Join your fellow Alumnae and Alumni for a trip of a lifetime!!!

Professor Giuseppe Mammarella, Director Emeritus for the Stanford Program in Florence, personally inspired the itinerary listed below. Stanford invites you back to Tuscany to uncover its hidden jewels off of the beaten track. The itinerary will be based in Siena as in the past but will explore newly selected and different Tuscan locations, allowing you to taste marvelous food and Chianti wines, as well as learn about the century-old traditions of the region.  

Stanford Seminar 2024: Siena and the Jewels of Tuscany      September 15th, 2024 - September 23rd, 2024           Sunday, September 15th  3:00 p.m.     Arrival and accommodation at Villa Scacciapensieri Address and contact information: Villa Scacciapensieri Strada di Scacciapensieri, 10 53100 Siena Ph: +39 0577 41441 email: info@villascacciapensieri.it Website: http://www.villascacciapensieri.it/en/   6:30 p.m     Introduction to the Seminar and refreshments 8:00 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Scacciapensieri   Monday, September 16th     Breakfast at Villa Scacciapensieri 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.     Italian for Semi-beginners, led by Stanford University in Italy Lecturer Choose this session if you have not spoken Italian since you were a student at Stanford and if you can barely remember the basics (e.g.: greetings, asking for directions, ordering at a restaurant, etc.).   10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.     Intermediate Italian for Semi-beginners, led by Stanford University in Italy Lecturer Join this class if you have used Italian occasionally or studied it again over the years, feel confident about your speaking and listening skills, and are able to carry out with ease a basic conversation in Italian. Please note that you can self-place into one of the two or both levels (depending on your own assessment of your Italian language skills), and that you can always switch between levels.   11:30 a.m.     Board bus and depart for Siena   12:00 p.m.     Walking tour of Siena Join us for an introductory walking tour of Siena where you will (re)discover the hidden treasures of this magnificent Medieval city.   1:30 p.m.     Lunch at local restaurant in Siena   3:00 p.m.     Board bus and return to Villa Scacciapensieri   4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.     Lecture: “Italian Neorealism”* Dr. Ermelinda M. Campani, Spogli Family Director, The Breyer Center for Overseas Studies in Florence * Please watch The Bicycle Thief (1948) (Ladri di biciclette) - Directed by Vittorio De Sica, this neorealist film tells a poignant story about a man searching for his stolen bicycle, a vital element of his livelihood. If you are unable to watch the movie before your trip, please know that copies will be made available at the hotel. Readings: “Bicycle Thieves”, by John Stubbs. Ermelinda M. Campani, is the Spogli Family Director of Stanford’s Breyer Center for Overseas Studies in Florence. At the Program, she teaches one film course per quarter. She has authored three books on film and many articles.   6:00 p.m.     Board bus and depart Villa di Geggiano   6:30 p.m.     Visit of Villa di Geggiano followed by drinks The Villa di Geggiano has been home to the Bianchi Bandinelli family and its winery since 1527. Today the family continues to manage the Villa and surrounding vineyards with the passion of those who thoroughly appreciate the beauty and richness of this land. The Villa and gardens, originally built in the 14th century and completely renovated around 1780, have been declared a National Heritage site. (http://www.villadigeggiano.com)   8:30 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Scacciapensieri     Tuesday, September 17th       Breakfast at Villa Sacciapensieri 9:30 a.m.     Board bus and depart Villa Scacciapensieri for Siena 10:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.     Guided visit of Siena 12:45 a.m.     Board bus and return to Villa Scacciapensieri 1:10 p.m.     Lunch at Villa Scacciapensieri 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.     Talk on the Palio with Donatella Grilli Donatella Grilli, though not Sienese by birth, couldn't be more passionate about Siena. She is able, far more than a native, to convey to visitors the spirit of her adoptive town. After years of wanderlust, she settled in Siena several decades ago, and has been working as a guide, sharing her love of art, history, and languages, since the seventies. 5:45 p.m.     Board bus and depart for Siena 6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.     Guided visit with Donatella Grilli of one of Siena’s Contrade 7:15 p.m.     Dinner on your own 9:15 p.m.     Transfer back to the hotel   Wednesday, September 18th       Breakfast at Villa Scacciapensieri 8:30 a.m.     Board bus and depart for Florence   10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.     Guided visit of the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo with Timothy Verdon Timothy Verdon, a world-renowned Art Historian, teaches Art History at the Breyer Center for Overseas Studies in Florence, and is the Director of Florence’s Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. Free time in Florence   3:30 p.m.     Guided visit of Palazzo Capponi alle Rovinate and Introduction to the Stanford in Florence Program today We will visit to Palazzo Capponi alle Rovinate, home to the Stanford in Florence Program and one of the finest and most well-preserved examples of Renaissance architecture. Located in the Oltrarno, across the river from the Uffizi Museum, Palazzo Capponi was built between 1406-1411 and its Renaissance courtyard, the first known example of its kind, has been attributed to Filippo Brunelleschi. After a guided visit, the Florence Program Director, Dr. Ermelinda Campani, will provide an introductory session on the Stanford in Florence Program today. 4:30 p.m.     Depart for Siena 6:00 p.m.     Arrival in Siena 7:30 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Scacciapensieri Thursday, September 19th       Breakfast at Villa Scacciapensieri 8:30 a.m.     Departure by bus for Arezzo 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.     