Cornell's Adult University - School of Continuing Education and ...

May 19–30, 2011
Italy
Milan, the Northern Lakes, and Bergamo: A Walking Tour
Jeffrey N. Blanchard with Country Walkers guides
The sun-drenched beauty of Italy’s magnificent lakes and surrounding Alps is the centerpiece
of this triptych—CAU’s fifth in a series of walking tours through Italy. Led by Jeffrey
Blanchard, academic coordinator of the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning’s Cornell
in Rome, we will begin in Milan, exploring the art history and architecture of its splendid
buildings and museums—from Poldi Pezzoli to Cenacolo. Then in Italy’s lake region, we’ll
walk out from the charming village of Orta San Giulio through ancient forests and gardens
to the twenty baroque chapels atop Sacro Monte. Cobblestone trails will take us to Lake
Orta for a boat tour of alpine lakes. Among many stunning sites, we’ll visit Bellagio and Lake
Como—for centuries an inspiration for poets and artists—where we’ll explore magnificent
art at Villa Carlotta and the terraced gardens at Villa Balbianello.
We’ll end in the lovely small city of Bergamo, full of beautiful churches and historic squares
and home to prominent musicians. In the clear mountain air, we’ll explore the Città Alta,
Bergamo’s hilltop medieval town, and Città Bassa, with its Romanesque churches and
Accademia Carrara. The regional cuisine we’ll enjoy throughout this magical tour will
feature the freshest lake fish and game (and mushroom risotto), accompanied by famed
local wines. We’ll take extended, moderately challenging daily walks, with some rigorous
hiking options for those who’d like them. d DO $7,250, SS $1,145, FS
China
Tracing the Great Civilizations of the Silk Road
Eric Tagliacozzo
May 23–June 6, 2011
In the thirteenth century, Marco Polo traveled the Silk Road trade route from Kashgar to
the Far East. It is the stuff of legends. After a two-day stay in Beijing, where we will visit
the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Houhai district, and the Great Wall, we’ll
fly to westernmost Urumqi, where, in Nanshan Pasture, Kazaks herd sheep and horses as
their ancestors have for centuries. In Kashgar, a quintessential caravan city, we’ll see the
Three Immortals Buddhist Caves, the Great Market, and the Islamic Id Kah Mosque. In
Turpan, we’ll dine with a local Uighur family and enjoy a dance performance. We’ll take
an overnight train to Dunhuang, famous for religious art, where we’ll ride camels on the
Great Dune and tour the spectacular Magao Caves. In Xian, we’ll view the 2,300-year-old
terracotta warriors, explore the dynastic treasures of Shaanxi History Museum, and visit
the Han Emperor’s Tomb. After flying to Shanghai, we’ll tour Chenghuangmiao, the Yuyuan
Gardens, and the Shanghai Museum before beginning our journey home through Beijing.
This study tour—as colorful as the silks from which the route got its name—will be led
by CAU rising star Eric Tagliacozzo, associate professor of history, whose scholarship and
teaching focus on Southeast and Central Asia and on Islam. Eric is an exceptional travel
leader. We’ll stay throughout at fine, well-located hotels and dine on excellent regional
cuisine. Do join the caravan! d DO $8,495, SS $1,490, see the website for itineraries and an
optional extension to Guilin, FS