MDHS, may we introduce you Agriturismo La Penisola in Campo San Martino, Italy?

The Mater Dei Catholic HS and their family and friends are going to dine on their Enchanting Easter Tour 2014 with Incantato Tours on April 24, 2014 at 6:30 pm at the "Agriturismo La Peninsula".
The restaurant was born from idea of ​​three friends in the winter of 2005. They wanted to enhance, promote and enrich the Italian agriculture. They found a wonderful farmhouse in the countryside and restored it to a restaurant and B&B.

"La Penisola" is located next to the Brenta River, along a bicycle path and horse trail and surrounded by a garden of 19,000 square meters. The bistro style restaurant serves simple, but still special dishes and use mostly seasonal and local Italian products. It is open from Thursday to Sunday and follows seasonal and traditional cooking to rediscover the ancient Italian flavors and recipes.

Travel Tip: Money Matters

Dear MDHS travelers, family and friends,

We all know money is a delicate subject. The best way to use your money during your upcoming Enchanting Easter Tour 2014 with Incantato Concert Tours is to have a debit or credit card. Paying with these cards allows you to minimize cash needs and also allows you to withdraw money from any ATM machine with only being charged a small withdrawal fee. The fee differs between banks. Be sure to call your bank before your departure to tell them where you are going and for how long so they won't freeze your account. The debit cards given by the bank has the compatibility of Visa, MasterCard, however, Visa is the most widely accepted worldwide. 

If you bring cash, you can exchange it but you will lose more money as they charge for their services. 
Please keep in mind that most places in Europe won't accept traveler's checks anymore. Also, be prepared to pay for water in restaurants/ bars and a little fee for restroom use (usually 0,50 EUR). 
We suggest you have some spending money available and our recommendation is around 20 US-Dollar per day for the meals not included, snacks, drinks, postcards, some souvenirs. It is not imperative that you have this amount of money. There are many ways to lower your expenses such as:

• Most restaurants abroad have menus outside, so you can check their price range before you enter it.

• Venture off the main roads to find a restaurant. These usually have more character, better food, and also better prices.

• Bring your own water bottle. Most places have safe tap water to fill up with.

• Buy food from the "convenient" stores. You don't have to sit down in the restaurant for every meal.

• Hop around for souvenirs. Many stores have the same things on sale for very different prices.

Last but not least, there are no free refills on soft drinks in Europe which is why most Europeans ask for little to no ice in their drinks.

Last but not least, remember that your Incantato Tour Manager is with you pretty much 24/7. The guide is there to help you make the right choices abroad and answer all the questions you may have.

Mater Dei High School concert venue in Venice, Italy - San Rocco Church

Incantato Concert Tours is proud to be with the Mater Dei High School Choir in Venice, on April 26th, where they will perform in San Rocco Church at 6pm. The church is well known for tourists to come and see the great works of Tintoretto (also known as, Jacopo Robusti, an influential Venetian painter from the late 1500's). 

The church of San Rocco was built between 1489 and 1508 by Bartolomeo Bon, who had also built the churches Campanile in 1494. During the Middle Ages, a Plague had completely spread through the city of Venice and it's lagoons. There are four churches within Venice that are recognized as the four great plague churches (San Rocco being one of them). They display the famous works from artists that concentrate on the stories and the impact that the plague had on it's people and the Saints that had been involved in that time period. 

What makes this church stand out from some of the others, is how well preserved the art is by Tintoretto and it being in it's original places. Once inside the church, you will see there is a plague picture over the first altar on the right (done by the artist named Rizzi), which is representing a late plague patron, Saint Francis of Paola, trying to revive a dead child. In the choir, High Altar, there is a figure of Saint Rocco himself, baring his leg to show the plague spot to which he had. The masterpieces inside done by Tintoretto have often been described as the "Sistine Chapel" of Venice. Pay close attention to the art work on the walls, the ceilings and you will notice how every part was made so conscientiously by the painter. 


