News&Events

Two Florentine university students, Lapo and Edoardo, are spending the semester supporting Syracuse Florence as interns while engaging with academic life in an international setting. Both are in their final year of Political Science programs with a concentration in International Studies and saw the internship as a chance for them to immerse themselves in an…

This is a brief account of the Signature Seminar “Hands on History in Sicily” that I led from August 24 to September 2. The purpose was to introduce students to the multifaceted work of archaeologists while touring one of the most beautiful regions of Italy and encountering the rich, millenary culture of the cities we…

Words by Jacqueline Monet David (Wake Forest University)Photos and videos by Shelby Canon Our students recently took part in a first-time olive picking event hosted by the Fontenuova Cooperative, a social organization dedicated to supporting those with mental health issues and providing them with a community through agricultural and craft-based work. The cooperative, located right…

In August 2025, Daniel Kiel, who studied at Syracuse Florence in 1999, returned to the city for the first time in 25 years. “I forced my son to visit Piazza Savonarola and check out the outside of the villa, which he tolerated and I enjoyed,” Kiel shared. His visit was more than a nostalgic tour—it…

Last spring, Syracuse Florence welcomed a visitor whose presence bridged centuries of history and affection. Licia Guerrini D’Ambrosio, daughter-in-law of Giovanni Guerrini—the devoted majordomo to Countess Bona Gigliucci—returned to the Villa Rossa for the first time in over four decades. Her visit, guided by Director Sasha Perugini, was deeply emotional, a homecoming steeped in memory…

This fall, Syracuse Florence students stepped beyond the classroom to engage in a meaningful conversation exchange with elderly residents of Florence, organized by Immersive Learning Coordinator Mario Russo. It was a unique opportunity for students to practice Italian in real-life settings while building intergenerational connections. Russo explains: “Our students are learning directly from the community…

Syracuse University recently wrapped up its inaugural Multi-Center Trip, a groundbreaking initiative that brought together students from the Florence and Madrid centers for an enriching experience hosted by the Strasbourg center. This unique journey offered student ambassadors an exceptional opportunity to deepen their understanding of European dynamics, highlighting the transformative power of study abroad as…

By Jacqueline Monet David (Wake Forest University)  On September 21, the Museo Novecento hosted “Opening Loss for an Hour,” an intimate listening event by Kirsten Stromberg within artist and environmentalist Haley Mellin’s fall exhibition, “Siamo Natura” – “We are Nature,” located within Il Giardino delle Leopoldine. The work invited participants to reflect on the urgent…

Syracuse Florence recently had the privilege of participating in a deeply meaningful local initiative that blends sustainability, education, and inclusion. In partnership with ReaKiro, a company dedicated to responsible electronic and electrical waste management, we supported a transformative workshop at Associazione Casadasé, a rehabilitation center serving individuals on the autism spectrum. This innovative workshop, the…

By Mario Russo, Immersive Learning Coordinator, Syracuse Florence On September 24th, we welcomed sociolinguist and translator Vera Gheno, one of the foremost experts on the Italian language and the changes it has undergone over the past 40 years in particular, and in today’s Italian society. She spoke to our Fall semester students about the structure…