LEARNING TUSCANY
THE DESTINATION
Students in UT’s Learning Tuscany program live and work in Santa Chiara, a restored convent situated in Castiglion Fiorentino. This picturesque Tuscan town is located along the main train line between Rome and Florence, adjacent to Cortona and Arezzo. Castiglion Fiorentino takes its name from its role during the Renaissance as an outpost of Florence, but the hilltop location also made the site attractive to both Etruscans and medieval warlords. The town’s Renaissance role can be seen in the 16th century loggia in the main square and in a striking octagonal church perched along the edge of the town.
This faculty-led program is based at Santa Chiara, a converted convent and school that now hosts students from across the United States. This facility is located in the heart of the old city. A brief stroll leads to the main piazza with its medieval tower, Renaissance loggia, cafés and stores. Santa Chiara has numerous classrooms, studios, and recreational areas. Students reside in dormitory rooms and take meals in the beautiful refectory. In the spacious courtyard, students read, sketch or take in glorious views toward the eastern hills that separate Tuscany from the equally interesting region of Umbria.