6pm april 26th

Incantato Insider: Musikgymnasium in Carinthia, Austria - MDHS Concert Venue for Easter Monday

As an Incantato favorite destination, Carinthia has much to offer, especially musically. One of the unique offers found in Austria's southern-most region is the BRG Viktring, a secondary school with a musical and artistic emphasis incorporated into its regular education and coursework. There are different scholastic paths that students may choose from, one with a concentration on artistic education including design, painting, architecture, photo and film. Another is with a musical concentration including choral music, as well as classical and jazz ensembles. 

In the fall of 2011, the BRG Viktring initiated a project in corporation with the Conservatorium Carinthia, the latter of which was founded in 1827 and offers musical undergraduate, graduate, as well as diploma programs. For the Bachelor of Music, students can major in performance, opera performance, composition, sound engineering, and musicology. The Master of Arts degree is in Applied Musicology, while the Artistic Diploma program offers specializations in performance, composition, and orchestral conducting. 

The project these two musical educational institutions initiated is the so-called Musikgymnasium, or musical secondary school, which places an extensive emphasis on musical education while still culminating in the Abitur, the secondary school degree necessary for the general qualification for university entrance. This special secondary school offers talented young musicians from grade 5 onward a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn significant musical content and to accumulate musical theory knowledge in a concentrated form during their school years. The goal is to provide students with a maximum amount of practical experience and actual rehearsal time with the pleasant side-effect of also completing the matriculation examination. Concentrations include folk music, chamber music ensemble, theater/acting, early music, orchestra organization, and music exchange. 

However, this emphasized musical education is not designed to take away from the overall academics and coursework necessary for the Abitur. A second foreign language, for example, is just as mandatory as the participation in a choir or an ensemble. The Musikgymnasium provides a complete, well-rounded education alongside an accelerated musical education, as well as rehearsal time and practical music sessions. 

Incantato Favorite: Klagenfurt, Austria

Situated on the eastern shore of the Woerther See, Austria's warmest lake, Klagenfurt is the capital of Austria's southern-most lake of Carinthia. It was founded in the 12th century as an important trade center and transport hub. In 1544 almost the entire city was destroyed by a fire. Reconstruction was understaken mainly by Italian architects, which is one of the reasons Klagenfurt is reminiscent of an Italian town and style. In the 16th century, the city was the center of the Counter-Reformation. During this time, Klagenfurt was extended and partially rebuilt, although most of its historic buildings date back to earlier eras. 
There are many sights to see in Carinthia's capital, such as:
Dom St. Peter und St. Paul
The Cathedral was originally built as a Protestant Church in 1578, however, it was taken over by the Jesuits in 1604 and elevated to the rank of cathedral in 1787, after it had been completely rebuilt in 1727. Its ornate high altar dates back to 1752. 
Altes Rathaus
One of the most attractive sights Klagenfurt has to offer is the 17th century former town hall with its galleried courtyard. It was the first seat of the Klagenfurt town authorities and today  is used as a popular music venue.
Dragon Fountain
Located at the New Square, there is a fountain with a mythical dragon sculpture that was created in 1593. Over time, it has become not only a town symbol, but has also made its way into the Klagenfurt coat of arms. 
Stadtpfarrkirche St. Egid
This Baroque Chruch was built on the site of an earlier church that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1692. Its spire rises up 299 feet!
Dioezesanmuseum
This museum houses a collection of early sacred art objects, among other religious artifacts. Its most famous exhibition piece is a 12th century stained-glass panel of Mary Magdalene, which is believed to be the oldest of its kind in Austria. 

The 2014 MDHS Enchanting Easter Tour Materials

Dear MDHS Choir Travelers,

Your most important tour information can be found in your tour brochure. In order to sign up for the tour, you must fill out and submit the original registration form to Incantato Tours (our mailing address is located on your registration form).

If you would like to download any of the tour materials, we have made both of these available to you as PDFs from our Dropbox account:

Please click here for the 2014 MDHS Choir Tour Brochure

Please click here for the 2014 MDHS Choir Tour Registration Form

Your Incantato Tours Team

Your Incantato Travel Route

Mater Dei High School Chorus performs at San Francesco Church (Maiori): Sunday, March 27, at 11 AM

The Mater Dei High School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Mr. Scott Melvin, will sing mass at San Francesco Church (Chiesa di San Francesco) in Maiori on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 11 AM.

