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Transit of Venus
in Rome
Itinerary
Page
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Day 4
Tues,
June 8
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Transit of Venus |
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We will rise early in
the morning for the Astronomical and
Meteorological Observatory of the Roman
University located on the summit of the
Monte Mario in Rome. The facility occupies
the former Villa Mellini, which was built in
the 15th century by Mario Mellini as a
meeting place of the humanists of that epoch.
Nearby is a tower designating the ideal point
of the “first Italian meridian.” The Copernican
Museum, adjoining the Observatory and
founded in 1873, contains mementoes of
Copernicus — astrolabes, sextants, quadrants,
telescopes, a large collection of globes, and a
library with more than 20,000 volumes.
The Observatory is
situated within a beautiful |
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park, offering a wonderful view of Rome.
We will arrive in plenty of time to
see the transit’s first contact at 7:20 a.m.
(see details below). Breakfast and lunch
will be served at our site. Throughout the
day, you will be able to spend
time enjoying this historic site, returning to
the view the transit at your leisure. After the
transit concludes at 1:24 p.m., we’ll return to
our hotel to celebrate. |
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Day 5
Wed, June
9
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner |
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Ancient Ostia & Rome |
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After checkout we will journey outside Rome to
the beautifully preserved, tree-shaded ruins of
Ostia Antica. Founded in 400 BC, this massive
city was home to more than 100,000 people
during the second century AD. As you stroll
down the main street, Decumanus Maximus,
you’ll see the deep ruts left centuries ago by
carts used to ferry supplies through the city.
After lunch at a local seafood restaurant, we’ll
travel to Hotel Villa Vecchia, near the village of
Frascati, our home for the next 2 nights. This
masterfully converted |
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convent is now a 4-star
hotel, offering incredible views of the countryside’s
occasional castles, towering cypress trees,
and the lights of Rome in the distance. In the
evening we’ll gather in the hotel’s private grove
of olive trees for a get-acquainted reception,
followed by a traditional barbeque served
with famous locally made Frascati wines.
Overnight: Hotel Villa Vecchia (2 nights) |
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Day 6
Thu,
June 10
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Frascati, Grottoferrata, Castel Gandolfo
and the Vatican Observatory
After breakfast we will visit the village of
Frascati, highlighted by the Cathedral of St.
Peter and the Terrazze de Frascati. Romans
today escape to Frascati to wander its cobblestone
streets and to sample its wines, cheeses,
meats, and baked goods.
We’ll then journey 20 minutes up the road
to the village of Grottoferrata, where each
morning groups of men and women mingle in the
main piazza as they have done for hundreds of
years. We’ll stop for a leisurely lunch at
a family-run winery overlooking the
vineyards, after which you may tour the
winery or walk through the vineyards below.
This evening, we’ll travel to the beautiful
village of Castel Gandolfo, located above
the west bank of Lake Albano. Declared the
exclusive property of the Roman Catholic Church
in the 17th century, today it is a picturesque
village. Overlooking its large piazza is the
imposing Vatican Observatory.We will enjoy a
walking tour of the village, stopping for dinner
at a local restaurant before joining Vatican
astronomers for a private tour of the observatory
and the rare opportunity
to view the observatory’s meteorite collection,
one of the world’s
finest. Join us tonight
for a farewell dinner. |
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Day 7
Fri,
June 11
Breakfast
Fly home or extend your stay!
We will
arrange a transfer to the airport for your flight home, or you may choose
to extend your stay in Italy. Hotel and transportation packages can be
arranged to other destinations such as Venice, Florence, and the Tuscany
region. Contact
TravelQuest for details. |
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Copyright 2003 TravelQuest
International. All rights
reserved. 800-830-1998
Revised: October 25, 2005.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies or trademark holders. |
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