teacher itinerary

Patti, To begin with, as you have a choice I'd suggest going at the beginning of June, as it will probably be more of a "pleasant" experience. Many Italians take their holidays in August, so it's usually hot and crowded, and some restaurants, etc. are closed. I'm assuming this is your first trip to Italy and perhaps also to Europe? It would really help to have some idea on what your interests are, and what you'd most like to see in Italy. Are you interested in Art, Museums, Historical sites or ??? You may get some good ideas by checking your local Library or larger book stores to see if you can find a copy of the Italy 2011 Guidebook. These are also now available as E-books in several formats, so if you have a Kindle or iPad, you could easily download a copy. As you will not have a car, it would also help to know if you've ridden the trains in Europe before. There are a few "caveats" to be aware of. Cheers!

Hi Patti, I'm just curious: does the grant have any specific parameters that need to be adhered to, or goals that need to be attained regarding research, etc.? Knowing any such stipulations might help garner suggestions from posters that would be more tailored to your needs.

Hi-Thanks for getting back to me-the grant only specifies that I visit the sites that I teach about in my curriculum(Ecce Romani a reading-based Latin curriculum)-The curriculum follows a Roman family in A.D. 80 from Bastia up the Appian Way to Rome where they visit the Colisseum. the Forum, etc. So I need to see those plus Pompeii. My personal interests are in both art and history. I have never rode on European trains before. I unfortunately can not go until school is out so the earliest I can go is the third week of June-I appreciate any and all suggestions

Patti, Thanks for the additional information. What other places in Italy have you considered visiting on this trip? One location that comes to mind is Orvieto, as it has somewhat of an interesting history (as I recall, there are some Estruscan sites in that area). Is the school booking Hotels for you, or will you have to do that yourself? Were you planning to visit Pompeii as a day trip from Rome, or spend a few days in the area? Sorrento would make a good "home base" in that area. You'll need some information on the train route to get to Sorrento and Pompeii (again, the Italy Guidebook would be a good resource to have). One other thing I'd suggest is to use a local Guide when you visit Pompeii, as you'll get far more out of the visit than by just wandering around on your own. This Guide is one of the best (IMO) but he's often booked up well into the future. If he's booked, you'll likely also find Guides waiting at the entrance to the site. From a historical perspective, visiting the Archeological Museum in Naples would be a good "fit" with the visit to Pompeii. The culture in Naples can be a bit "intense", but if you plan well your trip should go well. One other question - as a Latin Teacher, do you also speak Italian (I believe it's based on Latin). Cheers!

The earlier the better, as far as summer weather. August will be unbearable, especially Pompeii. As for trains, fortunately the Italian train system is very very good. Lots of helpful info on it here: Italian trains by Ron in Rome

So you're not following the Ceasar invades Gaul routine that I learned? Shame - you could have travelled to France and Switzerland too. Or add Cicero and the world's your oyster... happy planning

Patti, You might consider using Sorrento as a "home base" in that part of Italy. It's really easy to reach Pompeii and Herculaneum from there, and of course Capri if you decide to take the suggestions that Kim mentioned. As you have the Guidebook, you've probably noted that to reach Sorrento you'll need to take the EuroStar Italia / Alta Velocita to Naples and then transfer to the Circumvesuviana (be sure to watch your luggage and wear a Money Belt!). The book also has good suggestions for Hotels in that area.

PattiI'm a Latin teacher too (middle schooland ecce!) and we run our own student trips every few years. If you are trying to keep things curriculum-based I would definitely split your time between Rome and the Bay of Naples area. Not only is Pompeii a must-see, but Herculaneum is there (actually better, in my opinion), Mt. Vesuvius, the Sibyl at Cumae, Lake Avernus, Misenum, Stabiae...especially if you teach or will ever teach AP Virgil it's definitely a must-see area. There is also Tiberius' villa on Capri and Paestum has FABULOUS archaic Greek temples and a great little museum. All of these things are really just curricular excuses to sit in the beautiful Amalfi sunshine and drink limoncello, of course! In Rome, make the day trip to Ostia for sure (super easy by metro and great ruins) and it's worth taking a tour or figuring out how to get to Hadrian's Villa as well. That's all if you are trying to keep things mostly/all ancient Roman. Obviously Florence...and just about everywhere in Italy...is worth visiting for your own personal experience and Renaissance art.

Thank you all for your responses! Kristin, what town would you suggest staying in the Bay of Naples area?Do you have any kind of rough itinerary I could follow? I will be making all my own travel arrangements and will be meeting my eldest daughter in Italy (she is a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi)-she will travel with me-
Ken, I did buy the Guide and it does seem very helpful! And unfortunately I do not speak Italian..

Ken-Thank you! That makes sense-
And sorry about the name mix up Kim!

I had to smile at the request for a rough itinerary for Naples. I believe that's the only kind. :-) The Sorrento suggestion is brilliant. Glad you're going to follow it. One of my happy memories of Ostia Antica (and the Forum) was seeing the groups of Italian schoolkids who were able to see these places as part of a regular school field trip. Can you imagine having so much history all around you?! Happy travels.