NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball will make its first trip overseas since 2012 on Friday, Aug. 11, when it departs New York City to begin a 12-day foreign trip in Switzerland and Italy.

The Lions will spend three nights in Switzerland and seven nights in Italy before returning to the United States on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

"We are excited to provide our student-athletes with this unique basketball and cultural experience in Switzerland and Italy next month," head coach Jim Engles said. "Our team will benefit from international competition to help prepare for the upcoming season and in doing so will also get the opportunity to explore a different part of the world."
 

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The trip will include four exhibition games on Monday, Aug. 14, Wednesday, Aug. 16, Friday, Aug. 18, and Sunday, Aug. 20. In Switzerland, the Lions will spend time exploring historic landmarks and attractions in Geneva, Lauterbrunnen, and Bern among others. Columbia will arrive in Italy on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The Lions will visit Milan, Florence, and Rome over seven days in Italy before departing home. The team's daily itinerary is listed below.
 

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Columbia Men's Basketball Foreign Tour Itinerary

August 11:

-Depart New York City for Geneva, Switzerland

August 12:

-Morning arrival in Geneva
-Guided Tour of the Olympic Museum

August 13:

-Gondola ride from Wengen to Männlichen and hike in Swiss Alps

August 14:

-Visit Bern and tour La Maison du Gruyère (Swiss cheese farm)
-Exhibition Game 1

August 15:

-Lake Como boat tour and dinner
-Travel to Milan via Lake Maggiore

August 16:

-Tour Milan
-Exhibition Game 2

August 17:

-Bus to Bologna tour
-Continue to Florence

August 18:

-Tour Florence
-Travel to Vola Park to meet Columbia alumnus Rocco Commisso and tour his facility 
-Exhibition Game 3

August 19:

-Travel to Rome
-Tour Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain

August 20:

-Guided tour of the Colosseum
-Exhibition Game 4

August 21:

-Guided tour of Holy Rome
    -Pantheon
    -Vatican Museum
    -Plaza Navona
    -St. Peter's Basilica

August 22:

-Return to New York City

Follow The Lions

Stay tuned to the Columbia men's basketball Twitter and Instagram pages, along with GoColumbiaLions.com for daily updates and content throughout the team's 2023 Foreign Tour.