“The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.” St. Augustine

At Rockbridge Academy we believe that the study of Western Civilization, the “Flower of Christianity,” is central to our students’ proper understanding of the world in which they live. However, to properly understand the grand achievements of Western culture, we also believe it is necessary to examine them firsthand. For this reason, as a sort of capstone to our students’ educational experience at Rockbridge Academy, we take our rising seniors to Greece and Italy. The course of the trip (typically two weeks in June) follows carefully the flow of Western culture from Ancient Greece through to Ancient Rome. Following that, the students proceed to examine medieval culture in the cities of Assisi and Siena, and finish with an examination of the flowering of the Renaissance in Florence and Venice. As part of their rhetorical training, students are required to journal during their tour, and make a formal presentation of their experiences and impressions at the beginning of their senior year.

Rockbridge Academy,

2009 Grand Tour Itinerary

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Depart Dulles Airport, Washington, D.C., arrive Paris, Monday, May 25.

Monday, May 25

Depart Paris, arrive Athens.

Tuesday, May 26

Morning – National Archeological Museum

Afternoon – Tour Acropolis

Wednesday, May 27

Morning – Depart for Corinth,

Afternoon – Mycenae, Epidaurus

Thursday, May 28

Morning – Free time in Athens

Afternoon – Departure for Delphi

Friday, May 29

Morning – Tour of Delphi

Afternoon – Departure for Olympia

Saturday, May 30

Morning – Tour of Olympia

Afternoon – Departure for Patras

Evening – Ferry to Ancona

Sunday, May 31

Morning – Worship on board

Afternoon – Arrival in Ancona, Italy, Coach transfer to Rome

Monday, June 1

Morning – Tour of Catacombs, Ancient Roman Forum

Afternoon – Tour of Coliseum

Tuesday, June 2

Morning – Tour of St. Peter’s Basilica

Afternoon – Tour of Vatican Museum

Evening – Walking tour of Pedestrian District, Dinner at Pizzeria Baffetto            

Wednesday, June 3

Morning – Free

Afternoon – Departure for Assisi

Thursday, June 4

Morning – Tour Basilica of St. Francis

Afternoon – Free time in the village of Assisi, departure for Siena

Friday, June 5

Morning – Walking tour of Siena

Afternoon – Free time in Siena, Departure for Florence

Saturday, June 6

Morning –Visit Churches of San Lorenzo and Santa Maria Novella

Afternoon – Academia 

Sunday, June 7

Morning – Worship, Uffizi Museum

Afternoon – Departure for Venice

Monday, June 8

Morning – Doge’s Palace, Basilica of St. Mark

Afternoon – Free time

Tuesday, June 9

Departure from Venice, arrive Paris

Depart Paris, arrive Dulles.

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