Wintersession in Florence, Italy, 2026 brought together ten participants that represented the diverse student body of WCSU. Six were undergraduate students, one graduate student, a recent alumna, a student from SCSU and a senior citizen who enjoys taking classes at WCSU after retiring from their job.

The program, entitled “Florence: The Cradle of the Renaissance,” offered the participants a broad range of cultural and artistic experiences in one of the most fascinating European cities. In conjunction with reading, audio and video materials prepared by the instructor, each of the fourteen days of the program was filled with outstanding cultural experiences, such as museum and cultural site visits, guided tours of cities, such as Monteriggioni, Siena, San Gimignano, and Venice, in addition to multiple sites in Florence.

The familiarization with the history and social structure of medieval and renaissance Florence started at the Palazzo Vecchio with a tour guided by an actor / educator who, dressed in renaissance attire, introduced himself as “Maestro Giorgio Vasari,” i.e. a renowned artist and art historian, author of the Life of the Artists, (1550), a brilliant compendium of art history of medieval and renaissance Florence. It was an excellent introduction to the art and history of Florence that confirmed and reinforced the materials that the students were assigned to explore prior to their first visit.

Names of artists, such as Donatello, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Giotto, da Vinci, Raphael and Botticelli, among others, were now embedded in the students’ minds as they explored their works in situ. Among the unforgettable experiences that reinforced the didactic materials offered by the instructor was climbing the four hundred sixty-three steps to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome (Cupola del Brunelleschi) in the Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore), an activity that culminates in the most magnificent view of the city and its environment. The exploration of the artistic treasure of the Duomo continued in its fascinating museum and the crypt under the Duomo.

A visit to the Convent and Basilica of Santa Maria Novella allowed the students to explore the one-of-a-kind fresco Trinity by Masaccio, considered by many art historians the most important work of the early Renaissance. We were very fortunate to be able to climb the scaffold and watch the work of the restoration of this important fresco up close. It was a rare and gratifying experience.

A night visit to Palazzo Medici-Riccardi to see the Magi Chapel with its brilliant Cavalcade of the Magi fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli representing the members of the Medici family allowed students to imagine the life of the Medici family at the time when great artists, such as Michelangelo and Botticelli, were parts of that household. The familiarization with the works of these artists continued at the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Pitti.

Getting up close with Michelangelo’s David at Museo della Accademia was an emotional experience for many, as was the visit to the Ospedale degli Innocenti, the Hospital of the Innocents, an architectural, historic and social landmark of Florence established in 1419. It functioned as an orphanage until the mid-twentieth century and served orphaned and abandoned children.

Visits to Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and Venice allowed students to broaden their knowledge and acquire new and fascinating experiences learning about the structure of city states during the Middle Ages, their rivalries, struggles, triumphs and losses, as well as about the devastating consequences of the Black Death.

The outstanding artistic experiences included visits to the Uffizi Gallery and Museums at the Pitti Palace, the vast premises of the Basilica of Santa Croce with its fascinating frescoes and the tombs of important figures of Italian history and art, as well as its famous leather workshops where students enjoyed observing and interacting with contemporary artisans.

An initiation into the world of opera was one of the many firsts that the students experienced during this study program. Introduced to the world of opera by their instructor, the participants enjoyed an excellently performed operatic thriller Tosca by Giacomo Puccini at the majestic Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre.

A visit to Italy cannot be complete without experiencing firsthand Italian culinary arts. Three experiences stood out: a guided tour through the streets of Florence with visits to the best pastry, sandwich and gelato shops; a detailed exploration of the Central Market of Florence with an entertaining, friendly and highly qualified chef; an excellent cooking class at an estate outside of Florence where we learned the secrets of preparing the best bruschetta and tiramisu, had a professional demonstration of making many different types of pasta, and a hands on experience of making pasta, as well as preparing a delicious pork roast with roasted vegetables and potatoes. An experience and recipes to take home like no other.

The program was a success from all points of view. There were no incidents or problems. The weather was challenging and some participants felt sick for a couple of days, however they all managed it well, without doctor’s visits, or complaints.