07/23/2026
Dr. Aaron Fruchtman, faculty member from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, led a group of students on an extraordinary adventure last month in a 19-day study abroad course in Florence and Rome, Italy. This immersive program focused on Italian composers and artists from antiquity to the present, and the group toured historical sites, museums, and attended concerts.
Aaron's insights on this interdisciplinary experience:
"Our first week in Florence was packed with unforgettable experiences. Students began with a guided walking tour of Florence’s historic city center, learning how the city’s art, architecture, and civic history shaped the Renaissance. We visited the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s iconic David up close and later explored the Bargello Museum, home to Donatello’s groundbreaking bronze David and other Renaissance masterpieces. Music has been at the center of our experience as well. Students attended a Vivaldi concert at the Zeffirelli Museum, hearing Baroque music performed in an intimate historic setting. We also climbed to the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, where we attended Vespers and listened to Gregorian chant.
"Our second week focused heavily on the heart of Florence and the complex surrounding the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Students visited Palazzo Vecchio, climbed Brunelleschi’s famous dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower, explored the Baptistery and its celebrated mosaics, toured the cathedral's interior, and descended into the remains of the earlier Basilica of Santa Reparata. Our studies culminated with a visit to the Opera del Duomo Museum, where students encountered many of the original sculptures and artworks created for the cathedral complex.
From Renaissance architecture and masterpieces of visual art to opera, film, and even the intersection of music and automotive history, students continue to discover the many ways culture, creativity, and history intersect throughout Italy."