Guided visit of Arezzo Renowned for its wealth of artistic treasures, as well as its goldsmiths and antiques, Arezzo is also the birthplace of Giorgio Vasari and Petrarch. Today will be dedicated to a discovery of this gem of a town and to a study of the rich legacy left behind by artists such as Piero della Francesca, Masaccio, and the Della Robbia family. We will go to the Basilica of Saint Francis to see Piero della Francesca’s glorious fresco cycle, The Legend of the True Cross, and will explore the downtown area, stopping in the Piazza Grande where the medieval Saracen Joust is played every year. 12:45 p.m.     Lunch at local restaurant in Arezzo 2:15 p.m.     Departure by bus for Cortona 3:00p.m.- 4:30p.m.     Visit of Cortona Situated in southern Tuscany, in the Valdichiana, quite close to Arezzo, Cortona is one of the area’s most beloved, charming and characteristic hill towns. Perched high upon a peak, the city offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valley and, on a clear day, one can even see Umbria’s Lake Trasimeno. One of the most defining features of the town is that it is surrounded by impressive stone walls dating back to the Etruscan and Roman times. While it is small, Cortona has some extraordinary artistic treasures, especially those produced by two of its most important and famous native sons, Luca Signorelli and Pietro da Cortona. 4:30 p.m.     Departure by bus for Siena 5:30 p.m.     Arrival at Villa Scacciapensieri 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.     Q&A with Professor Giuseppe Mammarella, Emeritus Director, Stanford University in Italy 8:00 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Scacciapensieri Friday, September 20th       Breakfast at Villa Scacciapensieri 9:00 a.m.     Departure by bus 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.     Guided visit to Volterra Volterra is one of the oldest cities in all of Italy. As an Etruscan settlement, it reached its peak of prosperity during the 5th and 4th centuries B.C.E. when its residents constructed massive defensive walls, over 5 miles long encircling an area many times the size of the modern-day town. Volterra’s importance as a mining post led the Romans to advance and eventually topple Etruscan rule in the 3rd century B.C.E. The new leadership enhanced the town with such important additions like the ancient Roman Theatre as well as the extensive Roman Baths. After Roman rule, the city survived the Dark Ages surprisingly well, and flourished again following a rebirth of its mining activities in the Renaissance. 12:30 p.m.     Lunch at local restaurant 2:00 p.m.     Departure by bus for Bolgheri 3:00 p.m.     Visit Bolgheri and taste its famous Sassicaia wine Today, Bolgheri is home to some 40 producers and 1,300 hectares of vineyards. So successful have these grapes been, producing stunningly silky, supple and seductive red wines, that the region was officially recognized in 1994 with its own DOC status.   5:00 p.m.     Return to Siena 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.     Lecture: “Italian Politics from Berlusconi to Meloni” Dr. Roberto D’Alimonte, Professor of political science, Luiss-Guido Carli, Rome 8:15 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Scacciapensieri   Saturday, September 21th       Breakfast at Villa Scacciapensieri 9:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m.     Lecture: “New Italian Cinema”* Dr. Ermelinda M. Campani, Spogli Family Director, The Breyer Center for Overseas Studies in Florence * Please watch Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988) - Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, this nostalgic film tells the story of a filmmaker recalling his childhood in post-World War II Sicily and his friendship with the local cinema's projectionist. . If you are unable to watch the movie before your trip, please know that copies will be made available at the hotel. Readings: Law, Shirley. "Film, Memory and Nostalgia in Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso)." Australian Screen Education Online 33 (2003): 111-116. Readings: “Film, Memory and Nostalgia in Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” by Shirley Law   10:00 a.m.     Depart by bus to visit to the Chianti area for a visit to two local wineries with tasting   4:00 p.m.     Drive back to Siena   5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.     Italian for Semi-beginners, led by Stanford University Staff   6:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.     Intermediate Italian, led by Stanford University Staff 8:00 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Scacciapensieri     Sunday, September 22nd       Breakfast at Villa Scacciapensieri 8:30 a.m.     Departure by bus for Pienza   10:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.     Guided visit of Pienza Once a poor shepherds’ hamlet with only mud and wooden houses, the former Cardinal Piccolomini elected Pope Pius II, turned his home village into an artistic embodiment of the Renaissance, re-building it from scratch. Construction started around 1459 creating an artful and harmonious fifteenth-century gem, which has remained virtually unchanged over the centuries.   11:30 a.m.     Departure to Montalcino   12:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.     Visit to a local winery with lunch in Montalcino Montalcino is home to Brunello, one of Italy’s most respected red wines. The Brunello strain of the red Chianti grape is used exclusively for this wine which ages, they say, indefinitely. Charged with flavor, acidity and impact, the strong dark wine is considered among the best in Italy. Learn the differences between Brunello di Montalcino and its “fratello minore,” or little brother, Rosso di Montalcino before sitting down for a specially prepared lunch.   3:00 p.m.     Return to Villa Scacciapensieri   4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.     Italian for Semi-beginners, led by Stanford University Staff   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.     Intermediate Italian, led by Stanford University Staff   6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.     Lecture: “The European Union before and after the Pandemic and Ukraine” Dr. Roberto D’Alimonte, Professor of political science, Luiss-Guido Carli, Rome   8:00 p.m.     Cocktails and closing dinner at Villa Scacciapensieri Monday, September 23rd     Breakfast at Villa Scacciapensieri End of the Seminar and individual departures

 

	RATES
	EUR 4.330 per person for double occupancy in a twin-bedded room EUR 4.330 per person for double occupancy in a European queen size bedroom EUR 5.098 per person for single occupancy in a single room

Registration  |  Terms and Conditions

Early Summer 2023 Seminar: Venice and the Wonders of its Ancient Domains      June 18th, 2023 - June 26th, 2023 Tour Rates  |  Registration  |  Terms and Conditions     9 Days/8 nights       Sunday, June 18th  3:00 p.m.     Arrival and accommodation at Villa Michelangelo Address and contact information: Hotel Villa Michelangelo Via Sacco, 35 36057 Arcugnano Ph: +39 0444 550300 Website: https://collezione.starhotels.com/it/i-nostri-hotel/hotel-villa-michelangelo-vicenza/   6:30 p.m     Introduction to the Seminar and refreshments 8:00 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Michelangelo   Monday, June 19th       Breakfast at Villa Michelangelo 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.     Italian for Semi-beginners Fiorenza Quercioli, Lecturer Choose this session if you have not spoken Italian since you were a student at Stanford and if you can barely remember the basics (e.g.: greetings, asking for directions, ordering at a restaurant, etc.). Fiorenza Quercioli, Language instructor at Stanford’s Breyer Center for Overseas Studies in Florence, will teach both intensive language sessions that will jog your memory, enable you to brush up on your Italian and speak with more confidence.   10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.     Intermediate Italian Fiorenza Quercioli, Lecturer Join this class if you have used Italian occasionally or studied it again over the years, feel confident about your speaking and listening skills, and are able to carry out with ease a basic conversation in Italian. Please note that you can self-place into one of the two or both levels (depending on your own assessment of your Italian language skills), and that you can always switch between levels.   12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.     Lecture: “The European Union before and after the Pandemic” Dr. Roberto D’Alimonte, Professor of political science, Luiss-Guido Carli, Rome   1:00 p.m.     Lunch at Villa Michelangelo   3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.     Italian Politics: Q&A with Professor Giuseppe Mammarella, Director Emeritus, Stanford Italy 8:00 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Michelangelo Tuesday, June 20th       Breakfast at Villa Michelangelo 9:30 a.m.     Departure for Verona 10:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.     Guided visit of Verona Verona claims to have more Roman ruins than any Italian city other than Rome. Set on the lingering River Adige at the foot of the Italian Alps, Verona is the shy, heart-melting sister of Venice. Despite being hopelessly entwined with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, one soon discovers that it has much more to offer than the sad remains of a romantic tragedy. Among its riches are fabulous palaces adorned with faded frescoes, peaceful medieval piazzas with dribbling fountains, the crenellated castle of the ruthless Scaligeri family, and one of the finest Roman amphitheaters of the ancient world. 1:00p.m.     Lunch in Verona 2:30 p.m.     Enjoy an afternoon independently exploring Verona's many facets Dinner on your own 7:30 p.m.     Board bus and depart for Villa Michelangelo 8:00 p.m.     Arrival at Villa Michelangelo Wednesday, June 21st       Breakfast at Villa Michelangelo 8:30 a.m.     Departure by bus for Aquileia 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.     Guided visit of Aquileia Aquileia was dubbed the Envy of the Roman Empire. Nowadays it’s an undisputed archaeological jewel, a vast, fourth-century Christian mosaic, which, discovered only a century ago beneath the layered foundations of successive temples built upon the site, is in startlingly fresh condition. Christians were still a fledgling sect when the mosaic was laid down and there is something in its sheer size - 750 sq meters - and in its bold depiction of Jonah's ill-fated fishing expedition, of the lamb on the shoulder of the good shepherd and of the battle between the brave cock and the sly turtle that bespeaks a flagrant defiance in the face of persecution. Yet, enhanced by its remarkably well-preserved state, it also feels peculiarly modern. 