Florence & Tuscany

Of all the regions in Italy, Tuscany is certainly the most famous and well loved by foreigners.Located in the area once populated by the Etruscans, La Toscana is a kaleidoscope of country churches, olive groves, Chianti vineyards, magnificent sun drenched villas, and medieval hill towns that have left an indelible imprint on the imagination of travelers and artist for centuries.

Extending from the Island of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea, through the rolling hills of Chianti, to the marble mountains of Carrara, the region of Tuscany presents a rich diversity of landscape and history.Throughout Tuscany ancient roads wind through hills and valleys, leading you to such diverse towns as Siena, San Gimignano, Impruneta, Volterra, Arezzo, Cortona and of course Florence.

Nestled by rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards, Florence sits along the banks of the Arno river and is considered the red roofed gem of Northern Tuscany.As the veritable birthplace of the Renaissance, the city was home to Dante, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Brunelleschi, and countless other famous artists. Today it is a thriving metropolis and inspiration to artists from all over the world.Museums such as the Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, and the Palazzo Pitti, house the greatest repository of Renaissance art in the western world.

Along with being the heart of the Renaissance, Florence is well known for its bustling leather markets, ornate palaces, fortresses, and cathedrals.Its medieval streets twist and turn in a bewildering maze and the most unpretentious doorway might lead to a fabulous cloister or hidden piazza.Scattered throughout the city are the monuments that make Florence unique: San Lorenzo, the Duomo, Santa Croce, Santo Spirito, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Maria Novella, and many more.

In addition to visual arts, Florence hosts cultural events in music, theater, dance and film.In May and June of each year, there is the famous Maggio Musicale, or May music festival, in which the most important musical artists of our day come to perform.Students appreciate the many free concerts in churches and piazzas, as well as contemporary art exhibitions held in spectacular locations such as the Forte Belvedere, the fortress overlooking Florence.

The city of Florence enriches our campus by extending our studios and classrooms into the city and the surrounding Tuscan environs.It opens the doorway for our students to truly experience the richness of Italian history and European culture.