Saint Anselm College
in Tuscania, Italy
Be a changemaker in Tuscania!
Experience authentic, small-town Italy at its best in Tuscania, in the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio Region, Italy. With exceptional views of the countryside, you will study within the medieval town walls. While abroad, you can explore ancient Etruscan ruins, visit some of Italy’s most beautiful churches, and travel to the ocean only 20 minutes away!

Program Details
Where: Tuscania, Italy
Program Dates: Jan. 29 – May 18, 2024
Academic Credit: Four (4) courses, 16 credits total
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Info Session: Sept. 7, 2023 | 5:30-6:30pm | Dana 1D
Applications Open: Aug. 1, 2023
$1,000 Scholarship
Saint Anselm and API have partnered to bring more scholarship opportunities to you. Every accepted student on the Spring 2024 program will receive a minmum of $1,000 scholarship!
Speak with the study abroad office to see if you qualify for more!

Saint Anselm Students in Tuscania
What’s Included in the Program
The program cost is the same as a semester on the college’s Manchester campus and includes tuition, housing, excursions, medical travel insurance, and emergency support.
Transportation & Travel Documents
- Group airport pick-up in Rome, with transportation to Tuscania
- Group airport return in Rome
- Ground transportation on all program activities, as necessary
- Visa processing fees
Not Included:
- International airfare to and from the United States
- Passport application fees
- Luggage fees
Room & Board
- Group accommodation will be in either shared double apartments or with a local homestay
- Homestay accommodations are limited
- Bedding, linens, towels, WiFi and utilities included
- Group welcome meal
- Group farewell meal
Not Included:
- Any meals not specified or listed as “included” on the itinerary
Activities & Excursion
Below is a list of sample activities that may be offered:
- Site visit: National Archaeological Museum of Tuscania
- Walking tour: San Pietro and Santa Maria Maggiore in Tuscania
- Urban Trekking: Madonna dell’Olivo necropolis – discover history and monuments of Tuscania
- Pasta Workshop
- Pizza Workshop
- Pastry workshop
- Day trips to: Tarquinia, Orvieto, Subiaco, Assisi, Tivoli, and Caprarola
- Overnight excursions to: Rome, Naples, Florence and Siena
Please note: Cultural activities and Excursions are subject to change depending on availability, weather, and other factors.
Academics & Faculty
Faculty In-Residence:
- Katherine Bentz, Associate Professor & Department Chair, Fine Arts [bio]
Coursework:
- Courses are for Saint Anselm College credit through The Italian International Institute Lorenzo de’ Medici (LdM). Students will not need to transfer credits upon return.
- Students will complete four (4) courses, including one required Saint Anselm mission course, that provide an overview of Italy’s culture and includes guided tours and field trips.
- Prof. Bentz will teach the mission course and a second course in her expertise.
- The mission course will take participants to Rome, Florence, Siena, Pompeii, Naples, Orvieto, Assisi, Tarquinia, Caprarola, Subiaco, and Tivoli
- Students will have access to library and web resources at both Saint Anselm College and LdM.
- Students may provide documented disability paperwork and will have academic support, as required.
GETTING STARTED:
To begin your journey to Tuscania, please complete this online form to be connected with an advisor and to learn about your next steps!
Applications are now open! If you are ready to apply, visit our Global Programs Portal to submit an online application.
Being Anselmian in Tuscania
Join Saint Anselm for a semester of cultural immersion and community engagement in the small town of Tuscania, Italy. Students will have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact through meaningful service projects and mission based activities.

Experience Italy with API!

Mission Based Activities & Excursions
Students will participate in community engaged learning to serve and become immersed within their adopted community. Students will be able to bring their Anselmian values and skills beyond the classroom and into their study abroad experience.
Meaningful Service Opportunities
Below is a list of sample list of service opportunities that may be offered. These opportunities are subject to change:
- Caritas: Caritas is an international confederation of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in over 200
countries and territories worldwide. Collectively and individually their
mission is to work to build a better world, especially for the poor and
oppressed. Students will work at soup kitchens to prepare food for the
poor and will collect old clothes to be delivered at the local church. - Cultural exchange in a local elementary school: Students will assist and help an Italian teacher during English class.
- Archeological site volunteer: In Tuscania, many archeological sites and monuments are managed by volunteers. Students work
together with the staff in keeping the sites accessible and clean,
welcoming tourists, running the tourist office, giving directions and
translating documents. - Ecological Conservation: Working alongside a local nature and wildlife association, students will
take care of public green areas. Once the area that needs to be fixed has
been identified, they proceed with cleanings, gardening, planting flowers
and seedlings.
Local Catholic Churches
The following churches are located near the student residences for anyone who wishes to worship abroad:
- Our Lady of Lourdes, Via 6 February 1971
- Church of Santa Maria della Rosa, Via XII Settembre
- Cathedral of S. Giacomo, Piazza Bastianini
Being Anselmian in Tuscania
Join Saint Anselm for a semester of cultural immersion and community engagement in the small town of Tuscania, Italy. Students will have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact through meaningful service projects and mission based activities.
Mission Based Activities & Excursions
Students will participate in community engaged learning to serve and become immersed within their adopted community. Students will be able to bring their Anselmian values and skills beyond the classroom and into their study abroad experience.
Meaningful service opportunities will be announced closer to the program start date.
Local Catholic Churches
The following churches are located near the student residences for anyone who wishes to worship abroad:
- Our Lady of Lourdes, Via 6 February 1971
- Church of Santa Maria della Rosa, Via XII Settembre
- Cathedral of S. Giacomo, Piazza Bastianini

