"Magna Grecia"
Janice Berkebile & Southern Coast of Italy
September 1-12, 2011
Rome • Naples • Ischia • Pompeii • Amalfi Coast
> > > Underway < < <
Join top metal and wire artist Janice Berkebile of Wired Arts and tour leader/bead artist Maggie Meister for a Beadventure to Italy.
We will begin the Beadventure in Rome where we will visit the ancient forum and world-renowned museums with the best guides. Our hotel is located in a lovely residential neighborhood not far from the Palatine Hills.
After Rome, we head for Naples where our home is in a beautiful restored villa surrounded by luscious gardens and overlooking the Mediterranean. Our guide, Aldo, will show us Pompeii amd downtown Naples. One of the highlights is the tour of the Amalfi Coast with lunch at a lovely family-run resort. You won’t believe the view or the fabulous food!!
Janice is in the process of designing a very special work work piece that will incorporate momentos from your trip. Details will be available in July, so stay tuned.
What more can you ask for—Italian scenery, food, wine, shopping, and doing wire work with friends in the garden of a lovely villa in the hills of Naples!!!
Itinerary
Day 1. Thursday, September 1 ~ Arrive in Rome / View Etruscan Artifacts
Participants arrive in Rome to be met at the hotel by Tou
r Leader Maggie Meister. In the afternoon, we will visit the Villa Giulia Museum, world-renowned for its Etruscan artifacts. The jewelry collection is one of the best. Since everyone will be tired from the long flight, Maggie will give a brief orientation of the trip ahead in the early evening.
Day 2. Friday, September 2 ~ Tour Ancient Rome
After breakfast, we will meet our guide for a tour of ancient Rome. After the tour, you are free to shop and explore other sites. Maggie will be happy to make suggestions and reservations for the Vatican (not included). We meet in the early evening for our welcome dinner (included).
Day 3. Saturday, September ~ Travel to Our Villa in Naples
We leave Rome in the morning to head for Naples. Our home in Naples is a villa outside of the city that overlooks the Mediterranean and the ancient ruins of Cuma. The gardens and villa are just beautiful. After settling in, we will meet our guide Aldo for a tour of the Cuma ruins. These ruins were the site of the original Greek settlement on the mainland of Italy. The views are spectacular as are the caves. (Legend has it that the caves were the home of the Sibyl.) We return to the villa for dinner.
Day 4. Sunday, September 4 ~ Workshop in the Villa's Garden
Workshop begins with Janice. We head down to the gardens of the villa for the beginning of our workshop. Lunch is included at the villa. After the workshop you can enjoy a swim in the pool and then we will have dinner (also included).
Day 5. Monday, September 5 ~ Experience Naples
After breakfast, we head to downtown Napoli (Naples) to meet our guide, Aldo, to see the incredible National Museum that houses all of the artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum. After our tour, Aldo will take us for pizza at a local pizzeria frequented by the Neapolitans (included). Then we will visit the ancient area of Spaccanapoli to see San Gregorio Armeno (Christmas alley) and its wonderful shops. We will also visit a master artisan of inlaid marble. We return to the villa for dinner.
Day 5. Tuesday, September 6 ~ To the Island of Ischia
We are off to the island of Ischia via the ferry. Ischia is the original Greek settlement and it is renowned for its spas and beaches. Here you will be able to do a little beachcombing for our project and then some shopping. We return in the evening for dinner (included) at the villa.
Day 7. Wednesday, September 7 ~ Workshop
Another workshop day during which you might be able to use your finds from beachcombing or your shopping downtown! Lunch and dinner at the villa (included).
Day 8. Thursday, September 8 - Tour Pompeii
After visiting the National Museum, it is time to visit Pompeii with Aldo. You will be in awe of this city and Aldo will thrill you with the tales from the past. We will also visit the Cameo factory to see the masters carve these gems from shells. Return in the afternoon for our workshop.
Day 9. Friday,
September 9 ~ Lunch on the Amalfi Coast
Bring your camera! Today it is off to see the world-renowned Amalfi Coast with Aldo. Lunch is at a lovely (beyond words) family-run restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean. We will try to make time for beachcombing. Return in the early evening to the villa.
Day 10. Saturday, September 10 ~ Workshop
Final workshop day.
Day 11. Sunday, September 11 ~ Return to Rome
Return to Rome where we will have our farewell dinner (included).
Day 12. Monday, September 12 - Depart
Depart for home.
Project Designed by Janice for this Special Beadventure ...
Creating Memories of Italy: Repousse/Viking knit pendant
As part of our exploration of Italy, we will look for treasures and shards of pottery and broken glass. We will take these back to the workshop to create a great memory of our trip as we embellish them. First we will try our hand at an ancient technique of repousse. Using thin sheet metal we will draw on 
textures found in our surroundings to give the metal relief. Then the metal is formed to the backside of the pottery shard.
Next we will use Viking knit as a bezel to secure the repousse work to the shard. As an option you can embellish with tiny crystals around the inner edge for some sparkle and finally, add a cast bail to complete the pendant.
No previous experience is necessary with any of these techniques!
Trip Details
Cost: €3450 (click to convert currency)
Includes: all lodging, private and local transport, all breakfasts, 5 lunches, 10 dinners (wine included in Naples), entrance fees to sites on guided tours, guide fees, workshop tuition and kit, tips.
Does not include: airfare, transport to and from airport to hotel, alcoholic beverages (other than Naples).
Payment Terms: $300 deposit to hold spot; balance due 90 days prior to start of Beadventure (see Terms and Conditions for more information)