ItaliaNoles – Issue 2

“Fall” in Love

Photo by Matteo Vistocco

Cover image Š Photographer dusit dughera Š Styling cristina ferro

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«You will begin to

wonder that

human daring ever achieved anything so

Florida state university NEWSLETTER Issue 02 | Fall 2018

magnificenT» - John Ruskin MORNINGs In FLORENCE

Fsu international programs-florence Director Frank Nero Associate director Lucia Cossari

ip-florence-info@fsu.edu Editors-in-chief Patrick Merle Maria Michela Mattei Gaia Pianigiani Amy Gulick

Staff writers

fsu florence fall 2018 students Derek Cassetty Emma Foister Morgan Gelberg Ryley Lewis Grace Munson Cameron Pfister Hunter Redinger Kelly Ostruszka A special thankS GOES to prof. charles panarella , prof. Costanza Menchi and their students FOR the section « my favorite italian word» A VERY SPECIAl THANKS TO THE STUDENTS OF THE FASHION AND media class Bethany Baratelli Jacquelyn Edelenbos Felipe Martinez Sarah Morris Grace Munson Kelly Ostruszka Hunter Parviainen Anabella Raposa And to Dusit Dughera, photographer Cristina Ferro, stylist

Table of

CONTENTS

Cover Story Gala in gaiole : for a museum of cetamura del chianti and the origins of chianti A conversation with PAGe 17 prof. NANCY de grummond

Feature Stories Message from the director, frank nero

PAGe 6

Highlights from fall 2018 photogallery

PAGe 7

Students perspectives

PAGe 10

FASHION IN FLORENCE. THE FLOWERING OF CREATIVITY AND THE BIRTH OF MADE IN ITALY By maria michela mattei

PAGe 13

FASHION EDITORIAL «NATIVE EMPOWERMENT»

PAGe 20

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ISSUE 2 FALL 2018

Table of

CONTENTS

ISSUE 2 FALL 2018

HISTORY is MADE. FSU FLORENCE wins SOCCER TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME

BY CAMERON PFISTER PAGe 29 A day at lavacchio

By Hunter Redinger

PAGe 31

«sHARing IS TO Caring» FSU AND ITS CHARITY PrOJECTS

BY HUNTER REDINGER

PAGe 34

IN THE GALAXY OF GUCCI AND IN THE MIND OF ALESSANDRO MICHELE

BY GRACE MUNSON

PAGe 37

Florentine jobs: restoring history By kelly ostruszka

PAGe 41

My favorite italian word is…

PAGe 43

Florence people Street style experience

PAGe 44

This issue has only been possible thanks to the precious help, efforts, laughs and collaborations of all the FSU Florence Fall students, guest speakers, faculty & staff members.

Thank you so much. all photos taken by the FSU Students (or royalty free)

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Dear Students, Alumni, Faculty, and Friends: As another semester and year come to a close, the Florida State University Florence Program has prospered. Fall 2018 has seen the expansion of our curriculum and the doubling of our student body, and we’re proud to report that this coming spring we will sustain our growth and institute even more interesting courses, including International Food and Culture, Business Management, and the History of the Italian Mafia. This fall we also saw the launch of our Fashion Merchandising and Communication Program, entitled “Made in Italy,” which promises to become a flagship study abroad yearround, major-track program. This, the second edition of our program newsletter, is the fruit of the hard work put forth by our “Made in Italy” students. Seminoles have continued to spearhead FSU’s integration into the Florentine community.

Following upon on our past volunteering and fund-raising efforts with the local women’s shelter, senior citizen center, asylum-seekers’ hostel, and the RFK Human Rights Institute of Italy, FSU, with both the Vice Mayor of Florence and the U.S. Vice Consul General of Florence in attendance, hosted an aperitivo in collaboration with Golden View Restaurant that raised over €2,200 for the Meyer Childrens’ Hospital of Florence In October, we welcomed distinguished alumnus, Russell Kohl, CEO of Freud America and member of the FSU Foundation, who gave an inspirational talk to our student body. Just as exciting, on December 7th, in collaboration and partnership with the Township of Gaiole in Chianti, the U.S. Consul General of Florence, and SACI College of Art and Design, FSU hosted the gala launch of our archaeological museum. The museum will house important Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval artefacts discovered by over four decades of Florida State University students and faculty at our Cetamura del Chianti archaeological dig. The museum will be an invaluable source of educational and community-building opportunities for many future generations of Noles abroad.