12:30 p.m.     We move to nearby Palmanova 1:00 p.m.     Lunch in Palmanova 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.     Visit of Palmanova Palmanova is a fortress town built in 1593 during the Renaissance in a nine-pointed star design that fits in extremely well with Thomas More’s social philosophy of a Utopian society. The Utopian concept requires geometrical harmony in the design of public spaces, supposing that if the living space was protected from harm, and offered esthetic beauty and comfort, then its citizenry would be healthy, successful, and content. Think of it as being the Renaissance’s idea of Feng Shui. 4:00 p.m.     Departure by bus for Vicenza 5:30 p.m.     Arrival at Villa Michelangelo 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.     Italian for Semi-beginners Fiorenza Quercioli, Lecturer 7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.     Intermediate Italian Fiorenza Quercioli, Lecturer 8:00 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Michelangelo Thursday, June 22nd       Breakfast at Villa Michelangelo 8:30 a.m.     Board bus and depart for Venice 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.     We’ll disembark at St Mark’s and yet we’ll give our guided tour today a special theme. On 29 March 1516, the Venetian Republic created the first ghetto anywhere in Europe on a small island in the north-western district of Cannaregio. The residents were removed and replaced within a week by Jews already in Venice. There had been a metal foundry (ghèto) in the parish, which has traditionally been the source of the name, although the etymology is far from clear. The Jews soon built two synagogues in the ghetto: the Schola Grande Tedesca and the Schola Canton. The pragmatic Venetian Republic later exploited the economic advantages of allowing Levantine Jews to settle there – charging the residents for rent, water, the cost of the compulsory night-watchman and all services. A concept of segregation was born and it quickly expanded throughout the Western world. It’s worth learning more about where it all started.   1:00 p.m.     For lunch today, we’ll head to a Bacaro a traditional wine bar that serves Venice cicchetti, the much talked about food of the moment. Cicchetti are best described as Venetian tapas: bite-sized bits of baccalà (cod puree) smeared toast, deep-fried olives, tooth-picked pickled onions and anchovies, croquettes, etc. Wash these down with the local wine, prosecco or Aperol spritz and you have yourself a delicious Venetian lunch. Afternoon at leisure in Venice for independent cultural exploration   7:00 p.m.     Dinner in Venice lagoon side   9:00 p.m.   Return to Villa Michelangelo     Friday, June 23rd       Breakfast at Villa Michelangelo 9:00 a.m.     Departure by bus for Vicenza 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.     Guided visit of Vicenza Vicenza is wonderfully cosmopolitan and yet doubles as an open-air museum dedicated to the legacy of Palladio, a miller’s son who became the most prominent architect of the Italian High Renaissance and gave rise to the Classical style of Palladianism. At the heart of Vicenza is the Piazza dei Signori, dominated by the Basilica with its marvelous clock tower. Nearby is the renowned Teatro Olimpico, Europe’s oldest surviving indoor theatre, seemingly constructed from marble but upon closer inspection, you’ll discover masterfully painted wood and plaster. This astounding landmark, together with the Palladian Villas in the surrounding area, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. 1:00 p.m.     Lunch in Vicenza 2:00 p.m.     Depart Vicenza and enrich your understanding of Andrea Palladio who designed some of the most perfect buildings ever constructed. For centuries architects, artists, and poets have come to revere them – and gone home to imitate them. We’ll pay a visit to two of his masterpieces: Villa della Rotonda and Villa Valmarana. 4:30 p.m.     Return to Villa Michelangelo 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.     Italian for Semi-beginners Fiorenza Quercioli, Lecturer 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.     Intermediate Italian Fiorenza Quercioli, Lecturer 8:00 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Michelangelo   Saturday, June 24th     Breakfast at Villa Michelangelo 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.     