SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara men's basketball team embarks on an 11-day exhibition tour of Italy Saturday.

The team will be based in Rome, Florence and Milan, but travel to surrounding areas, including Pisa, Lake Como and Lugano, Switzerland.

In addition to playing three games against teams from Italy's B League, the Broncos will visit a number of historic sites including the Colosseum, Forum and Trevi Fountain in Rome; St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City; Accademia Gallery and Uffizi Gallery in Florence; and the Leaning Tower in Pisa.

After arriving Sunday and getting acclimated to the nine-hour time difference from the West Coast, the team will hold the first of its two practices in Italy and tour Vatican City Monday.

Games are set for Thursday, Aug. 25 (in Piombino), Saturday, Aug. 27 (in Milan), and Sunday, Aug. 28 (in Brescia).

This will be first-year head coach Herb Sendek's third time leading a team on a summer exhibition tour. Per NCAA rules, basketball programs may schedule a summer trip once every four years.

The Broncos had 10 practice days leading up to the tour.

Coverage of the trip will be provided on both the Santa Clara Athletics and basketball team social media accounts:

Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Men's Basketball: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Snapchat (SantaClaraHoops)

All times are local (9 hours ahead of West Coast)