All-School Trips
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This is a representative itinerary during a typical semester. Syracuse reserves the right to change or substitute cities/sites during the semester.
The Etruscans: Early Inhabitants of Tuscany
This field trip series, offered as four day trips over four weekends, takes students to four Etruscan archaeological sites at Quinto Fiorentino, Fiesole, Cerveteri, Sovana, and Orvieto. These sites all tell pieces of the fascinating story of the first "civilized" people on the Italian peninsula- how they lived, worshipped, made wine, and came to control most of what is now central Italy before being overtaken by the expanding Roman Empire in the first century B.C. The lecturer is an archaeologist whose specialty is Etruscan civilization.
Rome
Two full days are spent in Rome investigating the art and culture of Ancient Rome to Baroque Rome. Art history lecturers, faculty and guest speakers lead in-depth tours through the Vatican museums, including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Stanze. The afternoon is spent at St. Peter’s Basilica investigating the history of the Papacy and the architecture, and Michelangelo’s Pieta.
The next morning is devoted to ancient Rome. Faculty lead students through an in-depth tour of the Roman Forum, Coliseum, Capitoline and Pantheon. That afternoon is devoted to the baroque, particularly the great High Baroque monuments and the chapels painted by Caravaggio.
Siena and San Gimignano
Siena trip features lecture and discussions at the Palazza Pubblico, showcasing a controversial methodological analysis of Simoni Martini’s great frescoes in the Council Chamber. A guided tour of the Cathedral Complex includes discussion of the history of the construction of the Gothic Cathedral, visit to the Piccolomini Library, Michelangelo’s Piccolomini Altar, Nicola Pisano’s Pulpit, Duccio’s famous Maesta in the Museum of the Cathedral and lastly a climb to the top of the Facciatone, the abandoned Cathedral project from 1330.
After lunch and free time, the group moves on to San Gimignano. Students walk through town, explore the construction of towers, and learn about the rise of medieval cities, the tower towns, and their rise to prominence. Another lecture delves into the Plague of 1348 and analyzes its impact on San Gimignano.
Pisa and Lucca
This day trip begins in Pisa where the lecture covers the rise of the city-state of Pisa in the 11th century. Includes lectures and discussion of the construction of the leaning tower, the Cathedral and its pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, a visit to the Baptistry, and a stop at the graveyard (Campo Santo) where the influence of the Black Death in painting is explored.
The group moves on to Lucca where students are free for lunch. The afternoon includes a walking tour through the city and on the 16th century walls. Students also visit the remains of the Roman Amphitheatre and the Cathedral of Lucca which houses the relics of the Volto Santo and Jacopo della Quercia’s Ilaria del Carretto from the 15th century.
Ravenna
Students travel by bus over the Apennine mountains to the eastern coast province of Emiglia-Romagna for a day in Ravenna, once the Western capital of the Roman empire, to to study the monuments and mosaics of the Early Christian period.
Padua
The students arrive in Padua by train and proceed to the Arena Chapel to view the fresco masterpieces by Giotto. A guided walking tour of Padua follows, with lectures on the history of important monuments, including the 13th century University, Palazza della ragione, the Baptistry and its frescoes by Giotto’s follower, Guisto di Menabuoi. Finally, the day culminates with a visit to the Basilica of Saint Antonio to see Donatello’s Gattamelata and High Altar. Students are provided with round-trip tickets to Venice to facilitate independent travel to that nearby city.
Florentine Workshops
Each semester, visits are scheduled to important Florentine workshops where craftspeople explain and demonstrate traditional techniques. These have included: the 19th century bronze casting foundry entrusted with making copies of Ghiberti’s doors for the Baptistry; a family-owned wrought iron workshop; a craftsman who makes wooden furniture in the style of 1600 Venice; paper artists and bookbinders; the stained glass restoration studio, Polloni, currently restoring the Duomo’s windows.