History and Culture in Tuscany
This eight-day program invites first-generation University of San Francisco students to explore Tuscany’s rich intersections of history, culture, and daily life through immersive, place-based learning. Offered in partnership between Augsburg University’s Center for Global Education and Experience (CGEE) and the Castello Sonnino International Educational Center, the program is based at the historic Castello Sonnino estate in the hilltop town of Montespertoli. Participants engage with local traditions of food, faith, and community while examining Italy’s cultural heritage in context. The itinerary includes hands-on cooking classes, a visit to the Scuola di Barbiana to study the legacy of Don Lorenzo Milani, and guided explorations of Florence and Siena, two of Tuscany’s most storied cities. Through shared meals, reflective discussion, and direct engagement with the people and landscapes of the region, students gain a deeper understanding of how history continues to shape identity and everyday life in contemporary Italy.