The beautiful Chiesa di San Francesco was constructed in 1405. It is located between the convent and the Cove of the Announced one (Grotta dell'Annunziata) in Maiori. The church has a rough history: In 1435 it was destroyed by the army of Muhammad II (Turkey) and rebuilt one year later by Saint Bernardino from Siena. A sea storm hit the Chiesa di San Francesco hard in 1440. It was destroyed and in 1517 reconstructed on the oriental side of the convent. But the work was interrupted again by a Turkish invasion. In 1590 the construction was finally completed. Last but not least there were several constructive modifications after two seas storm in 1631 and 1674. The church is famed world-wide for the miracle of the springing water in the convent. Please click here to go the picture's origin.

Why less is more when it comes to luggage - detailed information on checked bags and carry

Dear Participants of the 2011 Mater Dei Italy Performance Tour, 

please remember that when traveling in such a large group and on a coach full of fellow travelers, luggage space is limited. As explained during the presentations, we recommend that you bring only what is really necessary, namely 1 checked bag per person. 

Here are the checked bag dimensions broken down by the airlines and the weight limit for that one checked suitcase is 50.6 pounds (23 kilos). 

British Airways : maximum dimensions are 35.5 inches x 29.5 bx 16 including the handle, pockets and wheels

Lufthansa and Swiss:  the permitted size, which is the total of the height, width and length, may not exceed 62.2 inches (158 cm) 

In addition, due to limited space on the bus and in order to accommodate the handbell equipment, Incantato Tours allows one small carry-on, ideally a backpack, plus a personal item (small purse, camera bag, laptop bag). Carry-on weight limit from the airlines is 17  pounds (8 kilos) which we advise not to max out again as space on the bus is very limited. Your carry-on items may not be accommodated in the luggage compartment of the coaches, but have to be fit into the overhead compartments on the bus, the seat in front of the travelers or people's laps. We thank you for your understanding and compliance with the above instructions for tour luggage.  With such a large group traveling together, we advise again to keep both checked and carry-on luggage to an absolute minimum as that will make everyone's journey easier.

New additions to your Incantato Tour Blog!

Dear Mater Dei Travelers,
We've added new, important, and exciting information to your blog. Please click the links below to learn more about your upcoming journey. Be sure to check back regularly for further updates and browse the rest of the blog for exciting destination information.

Travel information:

• Flight schedules
• Map of tour route
• Updated itinerary for choir and entourage
• Updated itinerary Shadow Tour
  
• Travel Tip: What to pack
• Travel Tip: High voltage
• Travel Tip: Money matters
• Travel Tip: Frequently asked questions
• Travel Tip: Use of cell phones

Confirmed performance venues:

• Santa Maria a Mare, Maiori
  
• San Francesco Church, Maiori
• Duomo di Amalfi
• Montecassino Abbey
• Papal Audience, Vatican City
• Il Teatro Comunale, Todi
  
• Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo al Celio, Rome
• Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
  
• Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
  

Hotel accommodations:

• Hotel Reginna Palace, Maiori - Choir Tour
• Hotel Sole Splendid, Maiori - Entourage & Visual Arts Tour
• Liola Hotel, Castrocielo - Shadow Tour
• Hotel Cetus, Cetara - Shadow Tour
• Hotel Capannelle, Rome - Choir and Entourage & Visual Arts Tours
• Abitart Hotel, Rome - Shadow Tour
• Hotel H10, Rome - Choir Tour
• La Pergola, Magliano Sabina - Shadow Tour
• Pulitzer Hotel, Rome - Entourage & Visual Arts Tour
• NH Villa Carpegna, Rome - Shadow Tour

Restaurant information:

• Torre Normanna, Maiori
• Ar Montarozzo, Rome
• Ristorante Venerina, Rome
• Restaurant at Hotel Liolá, Castrocielo
  

