From the soul of Greek democracy to the heart of the Roman republic, this program offers you an unforgettable odyssey. Homer, Virgil, Cicero and Plato will be our guides as we explore the ruins and examine great literature. By reading from Homer’s The Iliad and Odyssey, re-enacting Greek plays, and participating in symposium discussions, you discover hidden insights that transcend time. As Winston Churchill proclaimed, “The farther back, you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see."
Early July–Late July, 2024
Late June–Early August, 2024
*Program dates include online sessions to prepare students prior to travel and synchronous interviews to complete final assessments after travel. Dates are subject to change.
Contact us for course equivalencies in your school board.
All MEI programs depart from Toronto's Pearson Int'l Airport.
| Program Cost * |
|---|
| $5,350.00 |
| Travel Cost |
| $3,590.00 |
| Taxes And Fees ** |
| $555.00 |
| Total |
| $9,495.00 CAD |
MEI was the most amazing way I could have ever achieved two high school credits. I honestly can not remember the last time I was really captivated in the classroom. I had very positive and kind teachers who were always willing to give extra help and feedback. They were some of the best teachers I’ve ever had and made learning so much more fun because they taught with such enthusiasm.
Student, The Odyssey 2019
Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!
Upon your return, you have time to complete additional research and pull your work together before your final one-on-one online assessment. This week allows you to reflect on your travel experiences and integrate them into the course material. MEI staff have found this style of evaluation enjoyable and the most authentic way for students to demonstrate their knowledge and academic skills.
Day 2–7:
Our study of ancient world literature begins with Athena’s favourite city—Athens. Home to the birthplace of Western democracy, philosophy, art, architecture, literature and history, our academics focus on Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. We spend our days exploring the Theater of Dionysus, the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, and the Acropolis, while our evenings are spent exploring the Plaka and enjoying rooftop dinners in this ancient city.
Day 7–13:
We continue our exploration of Greece with a trip through the Peloponnese, where we explore the pre-historic mountaintop citadel of Mycenae—from which Agamemnon launched his fateful assault on Troy—before heading on to the seaside town of Tolo. Crystal-clear waters, the freshest calamari, and genuine small-town Greek hospitality make this a favourite stop on our journey across the Mediterranean world. Leaving the coast behind, we then visit Epidaurus. Once the most important centre for healing in the ancient world, it is still home to the acoustically perfect theatre that hosts Greek plays during the summer months. We will conclude our tour of the ancient world with a visit to the monumental temple of mighty Zeus and birthplace of the original Olympic games. Here, students have the unique opportunity to lace up and run the original Olympic stadium’s track.
Day 13–18:
Voyaging across the Ionian Sea, we arrive in Bari and journey to the Amalfi coast. We will use Sorrento as our home base to visit Pompeii—one of Italy’s most significant archaeological sites and a tragically buried city. Believed to be where Homer’s mythological sirens enticed Odysseus and his crew with their songs, Sorrento is now a stunning clifftop town famous for its views and inspiring literary giants such as Byron, Goethe, and Dickens. Students study the classic story of Homer’s Odyssey, while a day trip to nearby Capri reveals why this has been a favourite holiday destination for society’s elite.
Day 18–24:
We end our odyssey in the Eternal City, where the ghosts of Romulus, Caesar, and Augustus echo through the streets as we investigate what is perhaps the world’s finest open-air museum. Whether writing morning notes on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, performing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in the Roman Forum or sampling the world’s best gelato at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, we journey through time as we investigate the city’s rise and fall.
Departure from Rome Airport on Day 27
| Program Cost * |
|---|
| $5,350.00 |
| Travel Cost |
| $3,590.00 |
| Taxes And Fees ** |
| $555.00 |
| Total |
| $9,495.00 CAD |
* Program cost does not include non-refundable $95 registration fee.
** Based on air fares, land tariffs and currency exchange rates as of July, 2023. Please note the possibility of increases in airfares and land costs prior to departure. Any increase must be borne by the individual participant.
† All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to purchase Medical and trip cancellation and interruption Insurance.
