This program, curated for the students of Merion Mercy Academy, combines cultural exploration, art history, classics, and spiritual reflection. Students will experience major historical sites, learn about the artistic legacy of Italy, and reflect on how travel deepens their understanding of culture, faith, and global citizenship.

Adjacent to the iconic Ponte Sisto, Rome's oldest pedestrian bridge,, your hotel offers a centrally located and historic home base for three nights in Roma!

Take a walking tour in the area around your centrally located hotel - Trastevere, Campo de Fiiore, Piazza Farnese, Pantheon.

Built by the Jesuits to honor their founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, this magnificent Baroque church is renowned for its breathtaking illusionistic ceiling fresco by Andrea Pozzo. Students explore how art, architecture, and perspective were used to inspire faith while learning about the Jesuits' enduring influence on education, missionary work, and the Catholic Church.

Enjoy your first taste of gelato in Roma

Enjoy some free time to rest or discover the area nearby your hotel before dinner

Enjoy a well-earned group dinner this evening at a lovely local restaurant, where you can savor delicious dishes and share stories from your day.

Walking among the ruins of temples and arenas, students encounter the political and cultural structures that shaped the Roman Empire. Entering the Colosseum, students stand at the center of Roman entertainment.

The Basilica of San Clemente offers a journey through 2,000 years of Roman history. Visitors explore a medieval basilica, an early Christian church, and ancient Roman buildings, including a temple to Mithras.

This site illustrates Rome's transformation from a pagan empire to a center of Christianity, showcasing the evolution of faith and architecture.

Overlook the Roman Forum while engaging in a discussion on:

• the Roman Republic

• the Roman Empire

• the birth of Western law

• the origins of modern state systems

After a long first day filled with travel and excitement, enjoy some well-deserved free time to explore the vibrant and cosmopolitan center of Rome at the iconic Piazza di Spagna. Known for its stunning Spanish Steps, this space offers atmosphere where you can stroll, relax, and soak in the rich history and culture that surrounds you.

Masterpieces by Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian reveal the transition from Renaissance harmony to the dramatic emotion of the Baroque, demonstrating how art was used to communicate biblical stories, inspire devotion, and reflect the spiritual and cultural renewal of the Catholic Church. This visit reinforces the program's central theme: that art serves not only as an expression of beauty, but also as a profound reflection of history, faith, and the human search for truth.

Enjoy an elegant group meal together at a fine restaurant in Rome in the historic center of the city

Students explore one of the most important art collections in the world, tracing the development of Western art from classical antiquity to the Renaissance. We will enjoy a privately guided visit to the Vatican Museums.

Visit the Curia of the Augustinians. Explore the beautiful interiors adorned with exquisite artwork, and learn about the fascinating stories and traditions associated with the Augustinian order and their relationship with the Sisters of Mercy. Take a moment to appreciate the tranquil atmosphere, perfect for reflection and contemplation.

Explore the trendy and youthful parts of the city, where vibrant streets are filled with life, art, and culture. Spend time wandering through stylish boutiques, charming cafes, and lively markets that showcase the local flavor. After a day of adventure, enjoy a final group dinner together in the heart of Roma.

Experience restful luxury coach bus service from Rome to Assisi.

Tour the magnificent Basilica of St. Francis, exploring its celebrated medieval frescoes, sacred spaces, and the remarkable story of St. Francis. Conclude at his tomb with time for prayer and reflection on his enduring call to simplicity, peace, and service.

Walk the charming streets of pietra rosa limestone, searching for a trattoria to enjoy lunch.

With the help of a professional local guide, visit the Cathedral of San Rufino, Assisi’s ancient cathedral and a place deeply connected to the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare. Continue to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where St. Carlo Acutis is laid to rest, reflecting on his modern witness of faith, humility, and simplicity in the spirit of St. Francis.

Check into your centrally located hotel in Florence for the next three nights.

Students will rise early to climb to the top of the renowned Duomo. Learn how Florence became the center of Renaissance creativity through architecture, engineering, and artistic innovation.

A guided visit to the Uffizi Gallery introduces students to the masterpieces that defined the Italian Renaissance and transformed Western art. Works by Giotto, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael reveal how artists used beauty to express profound theological truths and a renewed understanding of the human person. As students trace the development of Renaissance painting, they explore the ideals of Christian Humanism, discovering how faith, reason, and artistic excellence came together to shape one of history's greatest cultural movements.

Visit the Santa Croce for a guided tour of this pantheon of Humanist greats, the burial place of major figures, including Michelangelo and Galileo, illustrates Florence’s enormous intellectual legacy.

Tonight you will engage in a competitve challenge to see which team can make the best pasta in a specially curated cooking competition for the group at a local cooking school and team building organization.

The Istituto degli Innocenti in Florence, Italy, is one of the world's oldest public institutions dedicated to the care, shelter, and legal rights of children. Founded in 1419 and designed by the Renaissance master Filippo Brunelleschi, it originally operated as a foundling hospital for abandoned children.

Private luxury coach bus transfer from Florence to the North of Italy.

Students will explore the fascinating and deeply meaningful story of Frances Xavier Cabrini at the heart of where it began: the birthplace of Mother Cabrini in Italy. This holds special significance for the students of Merion Mercy, as Mother Cabrini's impact on the city of Philadelphia and her ministry's connection to the Sisters of Mercy resonate deeply.

Get back on the bus for transfer to Milano, where you will board your train from Venice.