Bella Vita Summer Program. A young woman s immersion program in Art History, Cooking and Italian.

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1 Bella Vita Summer Program A young woman s immersion program in Art History, Cooking and Italian.

2 Program Overview Bella Vita Summer Program is an immersion program in Italy for girls ages With a Rome campus just next to St. Peter s Basilica, every day begins with Mass in the Basilica followed by classes in Art History, Italian and Cooking. Bella Vita also features a weekend trip to Florence and day trips to Assisi, Siena, Orvieto and Castel Gandolfo. The program runs from June 28 - July 18, Bella Vita is limited to to 25 girls and the cost is $ Explore Italy Bella Vita Summer Program give girls the chance to explore Italy. Although the focus is primarily on Rome, our girls also explore the beautiful cities of Florence, Siena, Orvieto and Assisi. Art History, Italian & Cooking At Bella Vita girls study Art History, Italian and Cooking. In this way Bella Vita is both culturally enriching and lots of fun. Daily Mass Every day will begin with morning Mass in St. Peter s Basilica. Bella Vita program chaplains celebrate both the ordinary extraordinary forms of the Mass for the girls. Know the Saints Bella Vita puts an emphasis on understanding the lives of the female saints of the church. Saints like Cecilia, Agnes, Claire and Catherine are among the women that our girls learn about and venerate at Bella Vita.

3 Rome Campus The Guest House of Santa Maria alle Fornaci Catholic Instituted by the Trinitarian Fathers to accommodate pilgrims in Rome, this guest house has a beautiful baroque church just next door! Great Location We're literally a stone's throw from St. Peter's Square. Check out the map below! Our Location - A 3-minute Walk from St. Peter's Square Safe The guesthouse has a 24/7 reception desk. No-one enters or exits without speaking with the receptionist. Comfortable Each room is complete with 2 single beds, a private bathroom, A/C, WiFi and a telephone line. Contact Information Piazza di Santa Maria alle Fornaci, Rome info@santamariafornaci.com Florence Campus The 14 th Century Pensione Bencista Contact Information Via Benedetto da Maiano, , Fiesole FI, Italy info@bencista.com Comfortable Each room is complete with 2 single beds, a private bathroom, A/ C, WiFi and a telephone line. Not to mention an amazing view! Authentic Italy This 14 th century villa in the hills overlooking the city Florence will be our home for three days. Few places in the world compare in beauty. Family operated, everything from the meals to the sauna below are serviced by one and the same team: a Tuscan family. The artwork that fills Bencista's halls takes us back in time. Safe Pensione Bencista is isolated among vineyards and olive groves, a few kilometers above the busy Tuscan capital of Florence. A massive wall and wrought-iron gate protects it from the windy streets outside.

4 Bella Vita Summer Program Overview Thursday, June 28 Depart New York JFK for Rome, Italy Friday, June 29 Welcome & Orientation Arrive at Rome FCO Private bus to Guesthouse Santa Maria alle Fornaci Saturday, June 30 The Early Christians in Pagan Imperial Rome Roman Forum, Colosseum & the Mamertine Prison Sunday, July 1 The Early Christians in Pagan Imperial Rome Mass and Angelus in St. Peter s Square Catacombs of Callixtus Monday, July 2 The Early Christians in Pagan Imperial Rome Basilica of Santa Sabina, church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere Tuesday, July 3 Emperor Constantine s Christian Basilicas Basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Peter s Basilica & St. Lawrence outside the Walls Wednesday, July 4 Rome in the 5th and 6th centuries: A City Sacked and a City Renewed Santo Stefano Rotondo and the Pantheon Thursday, July 5 Refuge in Medieval Rome during the Heresy of Iconoclasm: The Origin of many Relics Santa Maria Antigua in the Forum, Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica of Santa Prassede, Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere Friday, July 6 The Italian Gothic: Precursor of the Renaissance Departure for Florence, Stop in Orvieto Duomo of Orvieto Arrive at Pensione Bencista Saturday, July 7 Art of Rome and Florence in the Late Middle Ages Baptistery & Florence Cathedral Church of Orsanmichele, Church of Santa Croce

5 Sunday, July 8 15th Century Renaissance Florence: One City, One Century, Geniuses for the Ages Masaccio, Brunelleschi, Fra Angelico, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo Museum of San Marco Uffizi Museum Accademia Museum Monday, July 9 Great Medieval Saints Departure for Rome, Stop in Siena St. Catherine, St. Bernardine & the Eucharistic Miracle of Siena Tuesday, July 10 Cooking Classes Wednesday, July 11 Papal Audience & Cooking Classes Thursday, July 12 Great Medieval Saints Day Trip to Assisi St. Francis and St. Claire Friday, July 13 The High Renaissance in 16th Century Rome: A City is Transformed by Popes Visit the Capitoline Hill and Sistine Chapel Saturday, July 14 Saints and Artists in the 16th Century Rome: Ignatius, Philip Neri and Michelangelo The Chiesa Nuova & the the Church of the Gesu' Sunday, July 15 17th Century Roman Baroque: Opulence, Suffering, Holiness & Artistic Revolution Masterpieces of Borromini & Bernini Borghese Gallery, Santa Maria della Vittoria, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane Monday, July 16 Art of Unforgettable Power Mysticism, Drama, Struggle and Faith in the Works of Caravaggio, Gaulli & Pozzo Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Church of Sant Agostino Church of Sant'Ignazio and the Chiesa del Gesu' Tuesday, July 17 Farewell, Roma! St. Peter's Dome & dinner at the Pantheon Wednesday, July 18 Group Flight departs Rome FCO for JFK

