In search of an
experience rich in history and culture, thousands of American students come to Florence each semester.
While they study just outside of Florence,
students from the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin living at the Villa Corsi-Salviati
have a variety of options to integrate with the community of Sesto Fiorentino.
Here, the richness of the past is inseparable from the experiences of the
present.
Exactly six miles
from Florence,
the Villa Corsi-Salviati was built by the Corsi family in the early 1500s.
Though the building and its surrounding gardens have changed slightly
throughout the years, they remain an excellent example of a late-Renaissance
suburban retreat. Throughout the corridors lined with sixteenth-century
paintings and within the masterfully tended late-Renaissance garden, the villa
retains its original atmosphere of serenity and tranquility. Today, this same
atmosphere creates a unique academic setting for some 40 students each
semester.
Living in a place
of such beauty and historical significance might make one reluctant to leave
the grounds. However, the academic programs at the Villa Corsi-Salviati are
focused on cultural immersion, community dialogue and outreach. Throughout the
week, students venture beyond the walls and into the community of Sesto
Fiorentino to exchange experiences with locals, often through internships in
education, community social service, museum work and journalism.
Of the numerous
internships available, the most popular are teaching positions at local
schools. The students teach English at elementary or middle schools in Sesto on
a weekly basis. While their Italian students have the opportunity to converse
in English with a native speaker, the university students at the villa have a
unique opportunity to learn about Italian culture and language. Their daily
hour of discussion becomes a staple in the curriculum of the participating
schools.
Locals in Sesto
can improve their English skills through a well-established conversation
partner program with students at Villa Corsi-Salviati. Students from the villa
are paired with community members for one-hour sessions, 30 minutes focused on
learning English and 30 minutes on Italian. Similarly, ties with Florence’s British
Institute enable students to participate in one-hour group sessions with
Italians who want to learn the English language. Though the aim of most of
these programs is language acquisition, these experiences create ties that
extend far beyond the walls of the Villa and straight into the heart of Italy.