Besides all of the bountiful group meals we enjoyed together, our students explored the hills of Renaissance Urbino, the glories of Ancient Rome and the Vatican Museum, the untouched medieval village of Siena and the shrine of San Galgano, which is the location of the origin of the legend of the sword in the stone. We went olive picking and wine tasting at an organic vineyard, and we lounged in the historic thermal baths at Querciaiola, In addition to the hard work our students demonstrated in the classroom and in the community, for the first time in the fourteen-year history of the Fiorenza International School Soccer Cup, FSU took home the big trophy, defeating Syracuse and Gonzaga in the final rounds of the playoffs for first place and study abroad bragging rights in Florence.

We welcomed several new faculty members to our family: Pia Ferracin (Math), Rachel Baron (Psychology), Amy Gulick (English), Emanuele Pace (Astronomy), Maria Michela Mattei (Fashion and Communication), and Gaia Pianigiani (Journalism). Two new staff members, Charles Panarella and Vanessa Kummer, have been wonderful additions to our hardworking staff.

As we look ahead to 2019, bigger and better things are on the horizon…but that will have to wait until the next newsletter, so please stay tuned.

Wishing Seminoles all over the world a wonderful holiday season, and a very Happy New Year.

Yours, F. Nero 6

Highlights from fall 2018:

Activities, fieldtrips, workshops

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Calling all FSU Florence Alumni!

We are building an alumni network and online platform. a forum to share our newsletter, FSU Florence updates, post photos and share stories, recipes, and recommendations.

If you’d like to be a part of this network, please send your contact info to

Ip-Florence-info@fsu.edu

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Students perspectives WRITTEN BY THE STUDENTS OF THE COURSE ” FRESHMAN COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC” SUPERVISED BY PROF. AMY GULICK

Unforgettable Experiences: FSU Florence Field Trips

By Morgan Gelberg

Among the countless unforgettable experiences at Florida State University Florence this semester, the organized trips offered by the program stand out as exceptional, in particular our weekend visiting Arezzo, Urbino, and San Leo. The itinerary planned by FSU Florence was amazing from the first moment to the last.. In Arezzo, we split into groups, and those of us enrolled in Dr. de Grummond’s Art and Archaeology of Ancient Italy spent the day viewing those artifacts we’d studied in class. The opportunity to travel to these ancient places exceeded all my expectation, being so much more real and fascinating than merely watching a a slideshow!

The second part of the trip was dedicated to the walled city of Urbino, where our fabulous and knowledgeable guides led us on a tour of the city.

Though stunning on the outside, Palazzo Ducale impressed me more with its internal art collection-my favorite part of the tour, I admit. Afterwards, my friends and I used our free time explore Urbino on our own. Here we travelled up a hill, through narrow twisted streets, and ended up at a park at the top of the city, from which we could overlook all of Urbino.

We spent hours there, simply admiring the view and reflecting on how lucky we were to there in that moment.

Photo by Angelos Michalopoulos

The night ended with all of the students meeting up with the faculty members for an evening of dancing, laughing, and bonding with one another. The opportunity to get to know the faculty one-on-one is what I will miss the most from this program.

The last part of our amazing weekend was spent at San Leo. The entire group travelled to the very top of the City were a fortress still held its place. Even though the fortress was unbelievable, the best part of that day was the group dinner that the University provided. We attend them every excursion but this one was different. The restaurant has what was and will probably remain as the best food I have eaten in Italy. At these dinners, we all sit together and enjoy having such amazing company. The faculty members and students all sit together and we get to bond over the italian cuisine and wine.

Florida State has given me all of these memories, but they have also given me my second family. Last year, I would never believed you if you said I would be living abroad in Florence, Italy for the year, but here I am today.

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Students perspectives The FSU Florence Family

by Emma Foister Starting your first year of college abroad is an exciting time, but it’s one that can also cause worry and anxiety, about everything from academic workload to new social and living situations and language barriers. Despite these challenges, this experience also brings a sense of individuality and autonomy.

During the Florida State Florence Program orientation, Director Nero established this program’s family-like atmosphere from the beginning, telling us to “never leave a Nole behind” and to help each other to face the difficult and sometimes overwhelming aspects of going abroad. We support each other, and we stick together.

