FARLINGTON SIXTH FORMERS STUDY AT THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF FLORENCE

04 Dec 2013

Fourteen of Farlington’s Sixth Form enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Florence in October. During their five days, the girls studied under the umbrella of The British Institute of Florence and enjoyed walking tours of the city to become familiar with its fascinating history. Courtesy of Professor Alan Pascuzzi, the girls entered the world famous Uffizi gallery through the staff entrance to avoid the queues and hung upon his every learned word when he lectured in the Uffizi and Bargello.  He also conducted a fresco workshop, allowing the girls to create their own unique souvenirs using five-hundred-year-old techniques.

An all-round experience was provided by an Italian lesson at the Palazzo Strozzino, a tour of the Pitti Palace, and, an up-close and personal view of Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David, in the Accademia. On the last day, leaving no cobblestone untrodden, they climbed all the 463 steps to the top of Brunelleschi’s dome of Florence Cathedral to enjoy a panoramic view of the most beautiful red-roofed city on earth!

Mrs Penny Huntsman, Subject Leader, History of Art at Farlington, and Committee Member of the Schools’ Group, Association of Art Historians, said, “I have been working with the British Institute in Florence for a number of years and they have been able to tailor their lectures to the demands of the A-Level History of Art course. Such a bespoke service at a learned and historic institution is a wonderful opportunity for the girls. The trip is open to the whole Sixth Form, non-subject specialists gain a superb and culturally enriching experience giving them a taste of all that is magical about Florence.”