Italy / Greece
Program Summary
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Mediterranean Europe
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Adventure Highlights
Athens, Greece
- Climb Athens’ most famous hill to the Parthenon to visit the Acropolis. Explore archaeological and architectural wonders like the Old Temple of Athena and the intriguing Erechtheion with its porch of caryatids (columns in the shape of women). Enjoy fantastic views over the beautiful city of Athens.
- Dine in the footsteps of such historical figures as Plato, in Athens’ ancient city center, the Plaka.
- Dive into the world of Greek mythology and get to know the ancient Greek gods. Learning their stories will help you understand Greek history and culture in a deeper way.
- Trace the Greek influence on our own language and culture, from the underlying philosophy of democracy to such common words as “narcissistic,” “museum,” and “Amazon.”
- Attend a performance of an ancient Greek tragedy in a thoroughly modern presentation.
Olympia, Greece
- Explore Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C., and marvel at how long the games have been an international vehicle for cooperation and diplomacy.
- Wander the ruins of the Temple of Zeus and visit a stadium dating from the third century B.C.
Kyparissia Bay, Greece
- Spend two days on the front lines of conservation when you participate in the loggerhead sea turtle project.
- Be a conservation biologist for a day.
- Become an honorary member of the Archelon Association, which protects sea turtles by preserving their natural living space. You will assist researchers by:
- Conducting morning surveys at dawn, to assess the previous night's turtle activities
- Relocating any nests laid in unsafe areas
- Excavating a sampling of nests to determine hatching success
Patras, Greece
- Discover ancient Greek technology—including rudimentary robots and movie theaters—from 3,000 years ago.
- Meet a local expert who will demonstrate the Greeks’ ancient ideas and inventions using his own painstakingly re-created models.
- Try some experiments for yourself, with models that translate your basic knowledge into clever results.
Alberobello, Italy
- Enjoy the fairy-tale city of Alberobello. No one knows why these curious cone-shaped houses were built five centuries ago, but today they’re protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Discover the Dolci Pascoli cheese cooperative and sample several varieties of Italian cheese. Watch closely as these artisans demonstrate the production of their fine cheese and explain the complex flavors that will result.
- Try your hand at this craft and assist in its production.
Mt. Etna, Italy
- White-water raft the beautiful and ancient Lao River. First described by Pliny around A.D. 50, the river still runs strong year-round and offers thrilling rapids.
- Explore Mt. Etna, one of Europe’s few remaining active volcanoes.
- Spend one day trekking on the volcano and the other mountain biking its slopes—two great ways to see this iconic volcano.
- Understand the mythology surrounding the mountain. The ancient Romans believed the god Vulcan worked at a hot forge within the volcano, striking sparks as he made swords and armor for the other gods.
- Spend two nights in a rustic refuge on the volcano’s 10,000-foot slopes.
- Learn to identify the volcano’s unique geologic features as you visit several calderas and lava fields from recent eruptions.
- Experience geothermal energy firsthand as your guide hands you rocks hot to the touch from the surrounding terrain.
- Learn about the volcano’s unique ecosystem. As one of Italy's most beautiful national parks, Mt. Etna is home to stone pines, birch, beech, and oak trees; and animals such as hedgehogs, porcupines, lizards, owls, hare, weasels, squirrels, foxes, falcons, and eagles.
Palermo, Italy
- Visit Caltagirone, where you will get a hands-on experience making pottery with the locals.
- Explore the techniques and colors that make this Sicilian pottery distinct.
- Create your own masterpiece for a unique souvenir to remember your adventure by.
Pompeii, Italy
- Visit the haunting city of Pompeii. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, it rained ash and stone and completely buried the city.
- Gain fascinating glimpses into everyday Roman life preserved here.
- Flex your detective skills as you try to solve some mysteries that continue to baffle historians.
Rome, Italy
- Get unique access to the capital of Catholicism and the world's smallest state, the Vatican.
- Admire the masterpieces of St. Peter's Cathedral, including Michelangelo's glorious Pieta and his Sistine Chapel ceiling.
- Meet a Catholic priest and learn of daily life at the Holy See.
- Be escorted by a Swiss Guard, a soldier who has served as a bodyguard at the Holy See, behind the scenes in this world behind worlds.
- Participate in the exclusive full-day Discover Rome: A Team-Based Challenge. Explore this iconic city through checkpoint challenges and cooperative problem-solving in small groups.
- Discover the Colosseum and find a clue within its walls
- Test your Italian as you interact with locals at the Trevi Fountain
- Explore the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, and the Piazza Navona in hands-on activities that immerse you in local history and culture
- Completion of the challenge will rely on what you have learned both pre-travel and during travel to work your way through Rome
- Score extra points through interesting side-quests and item collection
* Trip itinerary subject to change.