Enjoy the Mater Dei High School Chorus Tour blog? Then become a follower and never miss an update

Dear Singers, Family and Friends of the Mater Dei High School Chorus, we sure hope you enjoy the blog and recommend that you become a follower by clicking on the respective option in the right side bar of this webpage. As a follower, you will never miss an update and once the group heads over to Italy there should be lots of news coming your way. You can also leave comments which are like virtual greetings. Our Italian tour team will pass those messages to the travelers on tour whenever possible. Everyone at Incantato Tours wishes you well as you prepare for this exciting journey under the leadership of Mr. Scott Melvin.

Mater Dei HS 2011 Italy Performance Tour - Updated Itinerary for the Choir & Entourage Group

Welcome to the Incantato blog for the 2011 Mater Dei HS Performance Tour and Catholic Pilgrimage to Italy. This is the updated itinerary and still somewhat of a work in progress. Some details are subject to change as this journey becomes more and more your tour and to enhance the overall experience. Enjoy!

DAY 1 Thursday, March 24

Overnight flight to Rome

DAY 2 Friday, March 25

Benvenuti to Italy

Upon arrival, travel to the Amalfi Coast where you will enjoy a traditional Italian welcome dinner. The Choir & Chaperone Group overnights until Tuesday, March 29 at the Hotel Reginna Palace which is exclusively booked for Mater Dei High School. The Entourage & Visual Arts Tour will stay the Hotel Sole Splendid.

DAY 3 Saturday, March 26

Pompeii & Ercolano

Continue to excavation sites of Pompeii and Ercolano where an expert guide will introduce you to this amazing UNESCO world heritage site, then return to Maiori for your first tour concert at Santa Maria a Mare at 7 pm.

DAY 4 Sunday, March 27

Scenic Amalfi Coast & Concert

Start off the day with High Mass at San Francesco Church at 11 am, featuring the Mater Dei High School Choirs and Handbell ensemble. Then experience the beautiful countryside today as you head to Capri and Amalfi for a highlight concert at the magnificent Duomo.

DAY 5 Monday, March 28

Exchange & Coastal Farewell Dinner

Visit a local high school in Maiori today and get in touch with the students, then enjoy the afternoon at leisure prior to your coastal farewell dinner at Torre Normanna, a 12^th century Norman Tower converted into a gourmet restaurant.

DAY 6 Tuesday, March 29

Via Montecassino to Rome

Bid farewell to the Amalfi Coast as you travel north. Stop for a guided tour & recital at the Benedictine Monastery of Montecassino perched high upon a hill. Continue to Umbria for dinner and a relaxing evening. Both the Choir and Entourage groups will stay at the Hotel Capannelle in Rome on March 29 and 30.

DAY 7 Wednesday, March 30

Papal Audience and leisure time in Rome

According to Vatican Officials, Pope Benedict XVI will be holding a general audience on this Wednesday and you will have the opportunity to attend and briefly sing at the event. Explore Rome at leisure this afternoon.

DAY 8 Thursday, March 31

La Dolce Vita in Umbria & Concert

Today you‘ll experience the many flavors of the region, learn how olive oil is made, visit a cheese farm, and have the opportunity to participate in a cooking demonstration. After a hands-on pizza making workshop, the group will perform at Il Teatro Comunale in Todi. The Choir & Chaperons group will stay tonight through the remainder of the tour at Rome's H10 Hotel Roma Citta. The Entourage & Visual Arts Tour will be staying at the Hotel Pulitzer.

DAY 9 Friday, April 1

Eternal Rome Tour & Concert

The Eternal City of Rome is just a short drive away, and you will begin the day there with a tour of its ancient highlights: the Colosseo and the Foro Romano, followed by some free time prior to the final formal concert. The choir will perform Haydn's Paukenmesse with full orchestra this evening at the Basilica de Santi Giovanni e Paolo al Celio.

