Benvenuti a Roma! We'll begin the weekend's festivities with a wine reception at new favorite Enocteca Buccone, just off Piazza del Popol, from 4-5pm followed by a tour of where it all began -- the University of Dallas Rome Campus.

Buccone is a treasure trove of wines from around the world and also serves excellent small plates and desserts. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and speak excellent English, which makes it a perfect spot for you to buy a few bottles to take home with you!

A charter bus will depart from Piazza del Popolo at 5pm and bring us to the campus where we'll do a brief campus tour and take a group photo in the campus' amphitheater.

The campus is called "Due Santi" because it is said that Saints Peter and Paul stopped for a drink of water at the well located in the campus vineyards during their journey along the Via Appia Antica, the major southern artery of Rome . It is likely that the grounds were once home to a Roman villa that acted as a vacation home for a noble, perhaps even royal, family. Ancient ruins have been found throughout campus.

None of us would be gathering in Rome if this campus did not exist -- literally. It was the reason I chose UD, and when I left after my sophomore Rome semester, I was determined to get the RA job so I could return! The two years I worked on campus were the foundation of who I am today, and I cannot overstate how amazing the life we lived was. I will always be grateful for my time there and the opportunities for growth and adventure that it gave me.

Dress code is romantic casual -- think Dean Martin "On An Evening in Roma". It will be slightly chillier in the Castelli than in the center of Rome, so please check the weather and bring layers if you tend to get chilly. On campus, we will primarily be outside .

After the tour of campus, we'll head up the hill to Castel Gandolfo for a meal at a local restaurant, Sor Capanna, the home of my favorite dish of all time -- gnocchi speck e radicchio!

Castel Gandolfo is one of thirteen towns that comprise the Castelli Romani. These hill towns have provided a refuge from the city since ancient times and still today Romans flock to the area on hot summer weekends. Castel Gandolfo and Lago Albano, the volcanic lake that the town overlooks, were frequent stops for me as they are just a 10 minute drive from campus.

Dress code is romantic casual -- think Dean martin "On An Evening in Roma". It will be slightly chillier in the Castelli than in the center of Rome, so please check the weather and bring layers if you tend to get chilly. Dinner is inside the restaurant, but we will walk through the town to and from the bus.

We'll celebrate together starting with a cocktail reception followed by a four course dinner with personally selected wines in the gardens of the Hotel de Russie.

The gardens rise along the side of the Villa Borghese, the largest park in Rome, and are reminiscent of a Baroque Roman villa's gardens. The hotel was an oasis for me during my time in Rome and holds many dear memories. I never miss a chance to visit! I'm thrilled to be able to create new memories with those I love and cherish in a place that has been so special to me.

Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau called the gardens "heaven on earth" and for us, for one night, they will be!

Dress code is Black Tie -- long dresses/ formal jumpsuits and black suits with ties/bow ties. Tap into your inner Kara and bring out the Baroque and the bougie -- over-the-top extravagance is the vibe!

After dinner, we'll walk ourselves over to La Botticella (~20 minute walk) to continue the party until...well...the tequila wins or Gio kicks us out -- whichever happens first!

Okay...I'll be honest...I probably won't walk. I'll cab!

Dress Code: Come as you are! You can stay fancy and cosplay as the Lost Generation trapsing through Europe or do a costume change and get a bit more comfortable.

Follow the flower! (If you don't get that reference, Google it so we can stay friends!)

Experience tour guide Kara through a golf cart tour of less visited sites across the ancient city center, including the Aventine and Gianiculum Hills, Jewish Ghetto, Largo Argentina, and various fountains and churches.

Details TBD / remain fluid as we navigate booking the tour.

Dress Code: Casual and comfortable. Highly recommend closed toe shoes, preferably tennis shoes.