Firenze finta: FS25

How do we tell the difference between priceless architectural masterpieces and historical fantasies? Is there a difference? And what does it mean to be a masterpiece? The UNESCO-listed historic center of Florence is packed with early Renaissance buildings, such as the 14th-century tower of the cathedral, as well as 19th-century imitations, including the façade of the cathedral itself. The Renaissance had its own “fakes”: 16th-century scholars insisted against clear evidence that the medieval baptistery was an ancient Roman temple.

On this trip, we will look at the misrepresentations of Florence and its architecture from the 15th century to the present day, from the structural fictions of Alberti and Michelangelo to the urban renewals of the late 20th and early 21st century. We will investigate what we observe and what we are told about Florence, in order to ask: How do cities live under the weight of (constructed) history?

Dates:

March 17th to 21st, 2025
with the possibility to visit Florence independently in the days before

Cost Frame: C

including reader, five nights' accommodation, transport in Florence, guided site visits (excluding individual arrival and departure)

Travelers: 12