interim2009

This high-definition broadcast from the folks at www.hd4.tv covers to of the sites we will see today, the Campigdolio and the Forum (in reverse order), as well as the Palatine Hills. There is no narration, but the video gives a good sense of what we will see.

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This podcast deals with the oldest part of Rome. The tour begins at the Piazza Venezia and travels to the Capitoline Hill, the Coliseum, and the Roman Forum. Come learn about Rome’s ancient and storied past.

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This video podcast by Rick Steve gives an overview of three of the major sites we will be examining–The Pantheon (which we wil see in a couple of days), the Coliseum and the Forum.

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This high-definition podcast from www.hd4.tv again has no narration, but offers stunning vistas on this, the grandaddy of all stadiums.

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This is an interactive podcast that takes you through the forum. The first half of the podcasts guides you through the ruins, step by step. You can pause at each site to learn about it, and then continue the tour. At the end of the tour, the podcast retraces the same steps, but shows you what the same area looked like at the height of Roman power. Look under the “Resources” heading for a “Forum Tour” page that contains a .pdf file with the information sheets used in this tour.

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This is another Rick Steve video, this time a good overview of the Forum. While it may be a bit difficult to discern what is where from the video, the historical overview is good, and the images are compelling

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This video podcasts reviews the things we are going to visit on our second day. It starts with the Vatican, where we will visit the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapter, St. Peter’s Square and the Basilica. We will then cross the river to visit Castel St. Angelo, followed by the Trevi Fountain, the Piazza di Spagna, and the famous Spanish Steps.

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This video podcast by Duan Kuss offers a good overview of the Vatican Museum, with an emphasis upon its ancient collection, which we unfortunately will not be seeing. It does, however, familiarize the viewer with the layout of the Vatican Museum

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The students from Vassar College in Pennsylvania have collaborated with the Art History podcast site SmArtHistory to create a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel. The extensive video discusses the both the aesthetic elements of the paintings, and the history of this storied capella.

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This video from www.hd4.tv.com does a fine job highlighting the interior of St. Peter’s along with a cursory look at the surrounding square. At the end of the video you will get a glimpse of the view that we will see from the dome.

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This high-definition video from www.hd4.tv shows you the highlights of this, the pope’s castle

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Another high-definition offering from www.hd4.tv, this time of Rome’s most famous fountain.

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This high-definition offering from www.hd4.tv shows Rome’s priciest shopping area, and the tourist favorite, the Spanish Steps.

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On our last full day in Rome will will travel down the Antica Appia to visit the Christian Catacombs, and then return to look at one of Rome’s busiest square, Piazza Navona, before ending the day at Rome’s best preserved ancient monument, the Pantheon

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Another high-definition video, this time of one of Rome’s busiest squares, featuring fountains by Bernini

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This high-definition tour covers the interior of Ancient Rome’s best preserved building, the Pantheon.

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Today we see conclude our visit to Rome, visiting the artwork of the Palazzo Barbaerini before boarding an afternoon train to Florence. In Florence, we will put our bags away and stroll from the Piazza della Republica to Santa Croce Basilica, stopping by Dante’s house along the way.

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It is a busy day five, as we visit the greatest Renaissance gallery in the world, the Uffizi. We will then pass through the civic heart of Florence, the Piazza della Signoria, and end at the magnificent Duomo, to see the baptistry, the Campanile, and the cathedral. After lunch we will take in the breathtaking panoramas from the Pizzale Michelango, and then descend to the Pitti Palace. We will round off the afternoon with a vist to the straw market.

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This video from the popular Rick Steve’s Europe website and PBS program highlights the collection of the Uffizi Gallery, and is a good introduction to this splendid collections

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This video podcast details the particulars of Brunelleschi’s icon dome of Our Lady of the Flower Cathedral. Good preparation for our visit!

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Day Six is a busy one. We will begin at the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David before visiting the Piazza San Marco and the Central Market. After lunch we will visit the Church of Santa Maria Novella and the famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge. All in a day’s work.

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This video by Rick Steve gives an nice explanation of the Accademia Gallery’s most famous resident.

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Our last day of sightseeing includes the Piazza San Marco, including the Church and the Medici Chapel, as well as the Brancacci Chapel. All good things must come to an end.

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Here is a high definition video of the major attractions that we saw during our six-day trip. I hope that it brings back fond memories for the participants, and gives others a sampling of the treats that wait in store for those going to Rome or Florence.

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