Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have cancelled
all weekend lectures in April and early May
(as noted below). The May 16th lecture,
“Monte Cassino ~ Fated Abbey of St. Benedict”
is scheduled to occur as planned.
Due to the staff limitations necessary because of the “shelter in place” directive, we have simply granted future lecture credit to those persons who hold seats for cancelled lectures. (If instead you require a refund, please send an email to: office@westernciv.com)
History, arts, and culture of
The Eternal City and its environs
Presented by
William H. Fredlund, Ph.D.
SATURDAY evenings at 7:00 PM
(doors open at 6:15 PM for wine and goodies)
$35 per lecture
NOV 9, 2019: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME
In 2019, Rome will be about 2800 years old. What is it like in 2019, with mass tourism, thousands of pilgrims coming to see Papa Francesco, and the famous and ubiquitous graffiti on the walls? Answer: It’s still great! TICKETS
DEC 14, 2019: WAKING UP THE VATICAN
At 6AM on Sept 20, 2019, Dr. William Fredlund and his sister Patricia joined 12 people at the doors of the Vatican Museums. The streets were empty. No taxis. No other people. We were about to unlock the doors and windows of all the Vatican museum rooms ~ and enter the Sistine Chapel with no one there. How did we do it?
JAN 18, 2020: THE ETRUSCANS AT CERVETERI
Thirty-five miles north of Rome, the city of Cerveteri is most famous today for its 1000-acre Etruscan burial ground, with thousands of rock-cut tombs rich in artifacts and wall paintings depicting scenes from Etruscan daily life.
FEB 15, 2020: OSTICA ANTICA: THE LOST PORT OF ROME
A few miles from the capital lies Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome. Over the centuries the Tiber River flooded and covered much of it. In our own time, archaeologists are uncovering it piece by piece. Here you can see the remains of docks, warehouses, homes, shops, and baths — giving a peek at the life of Rome.
MAR 14, 2020: AUGUSTAN ROME ~ THE ARA PACIS
One of the greatest surviving works of sculpture from the Roman world is the Ara Pacis, the Altar of Peace. It was lost to history for centuries, and then in the 20th century, it was dug up and pieced together, and is now in one of the greatest modern buildings of Rome, designed by American architect, Richard Meier.
APR 18, 2020: TIVOLI ~ VILLA ADRIANA AND VILLA D’ESTE
Fifteen miles east of Rome is the beautiful town of Tivoli. This charming place is the location of several spectacular villas, each with gardens, fountains, and pools: the Villa Adriana, built for the Emperor Hadrian in about 200 AD, and the Villa D’Este, created in the Renaissance. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19.
MAY 16, 2020: MONTE CASSINO ~ FATED ABBEY OF ST. BENEDICT
Monte Cassino is the home of the most powerful monastic force of the Middle Ages: the Benedictines. Here Benedict wrote down his Rule that has governed his company of monks to this day. The abbey has been repeatedly destroyed—most famously during the Battle of Monte Cassino in World War II—and each time, it has arisen anew. TICKETS
William H. Fredlund, the Director of the Institute, obtained his B.A. and M.A. from UCLA, where he specialized in European history and art history. He studied in Italy on a Fulbright Fellowship and completed a double Ph.D. in history and humanities at Stanford, specializing in Renaissance Italy. Dr. Fredlund has taught for UCLA, the University of Florence, Stanford, and UCSC Extension.