Empeiria Education and Tours in Italy 2012

Together with the homeschooling organizations Regina Coeli and Schola Tutorials, Empeiria Tours and Education is offering a unique twelve-day study tour of Italy for young scholars of Latin, Roman History, Church History, Classics, and any of the many associated fields of study. Students from other homeschooling backgrounds are welcomed to come along.

Your Guides

The tour will be led by Dr. Dale Grote (UNC Charlotte) and Mr. Wesley Callihan (Schola Tutorials). Dale and Wes have collaborated on numerous tours of Greece and Turkey in the past and together have decades of experience teaching Latin, Greek, Classics, Archaeology, Philosophy . . . In short, if it's Greek or Latin, we have it covered.

The Tour

This year's tour has been specially designed to visit many of the most important sites from early Christianity and the Roman period at the time of Jesus. All the site and museum tours will be guided by local experts, carefully selected for their fluency in English and for the depth of their knowledge. If you've studied Latin, Roman and Church History, or just want a quality experience with St. Peter's, the Coliseum, Pompeii, Venice, Florence, and many other sites, this is the summer tour for you.

Tour Itinerary

May 16 : Depart on overseas flight

May 17 : Land in Rome – meet and greet at airport – transfer to hotel – 2.00 pm meet local guide for afternoon guided tour of Rome – Accommodation at a three star hotel in downtown Rome.

May 18 : Depart at 09.00 am for a full day guided tour of Rome. Entrance fees included are the Vatican Museums with its Sistine Chapel and one Catacomb – Accommodation in Rome.

May 19 : Depart at 09.00 am for a full day guided tour of Rome. Entrance fee included is the ground floor inside of the Coliseum, the use of whisper phones for the visit of Saint Mary Major and St Paul outside the walls   Accommodation in Rome.

May 20 : Depart for Naples – arrive at Montecassino for a guided visit of the Abbey and a view of the battlefields – Proceed to Naples – meet local guide for a panoramic tour of the City – proceed to Pompeii for a guided tour of the excavations, including the entrance fee – Arrive in the late afternoon in Sorrento, for overnight at a three star hotel, downtown. Accommodation in Sorrento.

May 21 : Full day tour to Capri including the guide, the hydrofoil tickets from Sorrento and back, the transportation by the local minibuses, the entrance fee to Villa San Michele in Anacapri, the ride on the funicular to the pier Capri – Accommodation in Sorrento

May 22 : Morning departure to Assisi – Check in at a local three star hotel – meet your guide for the late afternoon guided tour of downtown Assisi, its medieval citadel and the three Basilicas – Accommodation in Santa Maria degli Angeli (Assisi).

May 23 : Morning departure to Siena. Meet the local guide for a walking tour of the city – Continue your day’s journey to arrive late afternoon in Florence – Accommodation in a three star hotel, downtown in Florence.

May 24 : Full day guided tour part on foot and part on bus – drive to the Belvedere overlooking the city – Entrance fee included to the Academy of fine arts. Accommodation in Florence

May 25 : Full day for a visit of Pisa – Walking tour of the city, including the entrance fees to the Duomo and its Baptistery. Accommodation in Florence

May 26 : Meeting by a local guide for a walking tour to the Duomo and a bus tour through the city. Continue to Mestre. Check in at a local three star hotel.  Dinner and accommodation in Mestre

May 27 : Meet a local hostess who will escort the group for the whole day – transfer to the Tronchetto island to meet the private boat which will transfer you to down town Venice – meet a local guide for a walking tour of the City, including the entrance fees to the Doge’s palace. The balance of the day used for walking through Venice – return transfer to the Hotel – Dinner and accommodation in Mestre. 

May 28 : Venice back to Rome - full day of travel

Day 29 : Buffet breakfast and transfer departure to the airport with a local hostess, for full assistance Hotel to Airport.

Tour Details

Includes all breakfasts, one half the lunches and dinners, all guiding fees and tickets to sites and museums, all land transportation in Italy and tips, all accommodations in double or triple rooms. Singles are available for an additional fee. Does not include one half the lunches and dinners, international airfare to and from Rome.

The price per student will vary somewhat according to the currency exchange rate and the number of students on the tour. Based on an effective exchange rate of 1.30 dollars to the Euro, the figures are as follows:

More Information and Payment Schedules

Contact Dr. Dale Grote for more information about the tour and arrangements for deposits and payment terms at this address: