SUMMER 2026

ALUMNI TRAVEL PROGRAM

FLORENCE, ITALY

A journey through art, food, and fashion

Experience Florence through its history, art, and culture on an exclusive 7-day journey, staying on the grounds of NYU Florence, a group of villas including Villa La Pietra, a Renaissance villa nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany. Wander amidst the classic formal gardens, an inspiration to artists writers, musicians, poets, actors, students, and scholars. And imagine doing so in the company of a small cohort of fellow NYU alumni. This intimate, 12-person group will dive into the richness of Florence, embracing a student’s-eye view of this stunning city. From the hilltop oasis which Lord Acton’s family donated to NYU, you will explore nearby Florence, rightly known as the “cradle of the Renaissance” for its museums, churches, domed cathedral, and more. You will visit a working farm, a winery, a cooking school, a textile conservation workshop, markets and more.

Led by Faculty Director Jenny McPhee, novelist, translator of works by major Italian authors, recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, and above all someone who knows and has a genuine love of Italy which she will share with you.

2026 Dates

Arrive: Sunday, July 12

Depart: Sunday, July 19

Location

NYU Villa La Pietra

Florence, Italy

Program fee

$5500

$500 deposit due at time of registration

$5000 due at time of course enrollment

20% discount for NYU alumni applied at time of course enrollment

"It is the most beautiful college campus I have ever seen and every staff member was beyond friendly and helpful!" -- Madeleine 2024

Villa La Pietra

The group will stay on campus at Villa La Pietra, a Renaissance villa in the hills outside Florence, in Tuscany. It was formerly the home of Arthur Acton and later of his son Harold Acton, who at his death in 1994 bequeathed it to New York University. You will be the only visitors staying on the estate and will have the rare privilege of seeing Lord Acton’s private collection of paintings and sculptures in the very rooms in which he and his extended family lived.

Guests will enjoy an authentic student experience by staying in single dorm rooms with private bathrooms in La Pietra's historic estate.

Villa La Pietra

Program Highlights

Subject to change

Enjoy a private tour of the museum in Villa La Pietra and the gardens.
Take a guided walking tour of Florence.
Visit the famous Uffizi Galleries with a special visit to the Corridoio Varsariano.
Visit the iconic Duomo and museum.
Take a day-trip to San Gimignano.
Partake in a wine tasting at the famous Antinori winery.
Indulge in the world of fashion with a visit to one of the last remaining silk manufacturing workshops.
Learn how to cook local Tuscan cuisine.

Day-by-Day Program Overview

Subject to change

Sunday, July 12

Arrive in Florence either via the local airport or the train and proceed through to the taxi stand for your drive up to the Villa La Pietra. Your taxi will drop you off and you will be welcomed at the Villa by our security team to check you into your room. The rest of the day is yours until we gather together as a group in the early evening for a light welcome dinner in the gardens.

Monday, July 13

Relive your college days by enjoy a hearty breakfast each morning in the dorms cafeteria. Get acquainted with your home for the week with a tour of Villa La Pietra--a living museum--and the beautiful gardens surrounding the villa. Spend lunch with NYU local art historians followed by a guided visit to the famous Uffizi Galleries with a special tour of the Corridoio Vasariano. End the evening with an aperitivo on a rooftop near the Palazzo Guadagni.

Tuesday, July 14

After breakfast, you will meet your local Florence expert to take a walking tour of Florence to acquaint yourself with the city. After a leisurely lunch on your own to recover from quite a bit of walking, we meet the guide once again for a visit to the iconic Duomo followed by a visit to the recently opened Duomo Museum. At that point, we will have worked up quite an appetite and get to tase the culinary delights of the hearty Tuscan cuisine at a local Trattoria.

Wednesday, July 15

Travel to San Gimignano, known as the Town of Five Towers is famous for it's medieval architecture and boasts the best gelato in Italy! You will have several hours to explore the fantastic art galleries and local shops. We will then gather together for a lunch lecture to learn about the Slow Food movement, which found its starting point in Florence. After lunch, we will take a drive out to the historic 400-acre Cantina Antinori winery, known for its stunning architecture and wonderful chianti. After a tour of the winery, sit down for a tasting of the local varietals.