6 From the Directors Italy is beautiful. Art is beautiful. The Italian language is "musical," that is to say, beautiful. Italian food is, well, the best. And there is nothing more beautiful than a sincere prayer, springing from one's soul and directed to God. At Bella Vita Summer Program young women enjoy these wonderful things every day. The great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky once stated that "beauty will save the world." If this be true, we should make it our goal in life to discover beauty! Well, that is our goal here at Bella Vita. This unique program immerses young women in the Catholic faith, art, food and the Italian language, thereby deepening their love for beautiful things. In 2014 Joe Long completed a graduate degree in Church History at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. He then decided to dedicate himself to educating Catholics through travel. As the executive director of ProRome Tours, Joe directs a variety of summer programs and pilgrimages throughout Europe. Rachel Long has a BA in Theology from Ave Maria University and helps take care of the many logistical details of the program. Joe and Rachel were married in December of Since then they have been living in both Italy and the United States. From the Academic Dean Bella vita the beautiful life... Should not the Christian life be described as such? To cultivate spiritual and temporal beauty in our lives is to bring delight to those around us, because beauty glimpses divine harmony, and opens our eyes to what is good and true. Bella Vita Summer Program is a participation in the kaleidoscopic beauty of Italy. During the program, we will visit and learn the fascinating stories of the greatest works of sacred art and architecture, and these will become as familiar friends. Carol Long completed an MA in Renaissance Art History at Villa Schifanoia Graduate School of Fine Arts in She eventually moved to Pennsylvania to teach Art History at the University of Scranton, where she resided until She now lives with her family in Staunton, VA. We will appreciate the simplicity and genuineness of local Italian cuisines savored over leisurely meals, a hallmark of Italian family and community life. Above the city of Florence from the hill that was home to Dante s Beatrice, we will gaze upon the city below, as seen across olive groves, Renaissance villas and private gardens, even as Beatrice would have known them. It is not clichéd to state that these experiences are life-changing. To be immersed in this beauty born of centuries of Catholic culture is transformative; it awakens in us the desire and ability to enhance the day to day rhythms of our entire lives through so many forms of beauty.

7 Bella Vita Summer Programs FAQs When and how do I apply for and attend Bella Vita Summer Program? Immediately. Contact us today and we will set up a preliminary phone call with you. We ll then send you an application by airmail to fill out and return. May I speak with parents who have sent their children to a ProRome Tours summer program? Absolutely. We have a list of parent ambassadors who have offered to speak with anyone considering this opportunity. How does my daughter get there? Bella Vita Summer Program offers a chaperoned group flight to and from Rome, Italy. The flight is direct on Alitalia from JFK to FCO (Rome). What if my daughter does not fly with the group? Simply provide the arrival and departure information and Bella Vita staff will meet your daughter at arrivals in Rome, FCO and see her off at departures at Rome, FCO. Is ProRome Tours insured? Also, is there travel insurance available? Yes. We are fully insured with the International Advantage Commercial Insurance Policy through ACE American Insurance Company. And yes, travel insurance can be purchased through ProRome Tours. Can you tell me a little bit about the Bella Vita's staff s qualifications? Is Italy safe? What happens if there is a threat or an attack of any sort? Italy is safe. The American and Italian authorities are doing an excellent job of keeping Italians and their visitors safe and comfortable. Bella Vita remains in close contact with the American embassy in Rome, who issues safety and security messages for Italy on their website found here: security-and-travel-information/. In the case of an emergency, we will first ensure that all of our students are safe and able to communicate immediately with their parents. We will then follow the instructions of the local Italian and American authorities and make an informed decision on how to proceed. Each staff member is a dedicated Catholic with a Bachelor of Arts from a Catholic institution. Each staff member is CPR and AED certified. Each staff member has undergone background checks and is Virtus certified. Are classes designed for students of a certain skill-level? I am worried that my daughter might not be able to keep up. Classes are designed so that each student can learn her own level. There is no homework or exams. Will my daughter be safe at Bella Vita Summer Program? At Bella Vita Summer Program, safety is our #1 priority. With a 1:5 staff to student ratio, our policy is 24/7 adult supervision. The only exception is campus, where our students can spend time together without adult supervision.

8 Details Applications or More Information - jlong@prorome.com Phone - (800) Due Date Applications are due no later than February 23, Class Size Bella Vita is capped at 25 students. Costs The program cost is $ This includes everything except airfare. Bella Vita Summer Program is operated by ProRome, a Virginia incorporated Limited Liability Company. ProRome 316 North New St. Staunton, VA jlong@prorome.com Phone (800) Fax (800) Payment Upon acceptance into the program, three invoices will be issued, each with a different due date. A check for each can be written and mailed to ProRome, LLC no later than each payment due date. Payment Schedule $ Deposit: Due Upon Sign Up $ Installment: Due February 23, 2018 $ Installment: Due March 30, 2018 Credit Card Payment 3% surcharge will be applied. Discount A $ discount is available for those who send more than one daughter. Fundraising We provide a Fundraising Guide for those who would like to raise funds for Bella Vita Summer Program.