DAY 10 Saturday, April 2

High Mass & Private Vatican Visit with Recital in the Sistine Chapel

Explore the Roman Squares (Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona), followed by free time in the Vatican area. In the afternoon, Mater Dei is the featured guest choir for a special Saturday High Mass at the magnificent Cathedral of St. Peter, followed by an after-hours private visit of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a recital in the Sistine Chapel. A fantastic farewell feast with local specialties and music concludes the day.

DAY 11 Sunday, April 3

Rome Departure

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home to the US. After check-in, your Tour Manager waves good-bye and you will bid farewell to beautiful Italy.

*Please note that all communication regarding this tour should be directed to the school, not to Incantato Tours. Please contact Ms. Lauren McCaul at lmccaul@materdei.org with any questions or concerns you may have about the 2011 Mater Dei High School performance tour to Italy.

Mater Dei High School - updated group flight schedules

CHOIR & CHAPERONS

GROUP 1

Departure for Europe:

Thursday, March 24, 2011

LUFTHANSA flight LH457, leave LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 4:00PM

Arrive in FRANKFURT (FRA) at 10:55AM on Friday, March 25, 2011

LUFTHANSA flight LH236, leave FRANKFURT (FRA) at 3:35PM

Arrive in ROME (FCO) at 5:20PM

Return to USA:

Sunday, April 3, 2011

LUFTHANSA flight LH1841, leave ROME (FCO) at 8:45AM

Arrive in MUNICH (MUC) at 10:25AM

LUFTHANSA flight LH452, leave MUNICH (MUC) at 3:45PM
Arrive in LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 7:05PM

GROUP 2

Departure for Europe:

Thursday, March 24, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA282, leave LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 6:50PM

Arrive in LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 12:00PM on Friday, March 25, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA556, leave LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 2:10PM

Arrive in ROME (FCO) at 5:35PM

Return to USA:

Sunday, April 3, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA551, leave ROME (FCO) at 8:15AM

Arrive at LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 10:00AM

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA283, leave LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 12:00PM

Arrive in LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 3:05PM

GROUP 3

Departure for Europe:

Thursday, March 24, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA268, leave LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 9:35PM

Arrive at LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 2:45PM on Friday, March 25, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA546, leave LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 4:10PM

Arrive in ROME (FCO) at 7:35PM

Return to USA:

Sunday, April 3, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA553, leave ROME (FCO) at 11:45AM

Arrive at LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 1:30PM

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA269, leave LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 4:05PM

Arrive in LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 7:05PM

ENTOURAGE & VISUAL ARTS (Same schedule as Choir Group 2)

Departure for Europe:

Thursday, March 24, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA282, leave LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 6:50PM
Arrive at LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 12:00PM on Friday, March 25, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA556, leave LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 2:10PM

Arrive in ROME (FCO) at 5:35PM

Return to USA:

Sunday, April 3, 2011

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA551, leave ROME (FCO) at 8:15AM

Arrive at LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 10:00AM

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA283, leave LONDON-HEATHROW (LHR) at 12:00PM

Arrive in LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 3:05PM

SHADOW

Departure for Europe:

Thursday, March 24, 2011

SWISS flight LX41, leave LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 8:20PM

Arrive in ZURICH (ZRH) at 3:45PM on Friday, March 25, 2011

SWISS flight LX1732, leave ZURICH (ZRH) at 5:30PM

Arrive in ROME (FCO) at 7:00PM

Return to USA:

Sunday, April 3, 2011

SWISS flight LX1727, leave ROME (FCO) at 9:35AM

Arrive in ZURICH (ZRH) at 11:20AM

SWISS flight LX40, leave ZURICH (ZRH) at 1:10PM

Arrive in LOS ANGELES (LAX) at 4:40PM

*Please note that all communication regarding this tour should be directed to the school, not to Incantato Tours. Please contact Ms. Lauren McCaul at lmccaul@materdei.org with any questions or concerns you may have about the 2011 Mater Dei High School performance tour to Italy.

Confirmed: Mater Dei High School to attend Papal Audience on March 30, 2011

The Mater Dei High School Performance Tour is confirmed to participate in the Papal Audience at the Vatican at 10:30AM on the morning of March 30, 2011.

