This is a cool opportunity to explore Rome and taste amazing food!  Spread
the word to anyone who might be interested!
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Dear Friends,

I invite you to *join me this October 14-22 on a very special
custom-designed AIA tour of Rome* - 7 nights in all, based in a luxurious
hotel located steps from the Pantheon, in Rome's historic center, that you
will find a relaxing home for the entire stay.

Together with my good friend Maureen Fant, an American food writer (trained
in classical archaeology) who has lived in Rome for the past 30 years, we
will *explore the intersection of archaeology and Roman food*.  Even, or
especially, if you have visited Rome before, you will find much to entice
you on this theme oriented trip that encompasses ancient history, economy,
agriculture, and social behaviors.  As we visit diverse monuments and learn
about food in ancient and modern Rome, we will discover how the Romans
"were what they ate."

Through our visits to bustling markets and well-stocked food purveyors, we
will be conveyed back to ancient Rome, the capital, where foodstuffs
imported from its vast empire transformed a humble kitchen into the world's
first gastronomic cuisine.  But don't think of roast peacock and dormice;
think, rather, of the olives, legumes, grains, dairy products, and field
greens that were always the basis of ancient Rome's everyday diet (and the
feast of choice for conservative aristocrats) and are still mainstays
of *cucina
romana*.  Our visits, tastings, and meals will underscore the similarities
between past and present.  At the same time, we will sample some of the
world's finest foods- the pastas, sheep cheeses, vegetables, and wines of
Rome are celebrated around the globe.  And, not least, we will meet some of
the people who, in a rapidly modernizing European capital, are dedicated to
making sure that, at least in the kitchen, the Eternal City stays just
that.

Our tour features special behind-the-scenes activities as well as
excursions to lesser-visited ancient sites in and around Rome.  Nor will we
skimp on the sybaritic pleasures of modern Italy.  Both in Rome and beyond,
we will experience magnificent landscapes, delicious cuisine, and expert
commentary.  Throughout we will be accompanied by a professional guide and
tour manager who will handle all of the travel logistics.  Evening meals
and tastings with Maureen and me at our favorite spots will be an option.

Rome has long been my favorite city, and I spend many weeks there each year
for both work and pleasure, during which food - shopping, cooking, and
eating with friends - is a major diversion.  Like all lovers of Italy, I
particularly enjoy visiting Rome in October.  With the air turning cooler,
the city feels refreshed, and the early harvest brings to the market such
fall delicacies as persimmons, chestnuts, and porcini mushrooms.

I hope that you will take this opportunity to join me, Maureen, and a small
group of AIA travelers on this special program.  I can hardly think of a
better way to spend some time in Rome this autumn!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Bartman
President
Archaeological Institute of America

P.S. Our group is limited to a maximum of 15 participants, so please
contact the AIA Tours office today at 1-800-748-6262 or
[log in to unmask] reserve your space.

*A Taste of Ancient Rome
October 14-22, 2012
Pricing: $6,945 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $1,595*

Please visit http://www.archaeological.org/tours/europe/9012 for a complete
itinerary and to download the official travel brochure!

-- 
Archaeological Institute of America
656 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02215