Exploring the Religious Traditions of Italy

There are few places in the world where historic and contemporary religious traditions intersect and flourish on so many levels as in Italy.  It is an unsurpassed venue for gaining an appreciation for the commonalities and differences of ancient religion and early Christianity, for exploring the development of medieval art, architecture and traditions in Christianity, for understanding the genius of the Renaissance and the conditions which inspired the Reformation.  In many regions of the world, ancient beliefs and practices are explored in isolated archaeological parks.  Rome  is a live museum – where archaeological treasures are found in buildings, churches and monuments still in use today.  Italy is a deeply satisfying destination – where art, history, religion and culture feed the mind, the soul and the body.  Morning visits to world-class museums are followed by savory pizza in an enchanting corner of Rome overlooking the Colosseum or the Pantheon.  On the way to the corner gelateria, one passes the Augustan Altar of Peace or crosses under the shadow of an Egyptian obelisk .

Thematic Programs

Early Christian Heritage and Ancient Rome
Rome showcases the largest and most accessible collection of early Christian meeting sites and art in the world. Several locations where Christians met in homes are now under early churches built after the time of Constantine. A chronology of Christian life can be found at several sites – making it possible to gain an appreciation for the socio-economic make up of early Christianity, the development of models of leadership, the unfolding of different forms of worship, art, and architecture.  Many sites are adjacent to excavated Roman monuments, underscoring the context of the rise of Christianity.  Amazing collections of 3rd-6th century sarcophagi illustrate the appropriation of Roman iconography and the later introduction of uniquely Christian themes.  Great basilicas built in the 4th and 5th centuries – and the mosaics that decorate their apses – underscore the Romanization of Christianity and the manner in which Christianity evangelized Rome.  Explore Etruscan as well as Eastern mystery cult sites.  Extensive Jewish inscriptions and a new Jewish museum celebrate the oldest continuous Jewish community in Europe.

Medieval Religious Traditions
Throughout Italy, one finds great historic monasteries and cathedrals richly endowed with artistic expressions of the faith that developed from the time of Benedict through the rise of the Dominicans and Franciscans.  Many of these are nestled in quaint villages where traditional agriculture, ceramics, painting, and festivals continue to flourish and harken back to a time of greater simplicity, vitality and soulfulness.  Some of the great centers are Subiaco, Montecassino, Casamari, Camaldoli, Monte Oliveto Maggiore and sites in and around Assisi – the Basilica and complex of San Francesco, the Convento di San Damiano and the Eremo delle Carceri.

The Renaissance and the Reformation
Renewed interest in ancient philosophical texts and an appreciation for the art and architecture of the Romans inspired a rebirth of ancient culture and an attempt to blend human virtues with Christian values and beliefs.  An explosion of artistic activity and urban renewal expressed the desire to create a new Christian civilization. The magnificent “David” of Michelangelo rivals anything produced in ancient Greece or Rome.  The building of St. Peter’s Basilica sought to rival the great basilica of Maxentius and Constantine in the Forum.  Throughout Italy – but particularly in Florence and Rome – the Renaissance comes to life as visitors walk under the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, stroll through the Raphael Rooms, or marvel at the technological achievements of Brunelleschi, Bramante and Michelangelo.  The Renaissance was funded by religious practices that inspired the Reformation.  Tracing the journey of Luther in Italy, it is easier to understand his theological concerns and appreciate the dilemmas faced by the papacy – in a world that was being de-centered by Copernicus and Galileo, the discovery of new continents and civilizations, the ever threatening presence of the Ottoman Empire, and the threat of a new schism

Interfaith Themes
The relationship between ancient Roman religion and Christianity is relatively easy to trace in places like Rome, Paestum, Pompeii, Sicily and other places where archaeological parks abut Christian monuments.  But, it is also possible to visit venerable Jewish heritage sites throughout Italy, places where Jews flourished, contributed significantly to the development of local culture, and were celebrated for their role in local communities.  Visit sites where the marginalization of Jews and their persecution under Christianity took place – particularly in the Jewish ghetto of Rome.  Moorish influence can be explored in Sicily and interfaith programs can be developed that include visits with local faith communities – including Protestant, Jewish and Muslim.

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