Being apart of this family comes with many other benefits, including opportunities to go on various day and weekend trips with the school and family dinners that bring us all together over amazing food.

One of the best meals we had was Thanksgiving lunch. Since Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Italy, we did not get a break from school to go home and spend the holiday with our families. To compensate our sorrows, the program provided a four-course meal at a palace with real American Thanksgiving food to make us feel at home.

I felt content. I will be forever grateful for this experience at FSU Florence Aside from the breathtaking venue and delicious food, this meal was special because of all the love in the grand and beautiful dining hall. Love and friendship circulated at every table along with the large platters of scrumptious food. On this particular day we were all happy, and thankful to be right there at that moment.

Walking out of that majestic room, I felt content. I will be forever grateful for this experience at FSU Florence

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Students perspectives No Ordinary Commute: Walking to Class in Florence

By Derek Cassetty One might think that taking the same route to school everyday would get boring, but here in Florence I’ve found that this simply isn’t true. On my daily walk to class I pass a UNESCO heritage site, an ancient Roman piazza and about 13 gelaterias, so I guess you could say I enjoy this vibrant mix of medieval and modern that is life in Florence. No matter how many times I see the Brunelleschi’s architectural masterpiece, the dome of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, or the slowly spinning carousel in Piazza della Repubblica—the original site of the Roman forum— I always stop a moment to enjoy the stunning view.

Not every college student gets to see monuments like these on their walk to class, and I feel thankful that I’m able to.

Historic Florentine sites, however, are just a part of what makes my walk so special. It’s also the people! Walking by the same shops everyday, you grow familiar with the faces of the shopkeepers. Giving them a wave or a quick “ciao!” in the morning is enough to bring a smile to both our faces (and it also won’t hurt the service the next time you stop in). Interacting with locals in what little Italian language I’ve learned so far has made me feel more connected to my neighborhood and to the city I’m stayingin: Florence has become less a foreign city and more a temporary home.

Now that my semester abroad is nearing its end, I remind myself to appreciate all that I have here while I still can. The start to my college experience has been a unique one thanks to FSU’s International Programs, and I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything. I will never forget the places I’ve seen or the people I’ve met out here, and I’m beyond glad I chose FSU Florence.

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EDITORIAL FASHION IN FLORENCE .

The flowering of creativity and the birth of Made in Italy

by Maria Michela Mattei

“And when I thought of Florence, it was like a miracle city embalmed and like a corolla, because it was called the city of lilies and its cathedral, St. Mary of the Flowers.”

Marcel Proust I have always been a big fan of etymology, maybe because as a native Italian speaker I grew up with this idea of “nomen omen” a Latin expression that underlines the strong bond between names, identities and meanings.

The city of Florence is no exception.

13 by Paweł Czerwiński Photo

According to the most popular theories, the name “Florence” comes from Latin florens, florentius, from the verb floreo, meaning "to flower", in the sense of a blossom.

Therefore, it is not a coincidence that the Iris is the public symbol of the city—an image you can find in the middle of the emblem of the Comune di Firenze, as well as in many other symbolic representations of Tuscany itself.

What is interesting about this idea of Florence being “The City of Blossoms” is that, historically, the city has been a place that created the modern conditions for the development of emotions, experiences, creativity, and ultimately a unique lifestyle. Just think about the glorious Renaissance era during which Florence, under the guidance of the Medici Family, became the place-to-be for artists, poets, philosophers, as well as scientists, explorers and merchants--a place where human nature became the “measure of all things.” Florence is a place in where you can make your dreams, talent, and skills “bloom.

Italiian fashion show, 1950s Sala Bianca, Palazzo Pitti. Cortesy of archivio Foto Locchi

Something that few Americans know about Florence is that it was also the birthplace of the authentic Italian Fashion System as we know it today. The concept of “Made in Italy” was invented in Florence in the 1950s, even before the success of ready-to-wear and the industrialization of the fashion business in Milan.

Today, the phrase “Made in Italy” is synonymous with Italian culture and products as a brand, a brand that was born in Florence in February of 1951 thanks to the vision and commitment of one man--Giovanni Battista Giorgini.

Giorgini, who came from a noble Tuscan family, worked as a buyer for the American market during the 30s and the 40s. He became an important consultant and advisor for American department stores, helping them choose the best quality Italian items and goods.

