The first year students enjoyed an interesting study tour of Tuscany over Christmas, which included expertly guided visits to some of the most important and renowned churches in Siena, Pisa, Lucca and Florence, as well as other places of cultural interest.
Our tour began in Siena, where Professor Giovanni Minnucci, rector of the Metropolitan Opera of Siena and chair of the History of Medieval and Modern Law, masterfully guided us through a detailed explanation of the cathedral, the baptistery, the crypt and the museum. Then, after briefly greeting his eminence cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice, we went to the basilica of San Domenico, a splendid example of Gothic architecture embellished by remarkable works of art as well as the memory of St Catherine of Siena. There we listened to a magnificent explanation by the Superior of the Dominican community, Fr. Bruno Esposito, who is also a noted canonist. To end the day in the best possible way, we visited the Basilica of St. Francis, where one of the Franciscans who live in the adjoining convent explained to us in detail some historical aspects of this temple and told us about the Eucharistic miracle that is kept there. It was moving, at the end of this explanation, to participate in the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament imparted with the consecrated forms of the miracle.
The visits to Pisa and Lucca the following day were also very interesting and kept us busy all day, as there was much beauty to see and understand, with the relevant historical and artistic explanations.
The culmination of this trip was the stay in Florence, where once again this year we visited the basilica of Santa Maria Novella with the magnificent explanations of Dr. Enrico and Dr. Leola Santini of the Ars et Fides Association. Then, after a short lunch break, it was the turn of the cathedral, the diocesan museum and, of course, the famous Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria.
It was an intense and very complete tour of some of Italy's many artistic and historical wonders. We are very grateful to the nuns of the Convent of San Cerbone, where we stayed during these days, for their care. And, of course, we are also full of gratitude to those who guided us so wisely, competently and affably during the visits we made.