02/21/2027
Excursion: Rome and Subiaco – The Cradle and Rise of Printing in Italy

Dear Members,

We cordially invite you to join us on a special journey: from 21 to 25 February 2027, our excursion will take us to Rome and to nearby Subiaco – the birthplace of Italian printing. For it was not Rome but the Benedictine monastery of Santa Scolastica in Subiaco that was the cradle of printing in Italy. It was there, around 1464, that the German printers Konrad Sweynheym and Arnold Pannartz, who came from the circle of the Mainz printing tradition of Gutenberg, Fust and Schöffer, set up the first printing press on Italian soil. Only two years later did they move on to Rome in search of a larger market. This close and often overlooked connection between Mainz, Subiaco and Rome makes our excursion a journey of discovery – from the origins of printing to the vibrant present of Rome's printing and design scene.

Your programme

Highlights of the programme include:

• a day trip to Subiaco with a visit to the monastery of Santa Scolastica, where in 1465 the first books printed with movable type on Italian soil were produced
• the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana – normally open to researchers only
• the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma
• some of Rome's most beautiful Baroque libraries: the Biblioteca Angelica, one of the oldest public libraries in Europe, which still holds an original copy of Cicero's De oratore – the first book printed in Subiaco; the Biblioteca Casanatense in the former Dominican monastery of Santa Maria sopra Minerva; and the magnificent Borromini Hall of the Biblioteca Vallicelliana
• the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica
• visits to contemporary Roman print shops and workshops

The detailed programme with exact dates and times will be announced shortly.

Travel dates and arrival

The excursion takes place from Sunday, 21 February, to Thursday, 25 February 2027. The first and last days are reserved for arrival and departure, which participants arrange individually. Direct flights to Rome are available from Frankfurt, among other airports.

Accommodation

Participants arrange their own accommodation. The Hotel Forum in Rome's historic centre is a conveniently located option. Our office will be happy to help with any questions about accommodation.

Your tour leader

The excursion will be led by Dr. Carina A.E. Weißmann, Executive Director of the International Gutenberg Society. She lived and worked in Rome for six years, speaks fluent Italian, and will interpret on site as well as share background knowledge and practical tips.

Costs

In addition to accommodation (see above), the costs for the coach, admission fees in Subiaco and Rome, and expert guidance by the tour leader are expected to be €100–150 per person, depending on the final number of participants.

Registration

The excursion is limited to a maximum of 20 participants. Please register by the end of October 2026 by email to: info(at)gutenberg-gesellschaft.de. Registration is binding.

By 1 November 2026, we will confirm whether the excursion will take place or must be cancelled due to insufficient registrations. We therefore kindly ask you not to book flights or accommodation until you have received this confirmation.

We would be delighted to welcome you on this journey through the history and present of the art of printing – with a generous helping of Italian dolce vita!

With best regards,

Carina Weißmann
Managing Director, Internationale Gutenberg-Gesellschaft in Mainz