Papal Audiences are held on Wednesdays if the Pope is in Rome, giving pilgrims and visitors the chance to "see the Pope" and receive the Papal Blessing or Apostolic Blessing from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit.
The Audience with the Pope consists of small teachings and readings mainly in Italian but also in English, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese and sometimes other languages depending on groups visiting.
The Pope will offer a greeting in each language and specially mention any visiting group such as choirs from various countries.
At the completion of the Audience, the Pope will join with the attendees in praying the Lord’s Prayer in Latin.
At the end of the Prayer, as Head of the Catholic Church, he will impart his Apostolic Blessing upon the crowd, which extends to loved ones who are sick and suffering, and also blesses any religious articles such as rosary beads that people have brought with them for the purpose of the blessing.

The Mater Dei High School Choir will most likely be given the opportunity to briefly sing for the General Audience this morning.

Meet the Orchestra Sinfonica Romarte

When the Mater Dei High School Chorus performs the Paukenmesse at Santi Giovanni e Paolo al Celio in Rome on Friday, April 1 at 8:30 PM, the travelers will be supported by the Italian Orchestra Sinfonica Romarte. The Orchestra Sinfonica Romarte was established in Rome in 2006 and consists of about 45 professional musicians. The orchestra has performed at the most prestigious Basilicas of Rome during the last years playing famous masterpieces of symphonic music, accompanying solo voices and choirs from all over the world. The orchestra performs for example music from Cimarosa, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Rossini, and many more. To see more pictures of the orchestra, please click here.

Mater Dei HS Shadow Tour Treat: Tasting of Italian delicacies on March 29 at Casal Pilozzo

On March 29, the Mater Dei HS Shadow Group will get the chance to taste a variety of Italian delicacies at Casal Pilozzo. Casal Pilozzo, a property of the Pulcini family located in the village of Monte Porzio Catone, sits atop a marvelous hill just nine and a half miles south of Rome offering beautiful views of the Eternal City. Considered one of the oldest farms of the Castelli Romani area, the Casale was built on the ruins of an ancient dwelling place thought by many scholars to be the residence of the sister and nephew of Emperor Traiano. Throughout the modern age, it has served as residence to many famous personalities, from the likes of Orson Welles to the families of Filonardi Brandi e Bottai and Tyrone Power. The subsoil of the Casale features ancient tufa soil grottoes, extending for hundreds of meters, where the wines are stored to mature in natural conditions of stable temperature and humidity. Hidden in the depths of the cellars stands an ancient altar carved in the tufa soil. Some historians believe the cellars to be remnants of a cave-dwelling “protostorico” village. The Casale stands in the center of the property, surrounded by a magnificent park and 13 hectares of volcanic land now cultivated for vineyards and olive groves. The pride of Casal Pilozzo remains the strictly biological cultivation and selection of wine grapes. Varieties include Malvasia del Lazio, Grechetto Antico, Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlote, and Syrah. The Vineyards and vinification, olive trees, and oil production are all personally controlled by the Pulcini family. This makes the Casal Pilozzo one of the few truly “family-run” operations, demonstrating in practice the very real possibility for creating high-quality products in coexistence with an environmentally friendly philosophy.

Incantato Tour Sight: Roman Forum in Rome

Touring Rome, the travelers of the Mater Dei High School will have a chance to visit the Roman Forum. It is a small open rectangle surrounded by the ruins of ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this marketplace as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum. It was for centuries the center of Roman public life: the site of triumphal processions and elections, venue for public speeches and gladiatorial matches, and nucleus of commercial affairs. Here statues and monuments commemorated the city's great men. The teeming heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history.
Located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Forum today is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archeological excavations attracting numerous sightseers. Many of the oldest and most important structures of the ancient city were located on or near the Forum. The Kingdom's earliest shrines and temples were located on the southeastern edge. These included the ancient former royal residence, the Regia (8th century BC), and the Temple of Vesta (7th century BC), as well as the surrounding complex of the Vestal Virgins, all of which were rebuilt after the rise of imperial Rome.