A transformative journey from Rome to Trieste, Italy. Experience the changing landscapes that inspired great thinkers while we delve into the works of Michelangelo, James Joyce, and Sigmund Freud.

Embark on a transformative intellectual journey through Italy, where genius is ignited and our understanding of ourselves take shape. Join us for an unparalleled continuing education experience, traversing Italy's captivating and historically rich landscapes from the Eternal City of Rome to the vibrant seaside of Trieste. This isn't simply a trip; it's an immersive exploration of the very places that profoundly influenced the monumental artworks of Michelangelo, the literary genius of James Joyce, and the foundational theories of Sigmund Freud.

Uncover the Roots of Brilliance: Image, Text & Psyche

Our odyssey begins in Rome, where Michelangelo's colossal masterpieces, including the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the iconic sculpture of Moses, took form. Walk in his footsteps, experiencing firsthand the awe-inspiring spaces that challenged and inspired him. This fascination with Italy's visual wonders deeply propelled Freud's development of psychoanalysis and informed his sense of identity. We'll discover how Freud's engagement with Michelangelo's Moses helped him develop a deeper understanding of his own Jewish heritage, a theme he would expand on in his final work, Moses and Monotheism. Throughout our journey, we will explore the profound ambivalence between the image and the text – an ambivalence that inherently shapes psychoanalysis, the 'talking cure', which famously begins with a study of the visual phenomena of dreams.

Delve into Literary Depths Across Changing Landscapes

Plotting our course on different trips that Freud himself took in Italy, we venture into the breathtaking beauty of Tuscany. In Siena, we will marvel at medieval grandeur and artistic heritage. We’ll explore the charming hilltop towns of Cortona and Radda in Chianti where the iconic landscapes themselves have inspired generations of artists and thinkers, offering a serene backdrop for contemplation.

Continuing our intellectual odyssey, we delve into the academic heart of Italy in Bologna, home to Europe's oldest university and a city steeped in centuries of scholarly pursuits. Our journey then leads us to Ravenna, the city where the great Renaissance writer Dante, creator of a visual language of the Catholic afterlife, is buried. Here, we'll encounter his profound work, a testament to the power of text as an impotence of vivid internal images. In Padova, we’ll explore a city renowned for its historic university, where Galileo once taught, and for Giotto's revolutionary frescoes, connecting you to the very genesis of modern thought and art.

The Unfolding Psyche: From Early Research to Modernity

Finally, our path culminates in the Adriatic city of Trieste, a crossroads of cultures and ideas. It was here that Freud studied as a researcher when he was just 19, laying formative groundwork for his future theories. This vibrant port city also became the muse for James Joyce, where he began his secular homage to Homer’s Odyssey and Dante’s Divine Comedy with Ulysses. We'll explore how Joyce’s work pushes the limits of language away from traditional narrative towards new possibilities of meaning-making, possibilities he would further express in the non-representational wordplay of Finnegan’s Wake—a work in which Lacan famously found a language that could define the 'end of analysis'.

Earn Continuing Education Credits & Unlock New Dimensions

Designed for discerning professionals, this program offers valuable Continuing Education credits as you uncover the fascinating connections between physical environments and intellectual brilliance. Through insightful discussions, guided explorations, and contextual learning across diverse Italian regions, you will gain a profound understanding of human creativity, its cultural impact on the individual, and the evolution of thought that continues to influence our understanding of the human condition today.

Don't just visit Italy – experience its intellectual heart and unlock new dimensions of understanding. Spaces are limited for this exclusive and enriching adventure.

Through daily seminars and discussions, social dreaming, and live readings and enactments with the acclaimed curators of Freud’s Reading Room (a partnership between Freud Museum London & Mind Body Passport), paired with scenic excursions, cultural immersion, and much more!

5% of proceeds will be donated to The Freud Museum London.

Lecturers

Itinerary Highlights

Rome: The Eternal City & Artistic Revelation

• Stand in the presence of genius at the Vatican Museums with a private tour featuring the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel—Michelangelo’s ceiling will leave you breathless.

• Contemplate the sublime Pietà in St. Peter’s Basilica, and ascend the dome for panoramic views over Rome’s ancient skyline.

• Discover the psychological depths of Michelangelo’s Moses, tucked away in the peaceful church of St. Peter in Chains—a site Freud referenced in his reflections on identity and inner conflict.

• Taste the soul of Rome with an optional gourmet food tour: authentic carbonara, pizza bianca, and artisanal gelato await.

Tuscan Serenity & Freudian Echoes

• Step into the world of Etruscan mystery in Cortona, whose ancient artifacts once graced Freud’s own collection.

