WVU Parkersburg to host Italian tour

WVU Parkersburg to host 10-day trip, study abroad opportunity to Italy.

CONTACT: Gregg or Mary Beth Busch, coordinators of International Travel and Education, 304-424-800, Ext. 409 or 304-424-8276.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is hosting a 10-day summer trip to Italy.

Departing the first week in June, the tour will begin in Rome where participants will explore Assisi, birthplace of both St. Francis and St. Clair. From Assisi, the group will travel to Florence, home of Michelangelo’s David; the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, and the spectacular Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, better known as the Duomo. The dome is an example of Brunelleschi’s finest architectural work and the nearby bell tower, designed by famous painter Giotto. The Baptistry opposite the Duomo is home to the legendary Gates of Paradise, a bronze masterpiece by Ghiberti. The group will have an opportunity to watch local artisans at work in a leather workshopand purchase memorable souvenirs.

From Florence, the tour will return to Rome where it will be guided on a tour of Vatican City, the world’s smallest country, and see the wonders of St. Peter’s Basilica, including the Pieta, Michelangelo’s only signed work; artistic masterpieces in the Vatican Museum; the Sistene Chapel and the spectacle of the precise and professional Swiss Guard in its bright and unique uniforms based on designs from the 1500’s.

Tour participants will have the opportunity to explore Rome’s catacombs, Christian burial grounds that date from the 2nd through 5^th centuries where examples of early Christian art are visible in the mysterious burial chambers of popes and saints. The tour will then journey down the ancient Appian Way, the most celebrated highway of the Roman Republic and continue to the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, the second largest church in the city of Rome. A professional guide will lead the group to see the highlights of Rome, including the ancient Forum Romanum and the Colosseum, which once seated as many as 50,000 spectators of gladiator battles. The tour group will take a walking tour of the city and visit the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome and the Trevi Fountain, where tourists toss a coin to ensure a return to this amazing city.

The Italian experience will continue as participants tour the southern region of the country, beginning with an incredible visit to the ruins of Pompeii. As one of the richest archaeological sites in the world, Pompeii provides a glimpse of how wealthy Romans lived 2,000 years ago until the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius completely buried the elaborate resort town. The tour group will travel along the Bay of Naples to Sorrento, today’s favorite resort town and enjoy awe-inspiring views from this beautiful setting. The group will board a boat to cross the Bay and spend time at the captivating Isle of Capri.

The Italian tour, in association with EF Educational Tours, is open to area residents as well as WVU Parkersburg students, faculty and staff. This 10-day Italian experience is available at a price developed with college students in mind. This same fee schedule is available to faculty, staff, and community members. The rates are well below the typical market value for such an excursion.

A limited number of scholarships are available to students who qualify. Individuals interested in earning college credit can enroll for three hours of college credit at either an upper or lower division level.

Information meetings will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 31, and Feb. 7, in Room B in WVU Parkersburg's Corporate and Community Education complex. Special pre-departure meetings will be held in the spring to assist travelers with preparations and introduce them to Italian culture. The pre-departure sessions are coordinated by the college's Corporate and Community Education.

Space is limited and advance registration is recommended. Additional information, including costs, is available by contacting Gregg or Mary Beth Busch, coordinators of International Travel and Education, 304-424-8000 ext. 409, or 304-424-8276 or email studyabroad@mail.wvu.edu.

cd1/15/07

For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203)

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