Masters of Light

Conference Brochure (PDF)
Conference Registration Form (PDF)

Join AIA IFRAA for a study tour of the world’s most significant religious capital. Attendees will experience first hand the masterworks of Bernini and Borromini, as well as those of such contemporary masters as Renzo Piano, Richard Meier, and Paolo Portoghesi. Guided by Dr. Donald J. Bruggink, Hon. MAIA, Hon. IFRAA, this conference presents a truly unique opportunity to explore Rome with other architects, clergy, artists, and designers. 

Attendees will be invited to stay for a post-conference tour through Southern Italy & Sicily. Click here for the extended itinerary.

Conference Networking Site
IFRAA is pleased to present a networking site in conjunction with the Masters of Light Study Tour in Rome next week. Don't miss this opportunity to interact with attendees through blogs and discussion groups, see pictures from the event, post your own comments, and react to the knowledge that is being shared. Create an account, view the full event agenda, and participate at the Masters of Light networking site.

Conference Itinerary
Please note that is subject to change

Friday, October 10
Depart from the United States


Saturday, October 11
Upon arrival in Rome, you will check in at the Hotel Navona. Built in 1470, this hotel has been operated by the same family since its construction.

To get you better acquainted with the neighborhood, Dr. Bruggink will lead you on a walking tour of the hotel's immediate surroundings. On the way to the Pantheon you will visit the Church of Sant Eustachio. The tour will proceed through the famous coffee bar of Tazza d'Oro and will pass Bernini's elephant in front of S. Maria Sopra Minerva where S. Chiara and Fra Angelico are buried. After visiting the Pantheon, Dr. Bruggink will lead the tour to S. Luigi dei Francesi with its splendid Caravaggio's. Up the street form S. Luigi dei Francessi is the Agostino where Luther said mass during his visit to Rome. From there it will be on to the Piazza Navona with Bernini's famous Fountain of the Four Rivers, standing before St. Agnese with a facade by Borromini. On the way back to the hotel you will see Sapienza, the University of Rome until 1935, with Borromini's masterwork and the church of Sant Ivo.
The evening will conclude with an early dinner (included) at an outdoor restaurant near the Pantheon.


Sunday, October 12
Sunday’s itinerary will include a trip to Vatican City. You will approach St. Peter's through the Bernini colonnade, discussing the detailed iconographic program of the colonnade, fountains, obelisk, facade and dome, the porch, the great bronze doors, Bernini's equestrian statue of Constantine, the nave, the crossing with Bernini's great baldanquin, the chair of Peter (held up by the four doctors of the church), beneath the Gloria. Masses take place sequentially for all who wish to attend. Others may wish to ascend the dome, using the lift to reach the roof, and then climbing between the inner and outer shells of the done to the exterior walkway around the lantern.

After a lunch of individual choice and a bit of leisure, you will proceed to the great 5th century pilgrimage church of S. Paolo furori le Mura for the other apostle martyr of Rome. Begun in 384, this landmark suffered a disastrous fire in the 19th century but was rebuilt to replicate the original. This seems an appropriate place to consider the biblical and theological background for the metaphor of light, ala "Masters of Light."

An eight-minute ride from St. Paul's is the contemporary church of San Gregorio Barbarigo by Giuseepe Vaccaro. The evening is free to follow your fancy.


Monday, October 13
Today’s schedule will follow the "Masters of Light," Bernini and Borromini. S. Maria della Victoria with Bernini's "Ecstasy of S. Theresa" will be your first stop. You will explore the fully frescoed church S. Susanna, built in the 4th century, redone in 795, and restored again in the 16th century. Down the street is Borromini's San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, and Bernini's Sant Andrea al Quirinale. Later in the afternoon you will visit Borromini's sophisticated renovation of the ancient church of S. Giovanni in Laterano. Borromini's masterpiece is the church nearest to your hotel, Sant Ivo.

Later that evening you will enjoy a group dinner at the elegant L'Eau Vive.


