Culture

Discover your inner Italian.

n a country where tradition and authenticity are considered cardinal rules, Italian culture is not a thing of the past. It lives and breathes in the rhythm of everyday life for the Italian people and Florence is the ideal city in which to experience it. You will discover the depth and beauty of living life “the Italian way” through the wide-ranging cultural activities Select Study Abroad offers.

Immerse yourself in the centuries of traditional craftsmen and artisans. We take you into the shops and workspaces of local craftsmen to get a behind-the-scenes look at their creative and technical processes. The goldsmith and jewelry maker Paolo Penko shows us the techniques used by Renaissance artists like Botticelli that have stood the test of time and continue to be used today. The Oltrarno shoemaker, Francesco, opens his studio and shows us the tools of the cobbler’s trade while he hand crafts custom pairs of leather shoes in the traditional way.

Open piazzas, gardens, palaces, and castles set the stage for live theatrical musical performances (both planned and impromptu) during summers in Florence. Nearly 500

years ago, opera was born on Italian soil. In fact, the very first opera was performed in Florence’s Pitti Palace for a grand Medici wedding. You could experience the grandeur of Italian opera like the Medici did, under the stars at the Boboli Gardens of the Pitti Palace. La boheme, Aida, Madama Butterfly, and La Traviata are just a few of the operas that are offered nearly every summer night in Florence.

The aforementioned Boboli Gardens dazzle visitors with a seemingly endless maze of tree-lined paths and surprises around every corner. You may stumble upon a gigantic fountain armed by Neptune with his trident or a Renaissance grotto that once held marble sculptures by Michelangelo. These gardens, perched high on a hill on the southern side of the Arno River, are as full of history and culture as they are of perfect spots to read. There’s no better place to study and be inspired in all of Florence.

Cultural activities include Jewelry and shoe making demonstrations, opera, Arno boat tours and more. For details and more, see below.

See our 2013 Calendar to learn more about the Select activities offered.

Cultural Activities:

Jewelry Making Enter the studio of a local jeweler and see the hands-on process of crafting exquisite jewelry using techniques developed in the studio of the goldsmiths of the Renaissance.

Shoe Making Become Francesco’s apprentice as you learn about the intricate process of making leather shoes from scratch. Watch as a design take shape in his expert hands.

Music & Opera Enjoy opera the way it was imagined, beneath the Italian sky. See works by Italian composers Giuseppe Verdi and/or Giacomo Puccini, which are among the world’s most beloved today.

Boboli gardens A favorite escape from the bustling city below, these gardens are still a testament to the Medici Dukes that first used them. Beyond its sculptures and fountains, it is also a gorgeous example of Renaissance garden design.

Boat Tours of the Arno The Arno river was once full of boats. Today it is a rare site, but the Renaioli, the Florentine boatmen, still take the custom routes with interested guests. The fascinating trip down the Arno will show you the city from a whole new view. (Renaioli literally translates to “sand digger” referring to the long poles use to push against the bed of the river).

Vintage Expo Every summer enjoy some of Florence’s best antiques and vintage goods all in one place.

Porcellino market The market housed under the beautiful Loggia del Porcellino was built in the 16th century to sell luxury goods produced in Florence, including silks. Its location was convenient to Piazza della Repubblica where the Old Market once stood. Though the old market was moved in the 19th century, the Porcellino still remains an authentic example of the Renaissance markets and luxury goods.