Italy: Exploring the Arts through Italian Culture

January 2-20, 2008

EDCI 489 - Section 2401, 3 credits

History and the arts come alive in the three-week, three-credit art education course (EDCI489-Section 2401 ) offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Maryland. Class will meet on campus from January 2-4, and depart for Florence on January 5th. Students will spend the next two weeks enjoying the beauty and ambience of three of the world’s great art centers - Florence, Venice and Rome. Experience the cuisine and lifestyle of Italy while visiting and studying masterworks of architecture, sculpture and the pictorial arts.

Florence

Florence is often called a living museum because the historic section of the city is largely undisturbed from the Renaissance period. During our walking tours of the city, we will visit many famous sites including: the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo, Santa Croce, the Gothic church with the tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo and Machevelli, the Galleria dell Accademia containing Michelangelo’s masterpiece David, and the Uffizi gallery with paintings by such artists as, Botticelli, Leonardo, Titian and Raphael. We will visit the parish church of the renowned Medici family in San Lorenzo and cross the Ponte Vecchio to their main residence, the Palazzo Pitti, which exhibits the treasures of their many collections. Florence is beautiful, inspiring and unforgettable.

Rome

Reading about the glories of Rome does not compare with experiencing the wonders of the eternal city. Founded over 2700 years ago, Rome was the center of the Roman Empire and ruled the Western world for almost 500 years. The public, private and religious buildings of Rome are a virtual tour of architectural styles throughout history including Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Modern. In our walking tours of Imperial Rome, we will visit such sites as, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Arch of Constantine.

We will tour St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and visit the Vatican Museum, home to the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms, as well as, priceless works of art. We will visit the Roman temple, the Pantheon, the Capitoline Museum’s collection of classical sculptures and the impressive Victor Emmanuel Monument. We will walk through the gardens and park of the Villa Borghese and visit the Museum to see virtuoso artworks by such Baroque artists as Bernini and Caravaiggo. Each day we will pass triumphal arches, impressive obelisks, beautiful fountains, and historic churches filled with relics, metal and stone artworks, and exquisite stained glass windows. We will enjoy great cuisine, high fashion, opera, and the Italian custom of celebrating life each day.

Venice

Venice is a breathtakingly beautiful city with water-filled streets and architecture that combines the artistic styles of East and West. We will have the thrill of seeing five centuries of Venetian architecture along the Grand Canal from both a waterbus and a gondola. We will visit magnificent churches and museums featuring artworks by Titian, Tintoretto, and Bellimi, as well as beautiful mosaics, bronze and marble sculptures and objects made of world famous Venetian glass. Venice has a lifestyle all its own; it is both unique and captivating.