Summer in the Mediterranean: Early Christianity
Program Itinerary
Though this is always a point of great pride and dispute among our program coordinators, we believe that, minute-for-minute, the Early Christianity program packs in more activity, excursions and visits than any of our programs. It makes for an amazing and action-filled summer in Cyprus, Athens, Rome and the Greek islands.
Cyprus is a spectacular place to spend a summer. You will see many key
ecclesiastical sites that are relevant to your coursework and also
enjoy some of Cyprus's more modern pleasures.
New: See a
picture gallery from the program travel.
Key Travel Locations
Athens, Rome, Greek islands in the Aegean and major cities in Cyprus.
Days in Host Country: 28
Days of International Travel: 9
Trip: Greece, Italy & Greek Islands
Dates: Mid June - Late June
Duration: 9 days
Countries: Greece (6 days), Italy (3 days)
Cities: Athens, Rome, several Greek islands
NOTE: Itineraries are subject to change.
Detailed Itinerary
Please download the PDF file below to view a detailed itinerary for this program
Cyprus-Based Programs - Summer 2014 Program Itinerary
Travel and Excursions in Cyprus
Cyprus, your home base, has a rich and visible cultural history. Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, Crusaders, Byzantines, Franks and Ottomans have all left a powerful legacy for the modern visitor to see and admire.
Religious figures like St. Paul and St. Lazarus and icons such as Aphrodite, Socrates, Cleopatra, and Richard the Lionheart have also left a mark here. Cyprus is mentioned several times in the Bible and was the first country to convert to Christianity
Ecclesiastical excursions
- The Church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca where he died the second time and was buried
- The UNESCO World Heritage City of Paphos where St. Paul was whipped 39 times
- Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, layered with Venetian, Lusignan and Byzantine churches and fortifications
- The Crusader castle of Kolossi
Other excursions in Cyprus
- The bustling beach town of Limassol, the second-largest city in Cyprus
- The beautiful resort town of Ayia Napa, home to the best beaches in the country
Travel and Excursions in Greece and Italy
After you complete your coursework and excursions in Cyprus, we move on to Greece and Italy to see the next phase of the westward spread of Christianity.
Athens and Rome
The two major cities on our travel agenda are Athens and Rome, the great powerhouses of antiquity and sources of early clashes with Christianity.
In Athens, you will:
- Visit the Parthenon and agora where St. Paul preached
- Visit the Athens Archaeological Museum
- Enjoy a vibrant, energetic and modern city
In Rome, you will
- Visit the Colosseum (home of gladiators) and Roman Forum
- Visit historical Rome, including the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain
- Visit the Vatican and Vatican Museum
- Enjoy the stunning Eternal City
Greek Islands
We also will take a four to five day cruise through the Aegean islands of Greece on a passenger cruise liner. Besides being staggeringly beautiful, the Aegean islands also bear witness to some of the most important parts of Apostolic, Orthodox and Latin history.
Our final island itinerary will not be known until late in the spring, but last year's itinerary was representative of the scope of the itinerary and included stops in the following islands:
- Santorini
- Mykonos
- Crete
- Kusadasi (Turkey)
