Spaces Built and Imagined: Umbria, Venice, and Milan

Dear Colorado College alumni and friends,

I invite you to join Dr. Susan Ashley, Professor Emerita of History, on this custom-designed tour. You will see and learn about how distinct cultures intersected in ancient times, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance and Baroque periods. You will also examine how these strands and layers of the past still shape the present.

As we set out and explore Umbria, we will stop in the city of Orvieto, known as a picturesque “historic hill town”; and visit the magnificent, 14th-century Duomo, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture; as well as the town’s Underground, a hidden world of tunnels, caves, cisterns, wells, quarries, cellars, and oil mills. We will visit Marta Vergoni’s (our expert tour manager and guide on this trip) hometown of Perugia, the capital of Umbria. And we will discover Rocca Paolina, a unique underground fortress, and the Palazzo dei Priori, one of the finest examples of medieval civic architecture in Italy.

During our time together, we will explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the world; Ravenna for its early Christian monuments: Basilica of San Vitale and Mausoleum of Galla Placidia; Venice and its Lagoon, including a visit to the Venice Biennale; and the city of Verona with visits to Juliet’s Balcony, and civic squares filled with medieval and Renaissance architecture.

What is a visit to Italy without exploring its art? We will visit the acclaimed Pinacoteca di Brera, with one of Italy’s finest art collections spanning the ages; Fondazione Prada, a cutting-edge contemporary art space; the Braidense Library, one of Italy’s oldest libraries; and see Bosco Verticale, Milan’s “vertical forest,” noted for its innovative architecture and lush greenery.

The majority of the guiding will be done by Professor Ashley, supported by Marta Vergoni and local guides. Enjoy immersing yourself in this full itinerary with 13 nights at well-located, 4-star hotels. Enjoy the included meals of local cuisine, a tasting at an artisanal chocolate shop celebrating Perugia’s famous chocolate-making tradition, and a lunch at a unique winery in the Venetian Lagoon.

This trip is limited to 18 travelers. If you are enticed, you should reserve your spot immediately by contacting Eos Study Tours, the specialty tour operator who has worked so closely with Professor Ashley in designing this trip. Email tigertravel@studytours.org or call toll-free (800) 856-8951.

Sincerely,

Cindy Hyman ’82
Associate Vice President for Engagement

For questions, and to reserve your space, contact Eos Study Tours: 800-856-8951 or email tigertravel@studytours.org.

Colorado College Faculty Leader

Susan Ashley is a beloved Colorado College Professor Emerita of History. She has led several student and faculty trips to Italy and has designed this special itinerary for alumni, family, and friends of the college. Professor Ashley arrived at CC in 1970 after graduating from Carleton College and then earning an M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University. She chaired the History Department at CC twice and served as Dean of the College and Dean of the Faculty from 2005 - 2012. Professor Ashley also directed the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Florence and London-Florence programs three times. Books include a study of early Italian liberalism, a comparative analysis of “misfits” in late 19th century Italy and France, and a history of the Block Plan.

“On this trip, we’ll investigate sacred, civic, and private spaces. Our route takes us to hill towns (Orvieto, Perugia, and Assisi), to cities on the water (Ravenna and Venice), and to a metropolis in Italy’s largest valley (Milan). In these cities, the streets and squares, the churches and city halls will give us insight into how people thought and how they lived from late Antiquity to now. We’ll also see what changes millennia make as we look at Byzantine mosaics, Renaissance paintings, and the latest in art at the Venice Biennale. As we go, we’ll take in some unforgettable views, do justice to local food and wine, and relish the company of fellow CCers.”
– Professor Susan Ashley

Tour Prices

Per Person (13 nights)

• Double Occupancy (17-18 participants) $12,495
• Double Occupancy (11-16 participants) $12,995
• Single Supplement $3,225

Itinerary

Monday, October 19, 2026: Depart home and fly to Rome, Italy

Tuesday, October 20: Arrive in Rome | Transfer to hotel | Welcome reception

Wednesday, October 21: Orvieto: Orvieto Underground, Duomo | Foligno: Welcome dinner

Thursday, October 22: Assisi: Basilica of San Francesco, Basilica of Santa Chiara, Eremo delle Carceri | Foligno

Friday, October 23: Perugia: Rocca Paolina, Palazzo dei Priori, artisanal chocolate tasting | Foligno

Saturday, October 24: Ravenna: Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra

Sunday, October 25: Ravenna: Neonian Baptistery, Piazza del Popolo, Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Dante’s Tomb | Venice

Monday, October 26: Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica, Church of San Zaccaria, Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, PM at leisure, Private evening visit to Palazzo Pisani

Tuesday, October 27: Venetian Lagoon boat tour: Torcello, Mazzorbo: Venissa Wine Resort, Burano | Venice

Wednesday, October 28: Venice: Venetian Ghetto, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, PM at leisure

Thursday, October 29: Venice: Venice Biennale

Friday, October 30: Verona city tour: Juliet’s Balcony, civic squares, Arena di Verona | Milan

Saturday, October 31: Milan: Pinacoteca di Brera, Braidense Library, Parco Sempione, Duomo

Sunday, November 1: Milan: Fondazione Prada, Porta Nuova district, PM at leisure | Farewell dinner

Monday, November 2: Transfer to Milan Airport | Fly home

For questions, and to reserve your space, contact Eos Study Tours: 800-856-8951 or email tigertravel@studytours.org.