Experience Italy with API!

About Tuscania, Italy
Join Saint Anselm for a semester of cultural immersion and community engagement in the small town of Tuscania, Italy. Students will have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact through meaningful service projects and mission based activities.
Experience authentic, small-town Italy at its best!
- Located in the province of Viterbo in the Lazio Region of Italy
- Population of approximately 8,500
- Home to ancient Etruscan ruins and some of Italy’s most beautiful churches, including the Church of Saint Peter
- Exceptional opportunities for archaeological learning, such as the Tuscanese Archaeological Museum
- Located only 20 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea
- Beautiful views of the Italian countryside

ABOUT TUSCANIA
Experience authentic, small-town Italy at its best!
- Located in the province of Viterbo in the Lazio Region of Italy
- Population of approximately 8,500
- Home to ancient Etruscan ruins and some of Italy’s most beautiful churches, including the Church of Saint Peter (San Pietro)
- Exceptional opportunities for archaeological learning, such as the Tuscanese Archaeological Museum
- Only 20 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea
- Exceptional views of the beautiful Italian countryside

Faculty-In-Residence

Background
I specialize in the painting, sculpture, and architecture of Renaissance and early modern (16th-17th-century) Europe— Italy, in particular. My research centers on early modern gardens and villas; the history of art collecting; the artistic and urban history of Rome; and the ways in which early modern ideas about medicine and health influenced architecture and landscape design.
I teach a variety of courses, including introductory survey classes on the history art and the history of architecture, as well as courses on Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Art. I also offer the discussion seminars Landscape & Art: Nature and Human Culture, and Michelangelo and His World, as well as a seminar for Senior Fine Arts Majors. I lecture and teach in the college’s core Freshman program, Conversatio; I taught in Saint Anselm’s study abroad semester in Orvieto, Italy; and I team-teach a chemistry course entitled The Science of Art and Artifacts, which investigates the principles of chemistry, technical art history, and conservation studies.
Before I joined the faculty at Saint Anselm, I taught at Columbia University, Emory University, and Penn State University’s Study Abroad Program in Todi, Italy. I have won research fellowships and grants from several institutions, including Dumbarton Oaks, Columbia University and the Mellon Foundation, The Getty Research Institute, The National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Australasian Centre for Italian Studies (ACIS). From 2013-2014, I was Rush H. Kress Fellow at the Villa I Tatti, the Harvard Center for Italian Renaissance Studies in Florence, Italy. My article, “The Afterlife of the Cesi Garden: Family Identity, Politics, and Memory in Early Modern Rome,” (Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 2013) received the 2016 Essay Prize of the Landscape History Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians. In 2018, I received a College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Award from Penn State University.
Education
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, Art History
M.A., George Washington University, Art History
B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College, Classics
For Questions about Program Details, How to Apply, etc:
Contact Jane Bjerklie-Barry, Director and PDSO, Office of International Programs at [email protected]
Saint Anselm in Tuscania Info Session:
5:30 – 7:00pm ET on Thursday, September 7, 2023, in Dana 1D.
Pizza will be provided!

Why API?
API offers best-in-class programming, with student well-being a high priority.
Our mission is to create better global citizens through international experiential learning. API programs are developed to be transformative, career-boosting experiences that include:
- Community involvement through optional volunteer programs with API Gives Back
- Cultural awareness through relevant coursework and time spent in multicultural student groups
- High-touch student support throughout the program
About API
Academic Programs International (API) was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable experiential learning programs. Their extensive pre-departure preparation, coupled with strong support services on-site, facilitates academic, cultural and linguistic learning. Within the supportive environment of the API programs, API participants are encouraged to explore their host communities and become increasingly independent and confident in their own abilities. They strive to make international educational experiences accessible to as many participants as possible, and, as such, works to provide multiple program components at a low program cost.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
API is committed to providing enriching international experiences to its participants. We believe in the importance of promoting acceptance, dignity, and respect among people of all backgrounds. No matter who you are or where you come from, API will support you during your journey abroad.