Bryn Mawr College

May 26 – June 3, 2010

Bella Italia beckons with la dolce vita. Along the coast of Campania, the sea sparkles with sunlight and pastel-colored towns cling to craggy cliffs. Delight in the scenic grandeur of the Amalfi Coast, with its varied architecture and and amazing vertical landscape. Nicknamed the Divine Coast, the serpentine Amalfi Drive winds around towering cliffs and sandy coves, past charming villages, brightly colored villas and cascading flower gardens. During your stay in the seaside resort of Amalfi, venture out to see the town of Ravello with its spectacular 13th-century Villa Rufolo; the picturesque town of Amalfi, with its dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery; and Poitano, Italy’s most vertical town. Explore the break taking cliff-top village of Sorrento overlooking the Bay of Naples. Discover an epoch suspended in time at the fabled ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii. See the Temples of Hera and Athena at Paestum, and immerse yourself in the extraordinary beauty and classical antiquity of Capri, the Isle of Dreams.

Preliminary Itinerary

Day One: May 26, 2010
Depart USA for Naples Depart your gateway city for Naples, Italy

Day Two: May 27, 2010 Amalfi
Upon arrival, transfer by motor coach to the deluxe Grand Hotel Excelsior, majestically situated on one of Italy’s most beautiful stretches of the Amalfi Coast. This evening, gather on the hotel terrace for a private welcome reception and buffet dinner and local wine.

Day Three: May 28, 2010 Ravello, Amalfi and Positano
Educational Focus: The Amalfi Inspiration Take a scenic ride along the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage list site. Visit the charming town of Ravello and the exquisite Villa Rufolo. Journey to the famed town of Amalfi, where you will enjoy time at leisure. Continue to the colorful, Cliffside town of Positano. Lunch is served at a local restaurant in Amalfi.

Day Four: May 29, 2010 Sorrento
Coasting along the Sorrento shoreline, Ulysses had to tie himself to the mast to resist the call of the Sirens. The village built atop a cliff has long been heralded by poets. Rendered in pastel-hued houses, it is ringed with whispering groves of lemon trees and awash in beautiful gardens. The afternoon in Sorrento is free for shopping and sightseeing on your own.

Day Five: May 30, 2010 Herculaneum and Pompeii
Educational Focus: The Horror & Splendor of Vesuvius Visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii, which were destroyed when Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79. The ancient seaside town of Herculaneum was preserved by mudflows on that fateful day, while Pompeii, the larger of the two cities was covered by ash. Pompeii is known for its museum and well-preserved frescoes. Lunch is served at the archeological site.

Day Six: May 31, 2010 Isle of Capri
Take a hydrofoil to the enchanted Isle of Capri, which offers blissful scenes f tiny squares, white houses, and narrow, medieval alleyways adorned with flowers. Then cruise around the island to see the White Grotto and Faraglioni rock formations. Enjoy time for independent exploration on the island before a hydrofoil ride to Sorrento and the transfer back to the hotel. Lunch is served at a restaurant on the Isle of Capri.

Day Seven: June 1, 2010 Paestum
Educational Focus Mozzarella and More Visit a local farm where mozzarella cheese is produced from the milk of buffalo indigenous to the area. Continue to Paestum, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire the beautiful temples of Hera and Athena. The ruins of Paestum, including these temples, are the best preserved examples of Greek architecture outside of Greece. Before returning to the hotel, visit World War II landing beaches of Salerno. Lunch is served at a restaurant overlooking the temples.

Day Eight: June 2, 2010 Independent Exploration - Amalfi
The day is at leisure to pursue individual interests. Tonight gather with fellow travelers for a Farwell Reception followed by a dinner at the hotel.

Day Nine: June 3, 2010 Naples – USA
Transfer to the airport for the return flights to your gateway city Back to the top »

COST and PROGRAM INCLUSIONS

Trip Cost *. . . . . $2,995
*Land portion only (based on double occupancy)

• Services of our Bryn Mawr Study Leaders, Robert Wozniak, professor of Psychology, and Jana Iverson’91, associate professor, Psychology and Linguistics, University of Pittsburgh, accompanying the group throughout the tour.
• Seven nights in Amalfi at the Grand Hotel Excelsior.
• Enjoy an extensive meal program, including 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners, in addition to in-flight dining services.
• Tea or coffee is included with all meals, plus wine with dinner.
• Attend special events including a Welcome Reception, Farewell Reception and farewell Dinner.
• Informative educational programs, presented by local experts which will enhance your insight into the region.
• All excursions in the program are included.
• Consultation services of a passenger service representative prior to departure
• Services of a professional AHI director and expert English-speaking local guides through-out your stay
• All tips and gratuities for local guides and drivers
• Automatic $250,000 Flight Insurance for all passengers ticketed by AHI Travel*
• Complimentary travel wallet

* Provided for Air Package participants only

Bryn Mawr Study Leader

Our trip will be led by two faculty members –
Professor Robert Wozniak and his wife Jana Iverson.

Rob Wozniak received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross in 1966 and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1971. From 1971 to 1978 he was at the University of Minnesota, first as an assistant professor in the Institute of Child Development (1971-1976) and then as research associate and project director in the Research, Development, and Demonstration Center in Education of Handicapped Children (1976-1978). From 1979 to 1980, he held a visiting appointment in the psychology department at Columbia University Teachers College; and in 1980 he accepted the Katharine Elizabeth McBride Lecturership in Education and Child Development at Bryn Mawr College. He has remained at Bryn Mawr since 1980, first as associate professor (1981-1986) and then professor and chair of human development and director of the Child Study Institute (1986-1993) and most recently as professor of psychology.

Jana Iverson received her A.B. in psychology from Bryn Mawr College in 1991 and her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1996. She is currently an associate professor, in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her area of research interests are the nature and development of the relationship between gesture and speech; infant vocal-motor activity as a potential precursor of the gesture-speech link; vocal/motor, speech/gesture, and toy-play patterns in infants at increased biological risk for autism spectrum disorders; early identification of developmental delay and autism spectrum disorders.