / FLORENCE Set out this morning on a full-day excursion to Florence. Begin with an exploration of the historic center, walking through Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza della Signoria. After lunch on our own, become immersed in the world of Michelangelo. Visit San Lorenzo, the parish church of the Medici family, to view the Medici Tombs and the Chapel of the Princes. Then stand before Michelangelo s magnificent David and the evocative Prisoners at the Accademia. HOTEL SAN LUCA (B) Friday, July 5 LUCCA / CARRARA Travel this morning to Carrara, home to the very marble quarries where Michelangelo selected the massive blocks he transformed into masterpieces. Here, walls of shining white marble soar skyward, cut out of the mountains and accessible only by narrow switchbacks. Lunch is on our own in the artists colony of Pietrasanta. Celebrate the end of our journey with a farewell wine reception and dinner. HOTEL SAN LUCA (B,D) ABOUT THE PALIO Few public spectacles are as thrilling as the Palio, Siena s legendary 800-year-old medieval pageant, which culminates in a wild bareback horse race around the famous Piazza del Campo. But before the race, the excitement that grips Siena is indescribable as drummers and alfieri (flag throwers) lead parade contingents through the city. Inside the Piazza del Campo, the Corteo Storico, the procession that celebrates Siena s Golden Age, recaptures the grandeur of medieval times and ushers in the spectacular, drama-filled horse race. The experience is unforgettable and sure to be the highlight of our journey. ABOUT CASTELLO DI GARGONZA Castello di Gargonza is an authentic medieval village, complete with tower, parish church, town walls and a host of other original buildings converted for modern use. Our accommodations are the former homes of the farmers and tradesmen who worked centuries ago on the surrounding estate. These houses, still bearing the names of the original inhabitants, have been transformed into cozy cottages, with kitchens, living rooms and all the idiosyncracies of the original dwellings. The castle now boasts a conference facility, a gourmet restaurant and a swimming pool nestled in an olive grove with a spectacular view. Houses vary in size and features, and a bit of walking is necessary to access them from the dining room. GargonzA Saturday, July 6 LUCCA / PISA / U.S. Depart from Pisa on return flights home to the U.S. (B)
COLOSSEUM Fountain of the Four Rivers Lucca Trip Information Dates June 25 to July 6, 2013 (12 days) Size Limited to 42 participants cost* $7,995 per person, double occupancy $9,945 per person, single occupancy *Association nonmembers add $200 per person INCLUDED 6 nights of 4- and 5-star hotel accommodations; 4 nights in a first-class country inn 10 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 6 dinners Welcome and farewell wine receptions Bottled water on tour vehicles Gratuities to porters, guides and drivers for all group activities All tours as described in the itinerary Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance Educational program with lecture series and predeparture materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program CARRARA NOT INCLUDED International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport and visa fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than those specified as included Independent and private transfers Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for personal services What to expect We consider this to be a moderately strenuous program that is at times physically demanding and busy. Participants must be physically fit, active and in good health. Daily programs involve extensive walking of three to five miles, such as through city centers from bus drop-off points, in museums and on city tours, as well as extended periods of standing in museums and on church tours. Participants will encounter uneven terrain, including some dirt and cobblestoned paths, and must be able to walk at least 20 minutes up and down hills in Tuscan towns and at Gargonza. At the Palio, participants must be able to sit outside for several hours on metal bleacher seats with limited leg room. Summer in Italy can be quite hot and humid; temperatures on this program range from the low 80s ( F) to the low 90s during the day and the 70s in the evenings. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.
THE VATICAN Pavlovsk Palace Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment A $1,000-per-person deposit is required to hold space for this program. Complete and return the attached reservation form or place your deposit online. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability. Cancellations & Refunds Deposits and any payments are fully refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-perperson cancellation fee will apply. We recommend trip-cancellation insurance; applications will be sent to you. Insurance Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance. A brochure offering such insurance will be mailed with your confirmation about one week after we receive your deposit. The product offered in this brochure includes special benefits if you postmark your insurance payment within a specified window: 15 days of the date listed on the confirmation letter for the Waiver of Pre-existing Conditions and coverage for Financial Insolvency; 21 days for the Cancel for Any Reason benefit. Eligibility We encourage membership in the Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $200 more than the members price. Parents and their children under 21 may travel on one membership. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit alumni.stanford/ goto/membership or call (650) 725-0692. Responsibility The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk entirely. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time that passengers are not onboard their plane or conveyance. Neither the Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect in August 2012 and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50 Tel (650) 725-1093 FAX (650) 725-8675 Email travelstudy@stanfordalumni.org COPYRIGHT 2012 STANFORD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed on recycled, FSC-certified paper in the U.S.
Stanford Travel/Study Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center 326 Galvez Street Stanford, CA 94305-6105 (650) 725-1093 Rome & Tuscan y: La Bella Vita Pageantry of the Palio June 25 to July 6, 2013 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Stanford Alumni Association It was an unforgettable trip that gave us a delicious taste of Tuscany and an enduring appreciation for Italian history and culture. Christina Van Zandt, Rome and Tuscany, 2011 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y THE PALIO, SIENA