Program Description

The Florence program is offered by UW-Madison in partnership with the University of Michigan and Duke University. The program is housed in the Villa Corsi-Salviati in Sesto Fiorentino, located six miles from the center of Florence, approximately a forty-five minute ride by city bus. Students live, eat, and take courses at the villa, which has been extensively renovated for the program. The villa’s history, the history of its owners, and the history of Florence have been inextricably linked from the sixteenth century to the present. In addition to faculty and student accommodation, the villa contains a large lecture hall, seminar rooms, a library, computer lab, studio, study space and elaborate formal gardens. The former limonaia, where potted lemon trees were once stored over the winter, serves as the dining hall.

Living in Sesto allows students to easily explore the surrounding Tuscany countryside as well as Florence itself. A flourishing city with half a million people, Florence offers an array of enjoyable cultural opportunities throughout the year. This program is ideal for students interested in studying the humanities or social sciences that also have an interest in learning about the Italian culture through coursework in English. Limited opportunities for non-credit internship options in the city of Sesto are also available. Placements in the past have included teaching English in local schools, interning at City Hall or working with the Sesto Recreation Department.

Academics

Approximately sixty students from UW-Madison, Michigan, and Duke enroll in the Florence program during the fall. During the Spring semester, the enrollment includes Michigan and UW-Madison students. Academics focus on the culture, history, and literature of Italy throughout the centuries. Students are required to take four courses including an Italian language course, taught by professors from UW-Madison, Duke(Fall only), Michigan, and by local Florentine academics, and earn sixteen credits for the semester. All courses are taught in English with the exception of the Italian language offerings.

Course offerings change each term depending on the faculty teaching, although some courses, such as Renaissance art history and Italian language, are offered each semester. Students choose from among nine or ten courses offered each term, selecting four including Italian language, which is required of all program participants. Students also have the option of doing a non-credit internship in the city of Sesto. Past internships have included teaching English at local schools, working at City Hall and with the Sesto Recreation department.

Housing

Students, the faculty, and director all live and eat at the Villa Corsi-Salviati. Student rooms are mostly doubles and triples, with a few singles and quads. Meals during the week are included in the program fee and are taken in the former limonaia.

The villa houses volleyball and tennis courts as well as a recreation room with a TV, novels, travel guides, board games, and more. Wireless access is available at the villa. Nearby, one can find parks for walking, jogging, or cycling while they enjoy panoramic views of Sesto and Florence.

Excursions and Activities

Each term the program begins with an orientation for students designed to provide with an introduction to the academic program and schedule and life at the Villa. The orientation will include a tour of the Villa and garden, a tour of Sesto and a tour of Florence. The program will include information designed to help you begin to understand the culture and life in Italy as well as group events led by the program faculty.

Each semester the program organizes weekend trips (usually to Siena, Venice, and Rome) which are considered an integral part of the academic program. Other day trips, usually on Friday or Saturday, are optional for both faculty and students.