Gruppo Archeologico Romano -- English Language Spring Program: The Gruppo Archeologico Romano English Language section has released it Spring Program and, as always, it's full of interesting opportunities to learn more about Rome. Classes and site visits in English are as follows:

Wednesdays: 10 AM. Rome through the Centuries. One lecture and 14 site visits starting on February 7 and ending on June 6 (Easter break in April). The course is taught by Nicole Fuget, whose degree is from the Institute d'Etudes Politique de Paris and who taught at the Johns Hopkins University in Bologna before coming to Rome several years ago.

Thursdays: 10 AM. The Rise of Christianity -- Christian Art and Architecture in Rome. Nine site visits starting on February 8 and ending on April 5, concentrating on the period starting with Saints Peter and Paul and going into the Middle Ages. The course is taught by Olaf Steen, whose degree is from the University of Bergen in Norway and who is a member of the Norwegian Institute in Rome where he has researched Early Christian Art for the past several years. The course goes from February to the Easter Break.

Thursdays: 10 AM. Evolution and Change in the Urban Organization of Rome -- Understanding the Rise and Decay of the Roman Empire. Seven site visits starting on May 3 and ending on June 14 showing the impact of history on the urban landscape of the city and the phenomena, in the period from before the Republic into Medieval times, which determined the modern organization of central urban Rome. The course is presented by Anna Leone who has a degree in Classical Archeology from Turin and a post degree diploma from La Sapienza University of Rome and who is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Leicester (UK) School of Archeological Studies. The Course will start after the Easter break and is consecutive to the Thursday course listed directly above.

Fridays: 10 AM. Murder and Punishment. Eight lectures and two site visits, starting on February 2 and ending on April 6, exploring the effects of murder and its punishment on the key events in the history of Rome. The course will be taught by Valerie Higgens and Paul Gwynne, both of whom have PhD's from British universities and currently teach at the American University of Rome.

Saturday field trips in English:

March 24: Subaico and Anagni: Visit the Middle Ages with special attention to the frescoes of the Sacro Speco of Subaico, where Saint Benedict founded the Benedictine Order, and the extraordinary Romanesque cycle of the crypt of the Cathedral of Anagni, with Nicole Fuget.

April 7: Lucca, a City of Musicians: Visit an ancient site in Tuscany and read the history of the city, from ancient times to our days, by looking at its present aspect, from the Roman forum through medieval churches. Learn how Lucca also wrote an important chapter of musical history as the birthplace of Luigi Boccherini and Giacomo Puccini. Nicole Fuget will conduct the study.

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The English Language division also sponsors the following course and field trips in Italian:

Tuesdays: 10 AM. Roma Archeologica -- Fifteen site visits conducted in Italian from February 6 through May 29 (with an Easter break in April) to important archeological sites in and around Rome.

Field trips:

May 12: Panicale. Visit an intact medieval town. There will be visits in the morning to the collegiate church of Saint Michael the Archangel with works by Masolino da Panicale(Tommaso di Cristoforo Fini) and Giovan Battista Caporali, to the church of St. Sebastian with great frescoes of Perugino (Pietro Vannucci) and dello Spagna (Giovanni di Pietro), and, in the afternoon, to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Miracles (Castel Rigoni) which houses pictorial cycles by Caporali, Rosselli, and Domenico Alfani. In Italian with Enrico Ragni.

June 2: Magliano/Rosciolo/Cellano Study of the medieval in the Marsica sub-region: religious complexes and castles which preserve and document incomparable artistic and historical beauty by local and non-local masters in wood, stone and metal. The group will visit the complex of Santa Maria in Valle Porcianeta in Magliano dei Marsi, then Santa Maria delle Grazie in Rosciolo, then Piccolomini Castle, the Museum of the Art of Music, and the Centro Storico in Cellano. In Italian with Enrico Ragni.

For more details about all courses and field trips, contact Anna Taggiasco at 06 3973-7703.