Each of us, sooner or later, has a date with Florence, to admire the great masterpieces of Italian art but also to enjoy all that the city has in luxury industries and major houses, particularly in leatherwork. Every year, IESA arts&culture organizes trips to Florence for its international and French programs!
This year, IESA International organized three trips for three classes of students: those in the Bachelor’s in French art, those in the MBA Art & Luxury Management and those in the Master in Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism. Each group had visits specific to its specialty.
Among the major sites visited:
- Duomo Museum
- Convent of San Marco
- Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
- Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy
- Ferragamo Museum
Another fascinating visit: the Pampaloni workshop, now a restaurant on the outskirts of Florence, which has become a must-visit place to eat. The students were able to meet one of the brothers, Gianfranco Pampaloni, and learn about his inspirations for his creative silver artworks. They saw how to combine luxury trade with an innovative idea - being an artisan workshop by day and a restaurant in the evening, where the workers turn into waiters.
And of course, there was wine. A Chianti tasting evening was therefore a must, and the students went to Pozzo Divino, a wine cellar where the owner offers tourists wine tastings in the evening. They started with a tasting of Tuscan olive oil and balsamic vinegars, followed by three different wines.
This short three-and-a-half-day trip was packed with visits to museums, galleries, churches…
The students were thus able to see how Florence’s art and culture are now part of its history and how that history is used to create new and dynamic ideas. Thanks to these study trips, IESA arts&culture students have the opportunity to explore places, learn art and its history, and understand how art was commissioned, marketed and sold. They also see how art and luxury can be intertwined, creating opportunities in new and exciting ways.