View our NYU in Florence photo gallery here.
Florence, the heart of the Renaissance, is an ideal place to learn about the past and future of modern Europe. At NYU in Florence, you'll experience a different culture, acquire or improve your Italian language skills, and explore art and history at its source.
New York University in Florence at La Pietra is situated on a hillside just north of the city center. Sir Harold Acton, a distinguished patron of the arts, bequeathed the estate to the University. Villa La Pietra, a 15th-Century, 60-room country home, is surrounded by several acres of historically significant gardens, rolling hills, and olive groves. There are four other villas at La Pietra: Ulivi, Natalia, Colletta, and Sassetti. Students in Florence can explore the illustrious legacy of the extraordinary villa bestowed on the University by Sir Harold Acton.
It was Sir Harold Acton's fervent wish that students visiting La Pietra, "feel at home here, so that rather than becoming a dead museum, this Villa will be appreciated by people living, breathing, and enjoying the works of art. And when they go home they will spread the news of what they have experienced here—which I hope will be the happiest and most creative experience of their lives."