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.