Reliving the Renaissance
A turning point in Europe's history is the Renaissance which started in Italy. A new search for greatness, the good life and true learning. This Pascal Experience will make you relive the excitement of those famous Renaissance men: in Florence, studying great texts and having deep conversations.
During Reliving the Renaissance, you will read The Book of the Courtier written by Baldassar Castiglione. You will learn why this Italian can rightly be seen as the standard-bearer of the Renaissance, and why many are still inspired by this book. In conversation with other participants, you will consider power and ethics, virtue and vice, the meaning of sprezzatura, of etiquette, of literature.
Besides Castiglione, we will read some passages from Machiavelli's Il Principe and see to what extent this Florentine author belongs to the Renaissance and how he also breaks with it.
Led by Dr. Jordi Wiersma, you will travel to the city of beauty, where you will study these books at beautiful locations. You will alternate this with good conversations while enjoying Italian wine and Florentine food. You will return home with new insights about politics, human life and the good.