This grand journey is a rich and thoughtfully curated experience for students and faculty alike, blending spiritual formation, historical exploration, and shared memory-making across Italy and England. From the ancient streets of Rome to the Renaissance beauty of Florence and the vibrant pulse of London, each day offers opportunities to reflect, connect, and marvel at the legacy of Western faith, art, and culture.

Step into the Eternal City

Upon arrival in Rome, we will make our way via train from the airport to our lodging. Depending on arrival time, we will walk to St. Peter’s Basilica to explore its awe-inspiring architecture and spiritual significance. Highlights might include the option to climb the dome for an unforgettable view of the city or enjoy the city views from the Pincio Terrace overlooking the Piazza del Popolo..

We’ll close the evening with a large group dinner near our accommodation.

Overnight: Rome

The morning begins with a devotional and breakfast. We'll explore the grandeur of Ancient Rome with a tour of the Colosseum, a scavenger hunt in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. After lunch, we’ll walk by the Mamertine Museum have lunch, and continue to the Capitoline Museum. Students will read from Marcus Aurelius before entering. The museum includes a hidden tunnel leading to panoramic views of the Forum and further museum wings.

Before dinner will take place nearby, perhaps in Campo di Fiore or Trastevere, followed by time to enjoy Roman nightlife—gelato, music, and the joy of meandering through cobbled streets.

Overnight: Rome

Today’s theme traces the tension and triumph between pagan Rome and early Christianity. After morning devotions and a joint briefing, we’ll ride to the catacombs for a guided tour, followed by a visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls—an often-overlooked but deeply moving basilica. We’ll return to central Rome for lunch at Piazza Navona and then explore the Pantheon. Afterwards you have the possibility, on your own, to see the stunning Caravaggio frescos at Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi. The afternoon offers some free time to absorb the city’s energy before your chosen place to dine. An optional classical concert may provide a rich musical close to the day.

Overnight: Rome

Vatican Museums and the Renaissance

Our final day in Rome is devoted to the heights of Renaissance art and Catholic spirituality. After an early devotional and briefing, we’ll begin with the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. If the group did not attend St. Peter’s earlier in the week, this afternoon may include a return visit. Later, we’ll walk to Villa Borghese, where we’ll visit the Borghese Gallery and enjoy leisure time in the surrounding gardens.

Overnight: Rome

Travel to Florence

Arrive in Florence and begin your journey on foot through the heart of the Renaissance. This city is a living museum—compact, walkable, and richly layered with centuries of culture. Everywhere you turn, stone streets echo with the footsteps of Medici patrons and Renaissance masters. Churches hum with quiet reverence, frescoes hide in side chapels, and the scent of leather, truffles, and espresso fills the air. Florence invites you to slow down, look up, and let beauty lead. After a terrace espresso overlooking the Arno, wander past open-air sculptures in Piazza della Signoria to the majestic Duomo, its marble façade and Brunelleschi’s dome rising in splendor. Enjoy a slow gelato by the Ponte Vecchio, then rest before a rooftop dinner with Tuscan wine and views of the city aglow or end with an evening walk to Piazzale Michelangelo for panoramic views of the city.

The sites, the flavors—your first day in Florence, artful and unforgettable.

Overnight: Florence

Day Trip to Tuscan Hill Towns

Enjoy an adventurous and relaxing journey that carries us into the heart of Tuscany, where medieval hill towns rise from rolling vineyards and time seems to slow. We begin in San Gimignano, famed for its dramatic stone towers and golden-hued streets, once built by rival families as symbols of wealth and influence. Wandering its narrow lanes offers sweeping views of the countryside and an immediate sense of Tuscany’s layered past. From there, we continue into the countryside for a relaxed vineyard visit, where we enjoy a guided wine tasting and an unhurried picnic surrounded by olive groves and vines. In the afternoon, we arrive in Siena, one of Italy’s most beautifully preserved medieval cities, known for its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the striking black-and-white marble Duomo. With free time to explore artisan shops, cafés, and quiet corners of the historic center, the day blends beauty, history, and rest—an immersive Tuscan experience designed to be savored rather than rushed.

Overnight: Florence

Full Day in Florence

This rich day in Florence begins with the option to attend morning Mass at the Duomo, followed by the Uffizi Gallery. Stroll through the lively Piazza della Repubblica toward the Uffizi Gallery, where Botticelli, da Vinci, and Michelangelo await in sunlit halls. Engage in an art-focused treasure hunt to discover masterpieces and stories within the collection, or browse leisurely.

The afternoon invites us into the Accademia Gallery, where we encounter Michelangelo’s David in a setting designed to draw the eye—and the heart—toward quiet awe. Standing before this masterpiece is more than viewing great art; it is a moment of stillness, scale, and reflection on beauty, strength, and human calling. An optional visit to the Cathedral’s dome and museum are available in the afternoon.

Across the Arno, the Oltrarno district reveals Florence’s living craft tradition, where small artisan workshops—leatherworkers, bookbinders, goldsmiths, and woodcarvers—still shape their goods by hand in quiet streets far from the crowds.

Depending on timing and availability, you may also attend a Fiorentina soccer match, a Tuscan cooking class or a classical concert in a small church.

Overnight: Florence

Travel to London and Evening Worship

We’ll take a mid-morning flight from Florence to London, arriving in the early afternoon. After a quick orientation to the London Underground and a light lunch, the group will enjoy a casual walk and may attend an optional football match if available.

The evening includes options to enter the sacred hush for Evensong or worship services at some of London’s most beloved churches, such as St Martin-in-the-Fields or Holy Trinity Brompton.

We’ll finish the day with a large group dinner, reconnecting as we prepare for our time in England.

Overnight: London

Discovering Medieval London

Our day begins with a historical orientation on Medieval London, focusing on the dramatic changes ushered in by figures like William the Conqueror. Step back into the world of Norman kings and Tudor intrigue with visits to the Tower of London and the iconic Tower Bridge. These landmarks bring history vividly to life with tales of monarchs, prisoners, and royal jewels.

Afterward, we’ll gather for lunch at the vibrant Borough Market, where you can enjoy gourmet street food and local delicacies amidst the bustle of one of London’s oldest marketplaces.

Wander over to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on the Thames River.

On this day you’ll have free time to explore or relax. Those who wish can enjoy a charming afternoon tea at Brigit’s Bakery in Covent Garden, a visit to the National Gallery, the British Museum, Tate Britain, or other museums. Delight yourself with the West End show, Les Miserables.

Overnight: London

Our final full day in London looks at the city’s role in shaping the modern world. We’ll begin at Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens are crowned and buried, and then continue on to view the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, symbols of democratic heritage and national pride. Later you can delve further into the British Empire’s legacy in the 20th century by choosing to see another remarkable sites: the emotionally moving and the depths of the Churchill War Rooms.

After lunch, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You might return to a favorite neighborhood, shop on Oxford Street or Notting Hill. You may opt to explore the free National Gallery or the British Museum—each a treasure trove of culture, history, and beauty.

We’ll come together in the evening for a large group dinner to celebrate and recount our adventures.