Thursday, July 16

Today, we will indulge in the world of Italian fashion with a visit to Hortense Mitchell Acton's Couture and Textile lab where you can see how NYU students are engaging in the restoration of art and clothing from the Acton family. After a lunch and lecture from one of the most renowned organizers of fashion shows in the world, we will travel to the last remaining silk manufacturing workshops, still using machinery from the 1700s to hand-weave silk products. After a gelato stop, we board the bus for a trip to an Agriculturismo -- a local olive oil farm run by NYU alumni and their family. Here, you will learn about the small farms and process, enjoy an olive oil and honey tasting before we head to dinner at a lovely Tuscan restaurant nestled into the hills.

Friday, July 17

We will spend this morning vising local artisans -- everything from a local leather producer to perfumes to mosaics. Here you will have a chance to shop and get to know the community of local artisans in Florence still creating products by hand. After a morning of shopping, you will have the rest of the afternoon on your own to explore Florence. We will meet back in the evening for a Tuscan cooking class!

Saturday, July 18

After breakfast, you are welcome to spend the day at your own pace, delving into Florence’s hidden gems, taking a short day-trip to Siena, or staying at the villa to relax in its gardens. Everyone will come together for a final farewell dinner in La Pietra's Limonaia.

Sunday, July 19

We say our goodbyes as you depart for your various destinations--home or continuing your Italian adventure elsewhere.

What's Included

Small Group: 12 guests
8 days at NYU Florence
Meals: All breakfasts, most lunches and dinners
Transportation to and from site visits
Enrichment by expert speakers
Engaging excursions that showcase local culture & heritage

"A very special week filled with a very well developed program. I think one of the highlights is that our small group seemed to bond rather quickly, and almost everyone seemed so ready to listen what was being shared by everyone else & engage rather fully given the short time of getting to know each other."

-- Phyllis 2025

"This trip was excellent and exceeded my expectation. Villa La Pietra was such a special place; the staff from NYU are so professional, knowledgeable and dedicated. There were so many memorable activities with the new friends I made during the trip."

-- John 2024

Frequently Asked questions

who is eligible to participate?

The program is open to NYU Alumni, their families, and friends. Participants must be over the age of 18 to participate.

how do I register for the course?

Submit your registration. Use this link to submit your registration for the program. This requires a $500 non-refundable deposit. Space is limited, so if you are interested, make sure you register as soon as possible!
Enrollment in the course: Starting January 12, you will be able to formally enroll in the course. The SPS Global team will send you the final enrollment link. This formally registers you for the non-credit course and requires the final payment of $5,000. Alumni receive a 20% discount applied at checkout, for a total of $4,000.
- Enrollment for summer programs begins January 12, 2026
- Participants must formally enroll by March 1, 2026.

what does the program fee include?

The program fee includes:

Accommodations at Villa La Pietra
All breakfasts, most lunches, and several dinners
All tickets to guided tours, museums, site visits, and excursions listed on the itinerary
Local transportation around Florence

The program fee does not include:

Flights to/from Florence
Airport transfers in Florence
Activities outside of the designated itinerary
Meals outside of the designated itinerary
Transportation outside of the designated itinerary

what is the payment schedule? Is there a deposit?

A $500 deposit is required upon registration.
Final payment for the program is required at time of course enrollment and due by March 1, 2026.

what is the cancellation and refund policy?

A non-refundable $500 deposit is required to register for the course.

If, due to extenuating circumstances, you are no longer able to participate after you have made the final payment for the course, you will receive a full refund for the program with the exception of the $500 deposit.

What activity level should i expect?

The program involves a heavy amount of walking both inside and outside (20,000+ steps/day), often on uneven surfaces. The program also involves a lot of standing. It is also quite hot in the summer in Florence, so comfortable, breathable shoes and clothing are recommended.

We recommend that if you have any mobility concerns, you contact us immediately. NYU makes the best attempt for reasonable accommodations.

Questions regarding the program?

Email the SPS Global Office at sps.global@nyu.edu.

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