Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples

Opening today at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. is an extraordinary exhibit of artifacts from the excavations of Pompeii and its neighboring towns. Luxurious furniture, personal effects, and exquisite works of art were all buried in the eruption of August 23rd, 79 C.E. Among these artifacts are sculptures from the Villa of the Papyri which inspired the Getty Villa in Malibu. These objects are now on display (many for the first time ever in the U.S.) at the National Gallery until March 22nd when the exhibit will travel to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Today's Washington Post has a detailed article on the history of Pompeii and its excavations and an excellent slide show of some of the major works.

Italingua Institute in San Francisco

If you are interested in learning Italian, it really is best to learn in a classroom setting until you can get to Italy. In San Francisco, the Italingua Institute offers classes in conversational Italian, Italian grammar, even Italian literature. The Institute also holds workshops on various topics of Italian culture such as cooking, film and politics. Their main campus is in San Francisco on Market Street, and their Berkeley campus is located on Center Street.

Getty Villa in Malibu, California

If you can't get to Italy but can get to Southern California, don't miss the Getty Villa in Malibu. Recently renovated and completely refurbished, the Getty Villa exclusively houses antiquities from Ancient Greece and Rome. The collections are just half of the attraction. The museum itself is an exact replica of the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum which was destroyed in the 79 CE eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The Villa is decorated with exquisite marble floors, walls, decorative ceilings and immaculate gardens, all inspired by ancient Roman originals from around the Mediterranean. You have to make a reservation to visit the Villa, so be sure to call ahead at least a few weeks in advance. Go as soon as the doors open to avoid the crowds that will be sure to be there by mid-day.
Getty Villa