Let’s Discover Together the
Rich History of Villas and Palaces from Pompeii to Rome

Dear Friends of the Custard Institute,

I’d love for you to join me on a very special journey this October to Naples and Rome, one that brings together great art, remarkable places, and an exciting new chapter of our work at the Custard Institute.

We’re celebrating the launch of a new research initiative: the excavation of the fabled “Villa of Cicero” at Pompeii. First explored by the Spanish Bourbons in the eighteenth century, this site yielded some of the most extraordinary treasures now in the Naples Archaeological Museum.  We will now have the opportunity to return to it with fresh questions and new technology.

To mark the occasion, we’ve put together an itinerary that goes well beyond the usual experience of these cities. We’ll visit a series of extraordinary villas and palaces, many rarely open or even accessible to the public, and explore them in a more intimate, curated way.

We will begin in Pompeii, where we’ll have a specially arranged visit that includes the magnificent Villa of the Mysteries, along with a chance to stand near the site of the Villa of Cicero itself. I’ll share our plans for the excavation and what we hope to discover. You’ll be getting in at the very beginning of what promises to be a fascinating archaeological project, and as friends of the Institute, you’ll be part of the story as it unfolds in the years ahead.

In Naples, one of our highlights will be Capodimonte, the grand royal palace turned museum. We will have the privilege of seeing it following its recent restoration and enjoy a private visit to the extraordinary Bourbon porcelain room, which has also been the focus of one of our recent digital heritage projects.

Rome itself is a place very close to my heart, where I spent formative years studying, and I’m especially looking forward to sharing it with you. We’ve arranged a special visit to the Vatican Museums that will culminate in a more intimate experience of the Sistine Chapel.

We’ll also travel out to Tivoli to see Hadrian’s Villa. It is the greatest of the Roman imperial villas and was built by a Spanish emperor, no less. We’ll visit some other truly special places: the Villa Giulia, the Villa Albani, and the rarely visited Villa Farnesina, with its breathtaking frescoes by Raphael and Giulio Romano.

We are also offering a 3-night pre-tour extension to Capri. This enchanting island is a great place to relax, recover from jet lag, stroll the streets and shop.

This will be an insider’s journey, designed to experience these cities in ways that are simply not available to most visitors. And just as important, your participation helps support the Custard Institute’s mission to advance research, education, and cultural understanding.

I very much hope you’ll consider joining me; it would be a great pleasure to share this experience with you. Jerry and Darla Baird from Baird Tours will be handling all the tour details. Reach out to me or them with any questions. Register now as space is limited.

All the best,

Tour Leader
Dr. Greg Warden

The Naples and Rome Tour and the Capri extension will be led by archaeologist and art historian Gregory Warden, the Mark A. Roglán Director of the Custard Institute at the Meadows Museum. Professor Warden is a native Italian who was knighted by the Republic of Italy for his contributions to Italian culture. Visit www.smu.edu/meadows/faculty/wardengreg to see more of his biography.