Reforming Priests and Parishes: Tuscan Dioceses in the First Century of Seminary Education

Reforming Priests and Parishes consists of case studies of diocesan seminaries in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Republic of Lucca from 1563-1660s. The major cases are Arezzo, Siena, Volterra and Lucca, and the dioceses and institutions are examined in their financial, educational, and religious milieux. Several other cases–Florence, Montepulciano, Pienza, and Pisa–are treated in less detail to provide contextual interpretative focal points. Most of the seminaries have never been treated in English-language studies before, and no comparative study exists in any language. All of the case studies contain in-depth analysis of rare primary source material.