A portrait of Mr. Giovanni Battista Giorgini. Courtesy of archivio Foto Locchi

Giorgini invented a career, brand and export manager, which is still with us, but he was also extremely skilled in terms of public relations and event planning. His biggest intuition as a manager and creative director was to learn from the success of Paris and its fashion shows, and apply that model to Italy. Giorgini organized a private event at his residence in Palazzo Torrigiani which he ingeniously labeled “Made in Italy.” He planned it to take place immediately after the end of Paris Fashion Week in order to keep the presence, interest, and the attention of foreign buyers – particularly American ones- focused on Europe before their return to the States. That event was the launch of “Made in Italy.”

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Invitation card for the very first Italian fashion show In the cover: Raphael, Dama con Liocorno.

Moodboard project made by the students of the course «Fashion and Media» part of the Fashion & Communication Program.

Giorgini’s second great idea – this time in terms of what today we would call visual storytelling- was to create a strong and fascinating link between Italian fashion designers and the Renaissance masters. The idea was to create a big fashion event to legitimate Italian Fashion products and designers within the context of high culture, the tradition of master craftsmanship, and the exquisite sense of style associated with the great Florentine masters of the past, inventing a sort of new Rinascimento. It was a rebirth, a re-blossoming of Italian creativity, ingenuity, and style after the tragedy of the Second World War. This bond was further underlined by Giorgini with the choice of using a reproduction of the famous Raphael painting “Dama con Liocorno” on the cover of the official invitation card. (see above left) This first Italian fashion show was a huge success, so much so that just one year later, Giorgini had to find a bigger and even more important location. In 1952, Giorgini held the show at the Sala Bianca in The Pitti Palace, one of the most stunning places in town with shining chandeliers and a lavish interior. Once again, feedback from both buyers and the press was extremely positive, particularly among Americans, who appreciated the blending of quality craftsmanship, comfort, and the affordable prices of Italian fashion in comparison to French haute couture.

Italian style, and the concept of Made in Italy, is still a mix of tangible and intangible elements (the notion of bello e ben fatto) where aesthetics are in harmony with technique, at once creating clothes that are comfortable and exclusive, memorable and updated, fashionable and eternal.

Today, Florence is still considered “the place to be” for students interested in developing a career in fashion and communication, immersed in the city’s heritage where the headquarters of Gucci and Ferragamo dot the cityscape and where world renowned fashion events like Pitti Immagine occur on a yearly basis.

Starting this fall, FSU has launched its fashion merchandising and communication major-track program. The program’s mission is to reinforce the bond between fashion, Florence, and America, providing a unique educational experience abroad with concrete career prospects—all of this within the context of the city known as the birthplace of modern Italian fashion, where the vision of Made in Italy has become a reality.

Find out more about the program on http://www.florence.fsu.edu 15

TEXTILEs in Italy summer program

FSU- IP FLORENCE

MAY 9TH _ JUNE 20TH APPLY NOW! FEW PLACES STILL AVAILABLE CONTACT: Email: ip-info@fsu.edu Phone: 850.644.3272

COVER STORY

gala in gaiole: For a Museum of the origins of chianti conversation WITH PROF. NANCY DE GRUMMOND

BY Cameron Pfister

As the wind strengthens, blowing down brown and red leaves from hilltop trees, Florida State University students work diligently to weed and sweep mossy stone walls of Cetamura. Cetamura, located in the green rolling hills of Chianti, has the ancient remnants of Etruscan, Romans, and Medieval settlers.

The mostly undergrad students are under the guidance of archaeologist and FSU professor Dr. Nancy de Grummond, who has been excavating the Tuscany site with the university since the early 1980s.

“I became interested in the Etruscans because I first had a love of Italy, and the Etruscans were Italy’s first great civilization.” dr. Nancy de grummond

THE NEW MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE ORIGINS OF CHIANTI

De Grummond took the helm of the excavation in 1983, and though it was intended to be only a temporary position, the rewarding and intriguing nature of the work saw her retain her position for more than three decades. “I was only supposed to be here for three years,” she continued,

“but the work was so satisfying that I stayed.”

Prof, Nancy de Grummond with her students in Gaiole in Chianti

When asked which artifact stood out the most personally, de Grummond decided on the bronze head of a feline that was attached to an Etruscan bucket, due to its visual appeal and state of high preservation. “The head looks like a lion,” the archaeologist explained, “but since it is spotted, it is hard for us to tell exactly what type of cat it is supposed to be.”