Italian for Semi-beginners Fiorenza Quercioli, Lecturer   10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.     Intermediate Italian Fiorenza Quercioli, Lecturer   11:30 a.m.     Board bus and depart for Treviso   12:00 p.m.     Walking tour of Teviso Enjoy an introductory walking tour of this charming provincial capital with its picturesque canals. This historic town also offers great art and dining and is renowned for its prosecco!   1:30 p.m.     Lunch in Treviso at Due Mori   3:00 p.m.     Board bus and depart to Villa Sandi   3:30 p.m.     Visit of Villa Sandi followed by prosecco tasting A sparkling jewel protected by the hills of the Marca Trevigiana, Villa Sandi, a Palladian style masterpiece dating back to 1622, is an important landmark for wine culture in Italy, not only for the quality of its products, but also for its courses for Sommeliers, lectures on the Wine World, and wine tastings with major experts. For those who enjoy combining the love for prosecco wine with the beauty of art, Villa Sandi offers the opportunity to tour the underground cellars, the beautiful Villa, and the surrounding gardens.   5:00 p.m.     Board bus and return to Villa Michelangelo   6:00 p.m.     Arrive at the hotel   6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.     Lecture: “Classics of Italian Neorealism” Dr. Ermelinda M. Campani, Spogli Family Director, The Breyer Center for Overseas Studies in Florence Ermelinda M. Campani is the Spogli Family Director of Stanford’s Breyer Center for Overseas Studies in Florence. At the Program, she teaches one film course per quarter. She has authored three books on film and many articles. Please watch Rome Open City (Roberto Rossellini, 1945), and Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio De Sica, 1948).  Readings:    Bayman, Louis, Stephen Gundle, and Karl Schoonover. "Rome, open city: rupture and return." Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies 6.3 (2018): 295-300. Piepergerdes, Brent J. "Re-envisioning the nation: Film neorealism and the postwar Italian condition." ACME: An International Journal for Critical Geographies 6.2 (2007): 231-257.   8:30 p.m.     Dinner at Villa Michelangelo     Sunday, June 25th       Breakfast at Villa Michelangelo 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.     Lecture: “Italian Politics from Berlusconi to Draghi” Dr. Roberto D’Alimonte, Professor of political science, Luiss-Guido Carli, Rome Dr. D'Alimonte is a professor of political science and a leading expert on the Italian political system. D’Alimonte has taught at Stanford in Italy in the past and will teach a course to Stanford undergraduates in Fall 2023. He has been a faculty leader for scores of Stanford alumni over the years, teaching them about the intricacies of Italian and European politics.  12:30 p.m.     Lunch at Villa Michelangelo 2:00 p.m.     Board bus and depart Villa Michelangelo for Padua 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.     Guided visit of Padua Padua is a mixture of Oxford and Venice. It has a university founded in the 13th century by Bolognese refuseniks and, like Oxford, the city is now populated by bicycling young things indulging in archaic pranks with no apparent sense of embarrassment. There's so much history here that one rapidly become blasé about the churches and colonnaded streets. The whole place looks like a Giotto painting, hardly surprising as he lived and worked here. 5:30 p.m.     Return tu Villa Michelangelo 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.     Lecture: “Venice in the Cinema” Dr. Ermelinda M. Campani Please watch Bread and Tulips (Silvio Soldini, 2000) Readings:    https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bread-and-tulips-2001 https://iloveitalianmovies.com/pane-e-tulipani-bread-and-tulips/ If you are unable to watch the movies before your trip, please know that copies will be made available at the Villa. 7:30 p.m.     Cocktails and closing dinner at Villa Michelangelo   Monday, June 26th     Breakfast at Villa Michelangelo End of the Seminar and individual departures

 

	RATES
	EUR 5.300 per person for double occupancy in a twin-bedded room EUR 5.300 per person for double occupancy in a European queen size bedroom EUR 6.030 per person for single occupancy in a single room

Registration  |  Terms and Conditions