Exploring the Monumental Cemeteries of Italy

with Tui Snider, author and Symbologist

Sept 1-11, 2024

This is a brand new tour that I have dreamt of creating for a few years and now, FINALLY, it is happening! We are absolutely delighted to welcome author and symbologist, Tui Snider as our guide on this multi-city tour of some of Italy’s most prestigious and intriguing Monumental Cemeteries (Cimiteri Monumentale) and sites.

Here in Italy, we have some of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, complete with amazing figurative sculptures and over-the-top architectural monuments that just beg to be photographed and/or sketched. And so it only made sense that we should team up with best-selling author, speaker, and symbol expert, Tui Snider, a wonder woman of information and esoteric details concerning death traditions and cemeteries.

Let me tell you a bit about Tui, before I get into the tour details…

Ever since she thwarted a would-be kidnapper by running through a burial ground when she was 9 years old, Tui Snider has been fascinated by historic cemeteries and the stories they tell.

These days, she is a bestselling author and professional speaker who travels the world researching tombstone symbols, unique burial practices, and the fascinating stories behind historic graves.

Tui has written a dozen bestselling books, including Understanding Cemetery Symbols, and 6 Feet Under Texas, and she has plenty more on the way. Her books can be found in libraries worldwide, as well as numerous museums and gift shops, including the National Museum of Funeral History. Her work has also been featured by numerous media outlets including Coast to Coast AM, ABC, NBC, LifeHack, TimeOut Travel, and many more.

Tui shares her hands-on research by writing books and articles, leading tours, creating videos, sending a free newsletter, and giving presentations. While she occasionally teaches classes about cemetery symbolism at Texas Christian University, her favorite way to teach is leading in-person tours.

As your guide in Italy, Tui will accompany you to some of Italy’s impressive monumental cemeteries, as well as tombs in cathedrals, and other historic sites.

Click here to read more about Tui.

At each site we visit, Tui will give a historic overview along with a detailed explanation of the most prominent symbols. After this overview, you can explore the area yourself, during which time you can take photos, make sketches, and/or write in your journal.

At some sites, Tui may also give you “homework” in the form of specific symbols to look for, or some other task. This “homework” is completely optional. There will be no test. Tui may also share tips for exploring cemeteries, such as etiquette and taking photos of monuments, since this often presents its own set of challenges.

Tui will be available as you explore each site for any specific questions you may have. She is excited to explore Italy with kindred creative spirits

So…if you are a photographer, artist, history buff or cemetery-curious type, this just might be the tour for you! And space is limited to 12 participants max, so register quickly so as to not miss out on this one-of-a-kind adventure. Are you already saying “I’m in! Sign me up! “? Click here to register.

Here’s some details of this tour, if you haven’t already decided…

We start off in Milan on Sept 1, when we meet up at our hotel, late morning. This will be our first stop on the tour and we’ll spend 3 nights here. While in Milan we will tour the Duomo, one of the most exquisite Gothic and Baroque cathedrals in Italy and the 5th largest cathedral in the world. We’ll have the opportunity to ascend (via elevator) to the very rooftops and survey the city below, while examining the intricate architectural details of the flying buttresses and spires. Begun in 1386, it took over 500 years to complete. Down below, there is so much to see inside including the cathedral museum, the crystal crypt of St. Charles Borromeo and the pipe organ with over 15,000 pipes.

Also, close by, we will visit the church of San Bernadino alle Osso – the Church of the Bones. If you are a photographer, no doubt you have seen some of the photos of this famous chapel whose walls are completely and artfully covered with bones and skulls. Why did they do this? I’ll let Tui explain it to you when we are all together…

We will make our next day’s excursion to the Milan Cimitero Monumentale. You will be amazed at the sculptures and monuments recording and memorializing death. Thank goodness for digital cameras! You won’t have to lug 30-40 rolls of film…and believe me, you will get some incredible shots here.

From Milan we will head South to Bologna, hub of gastronomic fame and also the Certosa Cimitero Monumentale. This is great city to indulge in Italian food (Surely you have heard of Spaghetti Bolognese?) and to discover the artistry of the masters who created these beautiful cemeteries.

From Milan, we will travel further south and even further back in time. We will head to Contignano, our home-away-from-home for the next few days. While in this area we will day trip to various Etruscan sites and historical cities. We will tour an Etruscan burial chamber or two and learn a bit about their culture and how it pre-dated the Romans.

We’ll round out our of tour with a visit to Florence, one of the most beautiful and easily walkable cities in Italy, where we will visit our last monumental cemetery, the Cimitero degli Inglesi, before enjoying our farewell dinner together. We will linger over a traditional Italian meal and share some great stories and pictures among new friends.

What’s included in this tour?

• 10 nights accommodations from Sept 1-10 at various hotels and agriturismi.
• Breakfasts for 10 days
• Welcome Lunch and Farewell Dinner
• 4 dinners while in Contignano, wine included
• All ground transportation during the workshop beginning after first hotel meet up Sept 1 (hotel transfers before Sept 1 or after Sept 10 not included)
• Tour guide fees
• Entrance fees to scheduled sites

Not included:

• Airfare and travel Insurance (required)
• Meals not included above
• Additional food and/or wine you may wish to have in your rooms / courtesy bar purchases in hotels
• Gratuity for drivers and staff in Contignano  (recommendations will be given regarding this)

Click here to go to the registration page.

Click here to go to Tui’s website