Among all the thrills Cetamura has offered throughout the years, the most exhilarating find to the director was a votive, or offering, pit with the givings still within it. De Grummond explained that the 2006 discovery completely altered her view on the ancient village. “This let us know that a large sanctuary stood here. We had been working the site for years and had no idea until we found that.”

Despite the treasures Cetamura has revealed, the site is not without its negative aspects. “The worst experience,” recalled Dr. de Grummond, “would have to be having really bad weather. We have been very lucky as to not have had any terrible accidents. Only poor conditions that have caused us to waste time and equipment that could have been spent digging.”

The wooded, hilltop site has produced a plethora of objects that allow scholars and Florida State excavators alike a clearer glimpse into the daily reality of Italy in antiquity. These range from golden statuettes that the Etruscans may have utilizes as idols to ceramic pitchers that retained the water for the citizens of the Roman Empire.

Prof. Nancy de Grummond with her findings at the opening Gala in Gaiole

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THE NEW MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE ORIGINS OF CHIANTI

Eventually, a permanent gallery displaying the artifacts uncovered by Dr. de Grummond and her students will be unveiled in the small town of Gaiole, near Cetamura. The meaning of the Gaiole museum to Dr. de Grummond cannot be overstated. After almost four decades of hard excavation, the director of the Cetamura dig is overjoyed to finally have the artifacts she and other Florida State alumni have discovered on permanent display.

On December 7, 2018, students of the Florida State Florence Program, including those with firsthand experience at Cetamura nel Chianti, accompanied Dr. de Grummond to a celebratory dinner to commemorate almost forty years of dedication on the part of Florida State University and its staff.

Stay tuned for more information about the opening of the Museum.

“The museum means a great deal to me,” explained Dr. de Grummond, “It will be like the completing of a cycle.

Countless hours of hard work will be shown to the public.”

Prof. Nancy de Grummond with the FSU Florence staff members during the event «Gala in Gaiole»

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FASHION EDITORIAL Native empowerment/renaissance of the spirit Photographer: dusit dughera @dusitdugheraphoto Styling : cristina ferro @cristina_ferro Clothes: STEFANIA MASINI VINTAGE JEWELS : MONNALUNA Models: the fashion and media students ( grace, felipe, kelly, hunter, jackie, bethany, sarah, anabella)

Vintage vibes & fierce attitude to underline the concepts: learn from the past, live the present and conquer the future!

Go Noles!

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Feature STORy History is Made:

Florida State University wins Firenze Soccer tournament for the first time

BY Cameron Pfister As the last penalty kick was powered into the lower left hand corner of the goal, leaving the Gonzaga University goalkeeper on the floor empty-handed, the group of students wearing garnet and gold exploded into chaotic and contagious cheers.

In the cold, drizzling night, for the very first time in its twenty-seven semester history, the Firenze International School Soccer Cup was taken home by Florida State University.

The five-a-side soccer competition between the different American study-abroad programs in Florence is divided into a first a regular season followed by an intense knock out tournament. The allfreshmen FSU team managed to weather tough competition, like the teams of Syracuse and Gonzaga, without suffering a single loss, another first for the FSU program. The undefeated record did not go the players’ heads as they took on a new team each week, sometimes putting as many as fifteen goals passed the opposition in one game.

Facing Gonzaga for the second time in the final seemed daunting to the players, especially after battling Syracuse less than an hour earlier. The closest result was a five to five draw with longtime rivals Gonzaga, to whom Florida State had only found defeat in all previous seasons. But with the motivation and tactical guidance of program director and coach Frank Nero, the team shaped up, stuck to the tried and tested game plan, and held the opposing team to two points each with until the final whistle. By the end of regular time, both teams were exhausted but knew that focus now, more than any other instance throughout the season, was a necessity. Both Florida State and Gonzaga regrouped with their coaches at the central circle of the field. The two goalkeepers shook hands and walked towards the goalposts.

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Then the nail biting penalty shootout began.

The wire fences surrounding the small soccer field were lined with Florida State Florence students, all dressed in their brightest spirit wear. Despite the cold, they recited the Florida State University war chant from the sidelines for seemingly the entire duration of the semifinal and final games. With every goal scored, the Florida State crowd would explode into a deafening roar. Yet with the scores tied after regulation time, even they held their breath as the penalty shootout began.