• Unwind in Radda in Chianti, a postcard-perfect village of vineyards, cypress trees, and medieval architecture—your base for rest and reflection.

• Walk in Freud’s dreaming footsteps in Siena, where he once wandered the quiet Porta Romana and later dreamt of it—a potent symbol of exile, return, and ancestral memory.

• Savor a luxurious wine & olive oil experience at a family-run Brunello winery: an unforgettable immersion into Tuscany’s culinary and agricultural heritage.

Emilia-Romagna: Intellectual & Culinary Delights

• Feast on Bologna’s fabled cuisine in an immersive walking food tour—tortellini, tagliatelle, and more in Italy’s gastronomic capital.

• Trace Freud’s admiration for Renaissance art, visiting Saint Cecilia and the Pinacoteca where he encountered Raphael’s transcendent works.

• Enter the world of traditional balsamic vinegar at a historic Acetaia with a guided tasting of rare aged reserves, paired with Parmigiano and Lambrusco.

• Wander among shimmering Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna, where eight UNESCO sites tell stories of light, faith, and cosmic order—and pay homage at the Tomb of Dante.

Padova & Trieste: Pioneering Minds & Cosmopolitan Shores

• Stand inside Freud’s dream at Padova’s Scrovegni Chapel, Giotto’s revolutionary masterpiece that emerged repeatedly in Freud’s dream life and later writings.

• Sip history at Caffè Pedrocchi, one of Italy’s great literary cafés, before heading toward the Adriatic coast.

• Explore Trieste’s layered identity, where Latin, Slavic, and Germanic influences meet beside the sea.

• Retrace Freud’s early scientific journey, studying eels at the Zoological Institute—a young medical student in a port city that would haunt his imagination.

• Wander through café culture with James Joyce, stopping at Caffè Tommaseo, degli Specchi, and San Marco—salons where revolutionary thoughts brewed.

• Reflect and celebrate with a closing seminar and farewell dinner overlooking the Adriatic, completing a journey of deep artistic, psychological, and cultural resonance.

  This journey offers more than beautiful places—it invites a deep engagement with self, story, and culture. See the full itinerary below for daily details.

Costs

Secure your place on this transformative journey and save!

Investment & Early Bird Savings

Early bird discount Save $500, $6180 (Regular price $6680) register by July 8

Set up a 6-month payment plan ($1000 deposit and six monthly payments of $899).
Register by July 8

Custom Payment Plans: Need a more tailored payment solution? Please email us at info@mindbodypassport.com for inquiries on custom payment plans.

For a single room, there is a supplement cost of $1270. For those desiring a private room,
If there are no double-shared rooms available, you will need to incur the single room supplement.

Once we receive payment, we will send you confirmation and all preliminary information via e-mail.

Our Commitment & Community Perks

At Mind Body Passport, community comes first, and we believe in giving back:

• Supporting a Legacy: 5% of all proceeds from this program will be proudly donated to The Freud Museum London, helping to preserve a vital piece of psychological history.

• Referral Bonus: Refer a friend or colleague who registers, and we'll gift you a $200 discount on your next Mind Body Passport adventure!

• Group Incentive: Organize a group of 5 participants for this extraordinary course, and your spot is FREE!

Once we receive your payment, you'll receive an email confirmation along with all preliminary information to prepare for your journey.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Leslee Brown for a free one-to-one consultation or e-mail us at info@mindbodypassport.com

Mind Body Passport is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. Mind Body Passport maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Mind Body Passport is also recognized as a CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider - certificates are awarded upon successful course completion. CE credits are calculated based on lecture and seminar time. Outside activities, tours, and cultural programs are not included.

Health & Safety

The safety and well-being of Mind Body Passport Inc. participants and team are of paramount importance to us. For admission to our courses, we require all participants to be fully vaccinated with CDC-approved Covid-19 vaccines.

Refunds

Travel medical insurance is mandatory for participation. We recommend insurance that includes illness, travel delays, changes, and cancelation. Your insurance must cover personal injury, medical treatment, repatriation, and evacuation expenses.

We recommend insurance that provides “cancel for any reason” coverage, including personal property and trip cancelation. Trip cancelation insurance may be the only means of receiving reimbursement for flights and other non-refundable expenses in the event that the trip is canceled, postponed, or interrupted for any reason by you or us.

Once fees are paid, absent Mind Body Passport’s approval in its sole discretion, no refunds will be issued. MBP reserves the right to cancel any trip or any portion thereof for any reason it deems appropriate including, but not limited to, low enrollment numbers, political instability, and/or health concerns.