Semester in the Mediterranean

Program Description and Highlights Program Itinerary Why Should I Join This Program? Host Institution Curriculum and Faculty Student Housing Admission Requirements Dates, Costs and Deadlines Host Country & City

Program Itinerary

Students on the Semester in the Mediterranean program will have the opportunity to participate in educational excursions to Greece, Italy and Spain and to every major town in Cyprus (approximately 14-16 days of day and overnight travel in total).

Over the course of the trips, students will have the opportunity to compare and contrast three vibrant Mediterranean cultures, while visiting some of the most famous cities of the Renaissance and antiquity.

Key Travel Locations

Athens, Rome, Florence, Venice, Barcelona and major cities in Cyprus.

Days in Host Country: 94-96
Days of International Travel: 8-10

Trip: Greece, Italy & Spain (travel to Spain starting Spring 2009)

Spring Dates: Mid April - Early May
Fall Dates: Mid September - Late September
Duration: 8-10 days
Countries: Greece (3-4 days), Italy (3-4 days), Spain (2 days)
Cities: Athens, Florence, Rome, Venice, Barcelona

NOTE: Itineraries are subject to change.

Trips to Greece, Italy and Spain

The travel in Europe is focused on Greece and Italy and is linked to a co-curricular module focused on intercultural competencies and Mediterranean cultures. The trip is typically 8 days in length.

Athens

Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization, having given rise to reason, philosophy, science and democracy. In Greece, we are based in Athens and have the opportunity to explore the city.




Rome and Vatican City

Rome is the capital of Italy and the ruling seat of the Roman Empire and Catholicism. We visit the key highlights of central Rome including the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. We also spend a day at exploring the Vatican complex and the Sistene Chapel

Florence

Florence in Tuscany is the city of the Medici and a Renaissance city second only to Venice. The river Arno runs through the city with the historic center to the north. We focus our time here on the Uffizi and Academia.




Venice

Venice is about 4 kilometers from the mainland. It has about 150 canals and 400 bridges. Transportation to Venice is via vaporetto (motorboat). We have a brief tour of the highlights of Venice and then leave free time to explore the labyrinthine streets and canals.



Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid, and the capital of Catalunya. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, due to its good climate and cultural offerings. Barcelona houses several renowned museums as well as unique modernist architecture.

Day Trips in Cyprus

Walking Tour of Nicosia

Nicosia has been the capital of the island for over 1,000 years. We spend a day walking the city. Among the highlights of the tour will be:

• The six-hundred year old Venetian wall that separates the old city from the new city
• The Famagusta Gate that is now converted to a Cultural Center
• The Byzantine museum and Archbishopric
• Several Byzantine churches
• Laiki Yeitonia, a neighborhood reconstructed to reflect what Nicosia looked like at the turn of the century
• The modern shopping street of Makariou

National Museum Tour

This is a half day tour of the Cypriot National Archaeological Museum. The Museum Director will make some brief remarks, after which an expert on Cypriot history will walk us through the most important collection of Cypriot artifacts on the island.

Troodos Mountain Day Tour

This is a day-trip where we explore the Troodos mountain range, which in ancient times served as a refugee for the Cypriot population from invaders. We travel by bus through the picturesque village towns of Pedhoulas, Mouttoulas and Kakopetria, stopping to walk through and experience a traditional mountain village. Eventually, we reach Mount Olympus, the highest point of the island, where on a clear day you can see down to the southern coast of the island.

We may stop for a traditional lunch at Platres, the hill station of the British administration.

Overnight Trips in Cyprus

Southeast Coast: Larnaca, Ayia Napa & Protaras

This is an overnight trip that first takes us past the Hala Sultan Tekke, an important Islamic holy site that is located on the Larnaca salt lake.

After that, we continue on to the beach resorts of Ayia Napa and Protaras that are known for some of the best beaches on the island, including the beautiful protected park reserve of Cape Grecko. Ayia Napa and Protaras are two of the best known resorts in Europe and make for a very pleasant weekend.

Limassol

We spend a weekend in Limassol on the southern coast of Cyprus. Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus and home to the shipping and off-shore sector.

In Limassol, we will visit:

• The historical Old Town with its narrow streets, coffeeshops and restaurants
• Limassol Castle, where Richard the Lionheart married Queen Berengaria in 1191
• Kolossi Castle, a military castle built in the plantations outside of Limassol. Kolossi was the Grand Commandery of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and eventually passed to the Knights Templar. Kolossi is also the home of the production of Commandaria wine, the oldest continuously produced brand of wine in the world.

Paphos

We spend a weekend in Paphos, a city so rich in history that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

On our way to Paphos, we stop at Curium, a remarkable Greek-era city built on a cliff overlooking the sea and Petra tou Romiou, the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and an iconic location for Cyprus.

In Paphos, we stay near the pretty harbor and fort. Our visit is focused on the mosaics of Paphos, some of the best-preserved ancient mosaics in the Eastern Mediterranean.