Tuesday, October 14
The tours this day will focus on contemporary Roman religious structures, beginning with Paolo Portoghesi's Moschea Islamica. On the way there the tour will stop at Renzo Piano's Parco della Musica. You will also have the opportunity to tour S. Maria della Visitazioni, one of the more spectacular churches of the '70s and Sant Volto di Jesu alle Magliana Nuova, a very recent church of note. In the afternoon, while churches are closed, you will visit Meier's elegant home for the Ara Pacis Augustae.


Wednesday, October 15
By private motor coach we leave a morning of creative new Roman churches, including Santa Maria Maddelena di Pazzi designed by architects, Carlo Bevilacqua and Anna Maria Fevi.  Next you will visit a new San Clemente by D. Staderini, G. Barchiesi Ghenzi, R. D'Aquino and P. Rampini.  The morning will conclude with a visit to San Frumenzio by Eugenio Abruzzini, architect. An independent lunch will be in EUR. EUR was begun by Mussolini as an example of fascist might, the complex of "Mussolini Modern" has now been surrounded by contemporary office structures and high-end residences. After time to eat and explore EUR, you will visit the outstanding Santo Volto di Gesu by Piero Sartogo & Nathalie Grenon.  Alternately, tickets to the general papal audience can be obtained for those who request them.


Thursday, October 16
Our private motor coach will take us to Richard Meier's Jubilee Church, formally known as Dio Padre Misericordioso. Allowing enough time for everyone to thoroughly absorb the church, you will then proceed to San Bernardo da Chiaravalle by Padre Constantino Ruggeri and Luigi Leoni. If time permits, the tour will also include a visit the nearby San Francesco di Sales all Borgata Alessandrina by Lucrezio Carbonara. In the late afternoon the director, Carmela Vircillo Franklin, and Dr. R. William Franklin, will give provide a tour the American Academy, including the Michael Graves Rare Book Room and the Villa Aurelia, followed by a cocktail hour and dinner at the Academy.


Friday, October 17
The interarary for Friday will inlude an 8:00am departure for San Giovanni Rotondo and Renzo Piano's mega pilgrimage church, San Pio da Pietrelcina (1994-2004). Those flying to the States on Saturday will return by train to Rome.

Those traveling to Sicily will proceed by private deluxe motor coach to Bari and the four star Hotel Vittoria Parc. Included dinner and buffet breakfast.


Saturday, October 18
Departure home unless staying for Sicily and Southern Italy.


What's Included
Registration, AIA learning units, accommodations October 11-18 at Hotel Navona or Albergo Santa Chiara, continental breakfast, three dinners, transportation by both public transportation and private motor coach in Rome, scheduled entrance fees, and leadership by Dr. Donald J. Bruggink.


Hotel Information
There are two options for accommodations, both in the center of old Rome, space in each is limited, to be sure of obtaining room in the hotel you desire, send in your application now.

The IFRAA/AIA committee requested a hotel in the center of ancient Rome, in an ancient building, at a modest cost. The two-star Hotel Navona fits that description. The building was built in 1470, and recent preservation rules have prevented the addition of a lift. The hotel is next to St. Ivo and within two blocks in either direction are the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona.

Also available is the more elegant three-star Albergo Santa Chiara (with a lift and breakfast buffet). It is located within two blocks of the Hotel Navona and a short block from the Pantheon on the Piazza di Minerva.


Tour Program Costs
With accommodations at the Hotel Navona (two stars)
$2,490 per person, double occupancy
$450 single room supplement (limited availability)

With accommodations at the Albergo Santa Chiara (three stars)
$2,915 per person, double occupancy
$325 single room supplement (limited availability)


Airfare
Air fare from Washington-Dulles to Rome and return, United Airlines, non-stop for next October is $1,105 when booked with registration for the conference or conference plus post conference tour. (Taxes and surcharges are, as usual, subject to change before ticket issuance). Please note that this price is will be valid up untill August 7, 2008.

Dr. Donald J. Bruggink, Hon.MAIA, Hon.IFRAA. Professor Bruggink has previously conducted nineteen seminars in Rome focusing on the way art and architecture interact with faith, and an additional ten overseas seminars for IFRAA, ranging geographically from Japan to Poland.