Overview
Beacon in Tuscany presents a select cohort of Beacon students with an unforgettable opportunity to study in the cradle of the Renaissance. Each semester’s coursework is organized around a central theme, with instruction provided by both Beacon faculty and local educators and experts. Students live and study in the heart of this medieval city, with regular trips to various historic and contemporary sites of interest.
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Global education in beautiful Tuscany, Italy
Dates: September 12 – December 8, 2023
Destination: Prato, Italy
To apply: contact Dr. Shelly Chandler
Join us for a chance in a lifetime to further your global education!
Setting
Prato is the third largest city in Central Italy, after Rome and Florence. The Etruscans had a settlement there, the Romans used it for commerce, and the current town dates to the 10th century. Prato was a notable center for the textile industry from the middle ages through the industrial revolution. Historic Prato contains quite a few sites of interest:
- The imposing 13th century Castello dell’Imperatore, built for Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Sicily and King of Jerusalem
- A handful of palazzi, built for wealthy families beginning in the 13th century
- Many significant churches, including the cathedral, which was started in the 10th century and added to over hundreds of years
- Several museums, including one dedicated to the textile industry
Prato is just a 25 minute train ride from Florence, with ready connections to the entire Italian rail network.
Living Arrangements
Students are housed at the Hotel Giardino, a 19th-century hotel seated at the foot of Monte Retaia, facing the central Piazza del Duomo (cathedral square).
The included meal plan allows access to 25 restaurants in Prato.
Academics
Fall Semester 2023 – Focus: Psychology
September 12 through December 8, 20232
- Overview of Mental Health History, Current Trends, and Services in Italy
- The Italian Family: A Sociocultural Perspective
- Psychology and Religion: Catholicism in Italy
- Psychology of Visual Arts
- Travels in Tuscany
Extra-Curricular Activities
Students are invited to exercise their curiosity by exploring the shops and sights of Prato and by interacting with our local staff. As part of the Travel in Tuscany course, organized, guided weekday excursions facilitate a more immersive experience. During previous semesters, these included:
- Villa Rucellai, a 16c country estate still occupied by descendants of the original family and hosting a working olive oil factory
- Pistoia, a small medieval walled city known for its ancient ironworks and recognized as the 2017 Cultural Capital of Italy
- Medici villas throughout Tuscany
- Florence (several trips)
- Viareggio, a seaside town
Fiesole, the town that figures in E.M. Forster’s, A Room with a View, site of an Etruscan settlement and training center for ancient Roman prognosticators- Venice
- Rome
- Lucca, another medieval walled city on the site of an ancient Etruscan settlement and hosting architecturally significant Roman ruins
- Pisa
- Siena
During students time off, they may travel to other parts of Italy and Europe.
