Aerial view of the Duomo in Florence
Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life.
----- Anna Akhmatova
Facilities
The Florence program will take place at the Florence campus of Syracuse University's study abroad program. The center of that campus is the Villa Rossa located at 15 Piazza Girolamo Savonarola, which contains computer labs, a snack bar and a pleasant garden. It is located 15-20 minutes' walk north of the Duomo past the Piazza della SS Annunciata.
Orientation
The first on-site event in Florence is Orientation on Monday, May 26th, at 3pm at the Syracuse University Florence campus centered on the Piazza Girolamo Savonarola, near the Giardino della Gherardesca. It is about 20 minutes walk north of the Duomo via the Piazza delle SS Anunciata, and 25 minutes walk from the Arno. Students who choose to live in the Oltrarno will probably prefer taking the bus to school. Please check-in with our office when you arrive to make sure the time has not changed.
Touring
Florence is a major tourist attraction. The cradle of the renaissance, it's artists, architects, writers, and jewelers, under the direction of the Medici, provided the foundation for modern culture. Works of Botticelli, Giotto, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Brunelleschi, Cellini, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Masaccio, and Leonardo da Vinci are found in Florence. Its palaces and museums, such as the Uffizi, Bargello, and Pitti Palace, hold wonders that inspired the world, while its major shopping streets reveal that Italian design continues its spirit of innovation. The area is also filled with art and artifacts from Etruscan and Roman times.
Unlike the summer, which is quite hot, Florence's weather in May and early June is lovely. Rain is rare, but can be torrential. The average high temperature is 80, while the average low in May is in the upper 50's. It is an outdoor, walkable town.
Many Italian cities of historical and artistic value are easily reached from Florence. The Medieval Siena and the "town of the towers", San Gimignano, are short bus rides away. Pisa and Bologna are only one hour away by train. Rome, Venice, and Milan are short weekend excursions with excellent railroad connections.
Extra-Curricular Legal Activities
The Florence Institute will organize visits of legal interest to help introduce the Italian legal system. Informal talks will be held with judges, practitioners, and faculty members. Participants will be introduced to the glories of both Florentine art and Tuscan cuisine.
Enrollment
Last year 32 students were enrolled from 15 schools. 9 were USD JD candidates. Enrollment is limited.