Weekend Details

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Thursday, May 16, 2024

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Registration Packet Pick-up

Location: Gonzaga in Florence Campus - Via Giorgio la Pira, 11/13, 50121 Firenze FI

4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Welcome Reception

(Program begins at 5:30 p.m.)

Location: Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino - Piazza Vittorio Gui, 1, 50144 Firenze FI
All guests to come together for our first official night in Florence. There will be a bar of wine, beer, and sodas, along with several hors d’ oeuvres. Attendees will pick up registration packets and are encouraged to attend the opera performance following the reception. Business attire.

Shuttle transportation to and from Santa Maria Novella Square to Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino will be available from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The precise location for shuttle pick-up in Piazza Santa Maria Novella is in front of Hotel Roma, located at Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 8, 50123 Firenze. Please arrive 10 minutes before shuttle departures:

  • Shuttles will depart Piazza Santa Maria Novella at 3:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. 
  • Shuttles will depart Teatro following the reception at 6:30 p.m.
  • Shuttles will depart Teatro following the Opera at 10:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Pre-Opera Gathering 

(Pre-registration required)

In a private foyer, guests who opted to secure a ticket in advance are invited to learn about the opera and the history behind the performance from Fabio Vacchi, the composer of the opera. Light dinner provided. Business attire.

8:00 p.m. Performance of Jeanne Dark 

(Pre-registration required)

Ticket distribution will be at the opera house prior to the performance. Business attire.

Friday, May 17, 2024

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Open House: Gonzaga in Florence Campus 

Light refreshments served all day in the Giardino dei Semplici (University of Florence Botanical Garden), adjacent to the Gonzaga in Florence campus (see maps below and note construction zone). Morning hours will feature pastries and mimosas, afternoon will feature salty snacks and Prosecco. Juice, water, and soft drinks all day.

Tours and Lectures

Please arrive 10 min. ahead of scheduled tour or lecture.
9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
  • “State of Gonzaga in Florence” address (Dean Houston) - Location: Gonzaga in Florence Campus
  • Walking Tour: Tuscan Cuisine, Traditions and Street Food  (Maria Screti) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
  • Walking Tour - The Open Air Museum (Francesco Vossilla) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
  • Walking Tour - Small Business in Florence (Tamara Evans) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
  • Classroom Lecture - St. Aloysius Gonzaga (Don Alessandro Andreini, Gonzaga in Florence Chaplain) - Location: Gonzaga in Florence Campus Classroom 201
  • Classroom Lecture - Italian Language and Culture Refresher (Barbara Lastrucci) - Gonzaga in Florence Campus Classroom 107
  • Classroom Lecture - History of Tuscan Food through local Products: Bread, Olive Oil, & Wine (Guido Gualandi) - Campus Classroom 202

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Mozilo Courtyard and Fountain Dedication: Gonzaga in Florence Campus Courtyard 

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Walking Tour - Cuisine, Traditions and Street Food (Maria Screti) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Walking Tour - The Open Air Museum (Francesco Vossilla) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
  • Walking Tour - San Lorenzo Leather Market (Tamara Evans) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
  • Classroom Lecture - History of Tuscan Food through local Products: Bread, Olive Oil, and Wine (Guido Gualandi) - Location: Gonzaga in Florence Classroom 202
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Walking Tour - The Open Air Museum (Francesco Vossilla) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
  • Walking Tour - Small Business in Florence (Tamara Evans) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
  • Walking Tour - Dante Alighieri, Florentine Exile and Father of Italy (Jason Houston) - Location: Giardino dei Semplici
  • Classroom Lecture - St. Aloysius Gonzaga (Fr. Alessandro Andreini, GIF Chaplain) - Location: Gonzaga in Florence Campus Classroom 201
  • Classroom Lecture - Italian Language and Culture Refresher (Barbara Lastrucci) - Location: Gonzaga in Florence Campus Classroom 107

Florence map

Construction zone

Saturday, May 18, 2024

6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Gonzaga in Florence 60th Anniversary Gala: Palazzo Corsini

Location: Lungarno Corsini, 10, 50123 Firenze FI
Walk the red carpet, take commemorative photos and enjoy a luxury evening of signature aperitivos and seated dinner. Cocktail hour with passed hors d’ oeuvres leading into a five-course dinner service and wine at tables. Program with Presidential remarks following dinner. Cocktail attire.

Grazie Mille to the McCarthey Family Foundation – Tom, Phil, Maureen and Sarah – being our premier sponsors of the Gala dinner.

Sunday, May 19, 2024

9:00 a.m. Mass: Church of San Giovannino

Location: San Giovannino degli Scolopi, Via de' Martelli, 9, 50123 Firenze FI
Attend a special mass organized for Gonzaga in Florence 60th Anniversary attendees in the first Jesuit church in Florence, Italy. Mass will be celebrated by Gonzaga in Florence Chaplain, Don Alessandro Andreini.