Summer Academy in Florence

We arrived in Florence just after lunch. After a quick check-in at Hotel Pierre, we visited the Accademia, which houses David; one of the most iconic sculptures in the world. It’s amazing to think that Michelangelo was only 30 years old when he completed this masterpiece.

Students had time to then check out the leather market before meeting for dinner at a nearby restaurant. Afterward, we embarked on a walking tour of the town. We made stops at the Porcellino Fountain, and Piazza della Signoria where our students learned of the history of the Renaissance.

There was time afterward to walk about town, but the long day had taken its toll and bed was soon calling.

In the morning of our second day in Florence, students had the opportunity to visit the Galileo Museum with Mr. Budani and Ms. J, or Pisa with me and Ms. Milne.

In the afternoon, most students chose to climb the Duomo. Though the climb can feel a bit claustrophobic, the view is certainly worth it!

Other students opted for an off-the-beaten-path tour starting at Santa Croce, then learning about the 1966 flood and the little-known  “falling Duomo ball”, along with no less than two gelato stops. 

The next morning, the school toured the Uffizi. These galleries hold the artwork collected by the Medici family over centuries, and house the most important pieces of the Renaissance. We saw works by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and of course, Botticelli.

On the way out of town, we stopped at Piazzale Michelangelo to take one last look at this beautiful city.

Though difficult to leave Florence behind, it was a pleasure to arrive back home in Lanciano that night, followed by Sunday afternoon at the beach.