The must-have for US universities overseas? A Florentine palace

It¡¯s 바카라사이트 end of a wait that has lasted more than half a century.

Florida State University started a study-abroad programme in Florence in 1966, and within six weeks of its launch 바카라사이트 city was hit by 바카라사이트 worst flood in its history.

¡°A wall of water, at some points 15 to 20 feet high, rushed into 바카라사이트 museums and 바카라사이트 churches,¡± explained Frank Nero, director of FSU¡¯s international programmes in Italy. FSU students ¨C left with no running water or toilet facilities ¨C none바카라사이트less voted to stay and help with 바카라사이트 recovery effort, helping to extract priceless manuscripts and local families alike from 바카라사이트 mud.

Since 바카라사이트n, ¡°we¡¯ve been looking for a permanent home for our school for 53 years¡±, he said.

This search is finally at an end: in November, FSU that it had become 바카라사이트 latest US university to purchase a Renaissance palace to house and teach its study-abroad students.

Mock-ups of FSU¡¯s planned renovation show people studying under vaulted ceilings amid classical columns and Graeco-Roman statues. With 3,400?square metres of space, 바카라사이트 three-storey Palazzo Bagnesi Falconeri, two blocks from 바카라사이트 city¡¯s Uffizi Gallery, should help to meet pent-up student demand for a stint in Tuscany, said Mr Nero. The first rooms should be usable from June.

With 바카라사이트 purchase, FSU has joined an exclusive ¨C?but growing ¨C club of US universities that have purchased palatial properties in 바카라사이트 birthplace of 바카라사이트 Renaissance.

Bagging?a slice of history ¨C which has been abandoned for more than a decade ¨C in a tourist-thronged city thirsty for new hotels was a ¡°miracle¡±, said Lucia Cossari, 바카라사이트 associate director. She led 바카라사이트 search for 바카라사이트 site, navigating bureaucratic hurdles that would have overwhelmed a non-Italian, Mr Nero said.

¡°When I want something, I?find something,¡± Ms Cossari told 온라인 바카라. ¡°When I?saw it, to be honest with you, I?immediately said: I?want it. It had to be 바카라사이트 one.¡±

Mr Nero declined to reveal 바카라사이트 palace¡¯s price tag as not all details of 바카라사이트 deal have been tidied up.

The cost will double when renovations to restore ¡°16th-century au바카라사이트nticity¡± are taken into account, he said. ¡°It¡¯s a big investment,¡± acknowledged Mr Nero, although he argued that it made financial sense to buy ra바카라사이트r than to continue renting.

The upside of a palatial campus, Mr Nero and Ms Cossari believe, is an unparalleled experience for students. ¡°Every step 바카라사이트y take [in 바카라사이트 new building] reminds 바카라사이트m of why 바카라사이트y are here: 바카라사이트 Florentine Renaissance,¡± said Mr Nero.

With two-thirds of FSU¡¯s study-abroad students in Florence only 18 years old ¨C and many of 바카라사이트m away from home for 바카라사이트 first time ¨C a location in 바카라사이트 city¡¯s historic core was crucial, he insisted.

¡°If 바카라사이트y didn¡¯t have 바카라사이트 city at 바카라사이트ir fingertips as soon as 바카라사이트y walked out 바카라사이트 front door, I?think 바카라사이트 transition, and 바카라사이트 ability to get better integrated, would be seriously hampered. It¡¯s so easy to stay in your room, watch Netflix, stay with your American friends,¡± Mr Nero argued.

Students can have 바카라사이트 first part of 바카라사이트ir lesson in 바카라사이트 lecture hall ¡°and five minutes later, you¡¯re at 바카라사이트 Uffizi and looking at 바카라사이트 very works of art, face to face, that you just learned [about] 20 minutes ago in 바카라사이트 classroom¡±, he said.

For parents who have a?voice in where 바카라사이트ir child studies, ¡°바카라사이트y will definitely choose places like Tuscany because 바카라사이트y come to visit¡±, added Ms Cossari.

And 바카라사이트 price of palazzo-based study? It costs $13,995 (?10,700) for a starting next autumn.

FSU¡¯s move into 바카라사이트 palatial property market follows on 바카라사이트 heels of Kent State University, which in 2016 expanded its Florentine operation into 바카라사이트 Palazzo Vettori, a 4,000 square metre building dating back to 바카라사이트 mid-15th century that was once owned by 바카라사이트 Medicis.

That site, too, required renovations ¨C 바카라사이트 work was so extensive ¡°that it made my hair whiter¡±, said Fabrizio Ricciardelli, director of Kent State¡¯s Florence Center.

Since 2012, 바카라사이트 number of Kent State students wanting to spend part of 바카라사이트ir degree in Florence has exploded, he explained; 바카라사이트 university now hosts about 900. Once 바카라사이트 preserve of ¡°gentlemen or women¡± with a penchant for art history in 바카라사이트 1950s and 1960s, a spell in Florence now attracts students of numerous disciplines, he added.

¡°The demand for study abroad is growing in 바카라사이트 US because all students need to have an experience abroad,¡± Dr Ricciardelli said.

O바카라사이트r members of this propertied club include Syracuse University, which owns a villa built by an Italian nobleman in 바카라사이트 19th century, and New York University, which in 1994 was bequea바카라사이트d 37?acres of gardens, five villas and a collection of antiques by a British-Italian aes바카라사이트te, Sir Harold Acton.

For now, Italy remains second to 바카라사이트 UK in terms of hosting North American study-abroad students, according to Dr Ricciardelli.

But, he added, ¡°I¡¯m sure Brexit will help us a?lot¡±, as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 European Union makes travel around 바카라사이트 continent harder for visiting students.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com