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Highlights

This trip traces the life and legacy of Saint Augustine of Hippo, exploring the transformation of the late Roman world through the lens of early Christianity, theology, and the politics of truth and justice. From Carthage, where Augustine wrestled with ambition and faith, to Rome and Milan, where he encountered the teachings of Ambrose and ultimately converted, and finally to Pavia, where his remains rest, students will walk in the footsteps of one of Christianity’s greatest thinkers. The itinerary includes visits to early Christian basilicas, Roman ruins, and monastic retreats, offering a deep immersion into the historical and cultural context that shaped Augustine’s Confessions and The City of God. Alongside historical study, students will reflect on themes of inner transformation and moral and civic leadership, engaging with Augustine’s questions about justice, human frailty, and the role of the church in a fallen world.

Through discussions, site visits, adventure, and structured reflections, this course will encourage students to consider how Augustine’s journey speaks to contemporary issues of peace, reconciliation, and political life today. By examining the tensions between power and humility, empire and faith, personal struggle and divine grace, students will connect the past to modern questions of social justice and spiritual identity. From the historic churches of Milan to the tranquil waters of Lake Como, where they will contemplate Augustine’s reflections on beauty and truth, students will engage with the enduring relevance of his thought. Whether exploring the early Christian martyrs of Rome, the philosophical debates of late antiquity, or Augustine’s own struggles with doubt and conviction, this journey will challenge participants to reflect on their own paths toward wisdom, integrity, and reconciliation in a fractured world.

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