PROGRAM EXCURSIONS

You won’t just read about Aquinas, Cicero, Dante, Fra Angelico, Catherine of Siena, and Michelangelo — you’ll go to where they lived and worked.

We’ve got an exciting series of trips planned.*

*Subject to change.

  • Florence

    The Dominicans arrived in Florence in the early 1200s, taking over the remains of an ancient church, now known as Santa Maria Novella, which the Dominicans still run today. The works of Dominican renaissance painter Fra Angelico can be seen on the walls of the cells of Convento di San Marco.

  • Ravenna

    The capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its collapse in 476. Famous for its high concentration of mosaics.

  • Siena

    A beautiful, walkable city. You’ll visit the Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico where you can venerate St. Catherine of Siena’s skull. Check out the Basilica gift shop for Dominican rosaries and icons.

  • Bologna

    Home of the oldest university in the world. The university is one reason St. Dominic very quickly founded a Dominican convent in Bologna. The cell where St. Dominic died, his tomb, and his skull are found in the Basilica of San Domenico.

  • Roccasecca

    The birthplace of St. Thomas Aquinas. Walk up the tower where he was imprisoned by his family to try to keep him from becoming a Dominican friar.

  • Orvieto

    Italian hill town where Aquinas taught for 4 years. The site of a magnificent frescoed Duomo and Etruscan ruins.

  • Montepulciano

    Includes the monastery founded by St. Agnes of Montepulciano, a tour of the winemaking operation for the Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, and the famous Renaissance church of St. Ambrogio.

  • Fossanova

    Cistercian Monastery where Thomas Aquinas died and was buried.

  • Pienza

    15th Century Renaissance gem in Tuscany, home of Pope Pius II.