School Counselor Experience Abroad
Tuscany Campus – Prato, Italy

July 14-22 2024

Hosted by:
Dr. Kevin Murphy, Prato Campus Dean

Details:

The University of New Haven is pleased to offer a great opportunity for 18 select high school counselors! We invite you to experience a week in the life of students at our satellite campus in Prato, Italy in the heart of the Tuscany region. This educational program will highlight the University of New Haven’s focus on experiential and global education while touring the university’s Tuscany Campus and meeting faculty and staff. You will have the chance to learn more about the University of New Haven while attending informational sessions at our Prato Campus. In addition, you will tour the historic sites, museums, churches and piazzas of Florence, the marvelous Tuscan countryside around Prato, and visit one of the Medici family’s renaissance villas. You will also visit neighboring historical cities such as Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca and a beautiful Tuscan vineyard, and enjoy an Opera concert performed in a Renaissance church! Activities include a cooking class, a photo contest, and an Italian language session with faculty and staff.


Included in this Exciting trip:
  • Transportation to/from Milan airport to Prato
  • Accommodation in Prato (double occupancy), breakfast included
  • Three lunches and five dinners (other meals will be on your own)
  • All transportation, except on your free day
  • All entrance fees for museums, galleries and churches except the day on your own
  • Presentations to include Admissions information session, Experiential Education, Student Success and Advising, Italian Language, Italian Cooking Class, Intercultural Competencies and the History of Study Abroad as well as a photo contest.

Not included:
  • Airfare from JKF to Milan, Italy/ Milan, Italy to JFK (Airports subject to change).
  • Gratuities
  • Any personal expenses

Itinerary

*Details of this itinerary are subject to change. Florence and Prato time is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

    • 6:45 a.m.: Plane arrives at Malpensa Milan airport – transfer by private bus to Prato.
    • 10:30 a.m. approx.: Stop at AutoGrill for bathroom break and refreshments (on own)
    • 12:30 p.m.: Approximate arrival in Prato
    • 12:45 p.m.: Check in to Hotel Giardino, and housing orientation with Silvia Risaliti
    • 1:30 p.m.: Walk together to group lunch near the Prato Campus
    • 2:30 p.m.: Visit Campus and meet staff, followed by free time
    • 7:15 p.m.: Meet Prato Campus Dean Kevin Murphy and Silvia outside Hotel Giardino to walk together to restaurant for group dinner
    • 9:00 p.m.: 'Gelato night walking tour of Prato'
    • 8:30 a.m.: Breakfast in Hotel Giardino
    • 9:30 a.m.: Meet Kevin at hotel Giardino for historical walking tour of Prato
    • 12 p.m.: Group lunch, choose from Prato Campus student menu
    • 1:15 p.m.: Afternoon orientation at Prato Campus in Aula Lippi (Lippi classroom):
      • ‘Benvenuti a Prato’ and introduction to study abroad (Kevin)
      • Overview of University of New Haven and upcoming activities (Kevin and Phil)
      • S.O.S. Italian, presented by Prato Campus Assistant Dean Valentina Seffer
    • 3:30 p.m.: Fresco Painting Workshop in Prato Campus, aula Malaparte, followed by free time
    • 6:30 p.m.: Meet outside Hotel Giardino to walk with staff to Pizza-making dinner at followed by ‘made in Prato’ wine and dessert tasting
    • Breakfast on your own at hotel
    • 9 a.m.: Meet at Porta al Serraglio station (near Hotel Giardino) for 9:24am train to Florence
    • 9:52 a.m.: Arrival in Florence and walking tour (including Piazza Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Santa Maria Novella, Ponte Vecchio)
    • 12:30 p.m.: Group lunch in Florence, choose from the student meal plan, followed by free time in Florence. Free to stay in Florence or return to Prato on your own
    • Evening: Dinner on your own
    • Breakfast on your own at hotel
    • 10 a.m.: Departure from Prato by bus (meet in Castle Square at 10:20am)
    • 12 p.m.: Arrival in Pisa, tour of monuments and free time for lunch on your own
    • 2:30 p.m.: Departure from Pisa
    • 3:30 p.m.: Arrival in Lucca, tour of the city center and free time for dinner on your own
    • 7 p.m.: Opera concert (optional)
    • 8:45 p.m.: Departure from Lucca
    • 10 p.m.: Approx. return to Prato
    • Breakfast on your own at hotel
    • 9 a.m.: Presentations at Prato Campus in Aula Lippi
    • 12 p.m.: Depart for Capezzana winery from Castle Square, private bus
    • 12:45 p.m.: Group light lunch/snack at Capezzana winery: bread, cold cuts and cheese, local olive oil, 3 wines, visit to the cellars
    • 3:30 p.m.: Departure for the Medici Villa of Poggio a Caiano and tour of the villa
    • 6 p.m.: Departure for the village of Artimino
    • 6:45 p.m.: Free time to explore and take pictures
    • 7:15 p.m.: Group dinner in countryside
    • 9:30 p.m.: Departure to Prato
    • 10:30 p.m.: Estimated arrival in Prato
    • Breakfast on your own at hotel
    • 9 a.m.: Departure for Siena
    • 10:30 a.m.: Walking tour of Siena
    • 12:30 p.m.: Fee time in Siena and lunch on your own.
    • 2:30 p.m.: Departure from Siena
    • 4 p.m.: Arrival in San Gimignano and walking tour followed by free time in San Gimignano 6 p.m. Departure from San Gimignano
    • 7:30 p.m.: Estimated arrival in Prato
    • 8 p.m.: Group dinner ‘apericena buffet’
    • Breakfast on your own in hotel
    • Free time for packing/shopping/etc.
    • 6:30 p.m.: Meet at the school for the 'Prosecco photo contest' followed by the farewell dinner.
    • Very Early Morning (Time TBC): meet in Castle Square Piazza to take bus to Milan Malpensa airport
    • Flight at 12:30 p.m.