Though the students and faculty of FSU desperately wanted the finally claim the trophy for themselves, they played their hearts out for a far more important cause as well. Former Florida State University Florence student Molly Johnson tragically lost her mother in the yoga studio shooting at FSU in early November. In his pre-match pep talk, Mr. Nero, a close personal friend of Ms. Johnson, told his students and players to win the tournament not just for the pride, but in dedication to Molly and her late mother.

The skill of the cool headed Seminoles, combined with some unlucky shots from Gonzaga, resulted in a decisive shootout win. The final penalty was slotted into the bottom left corner of the goal by FSU defender, Cameron Pfister. The ball barely slipped passed the Gonzaga goalkeeper’s fingertips.

When the 2019 season of the Firenze International School Soccer Cup kicks off, Florida State is hoping to use the experience they gained this semester to defend the trophy. Despite the healthy rivalries between the schools, during the award ceremony at the Lion’s Fountain Irish Pub, the main sponsor of the tournament, Mr. Nero maintained that the event “was about the unity between American schools in Florence”.

Team captain Ryan DeBiase, who was also the team’s highest goalscorer, stood up, took to the microphone and said,

”this was for Molly!”

And they did it.

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Feature STORY A day at lavacchio:

Fsu students learn the art of tuscan olive oil production

By Hunter Redinger

On a bright temperate day in October, a worker gently caressed the branches of the small ripening luscious trees with a green plastic comb. An olive fell into his palm – he gently crushed and smelled the aroma of the olive. Gazing across both valleys scanning the olive trees, a grin swept across his face – the Tuscan olive harvest had begun.

This green, Tuscan hill where breezes ruffle the leaves of the olive trees and rotate the propellers of an old windmill is home to the Agriturismo Fattoria Lavacchio. A vineyard with a bed and breakfast and a restaurant, Fattoria Lavacchio is mostly an award-winning olive oil producer.

“Our olive oil is so good we pay our workers in oil,” said Faye Loterro, one of the family members owning the estate.

This completely organic farm—making no use of GMOs or pesticides – is not only focused their product, but also on conserving and taking care of the plants that produce it. To do that, they keep a clean environment and still do most of their farming in the traditional fashion.

In Lavacchio, they don’t use machines to pick olives, they “comb” the olive branches. A team of two people with a ladder and a rake gently brush against the branches loosening up the olives and causing them to fall to the ground. This technique conserves the important vitamins that would otherwise be lost if the olive tree was shook, rather than combed.

When the olives fall off the tree, they fall into a net that will help assist in putting all the olives into one big pile, and later into a bucket. This is the laborintensive season that requires Lavacchio to hire more workers.

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“A team of two people typically picks around 150 kg or 330 pounds of olives a day,” Ms. Lottero said.

Olives are later put into the windmill, where they’re crushed systematically from paste to pomace, leaving the oil on the top and water on the bottom.

“Nothing is thrown away all is used,” she said.

“Everything is environmentally safe. Even the leftover pomace from the mill is burned and used as fuel pellets.”

The work takes a long time. The Fattoria Lavacchio has 110 hectares of land with about 9000 plants for a total of 30 olive groves.

The season for olive picking is normally four to six weeks long. However, this year it is about six to seven weeks for the Fattoria Lavacchio because of the abnormally long fall. This means that they’ll yield about 20% more olives than they do on a normal year.

In Italy, it is common place to see olive oil and vinegar on the table when you eat just like ketchup and mustard in the United States. Even in cafeteria, a consumer can indulge in the condiments. Olive oil and vinegar are coveted part of the Mediterranean diet, and finishing touches to many of its dishes.

A farming expert in Lavacchio decides when to pick olives based on the time of the year and climate outside. The ripeness of an olive depends on what kind of olive oil is produced. The riper the olive, the less virgin--meaning the oil has an acidity rating of less than 0.8 percent. If the olives are harvested later in the season, they tend to be riper as opposed to earlier in the season.

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In Italy, there are three types of olive oil: extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, and olive oil.

Extra virgin olive oil is spicier and has the most vitamins and is harvested first. Virgin olive oil is generally created from the mid to late season olive that may need to ferment, resulting in a smoother taste, and some vitamins. Lastly, olive oil has the smoothest taste, is fermented from olives over a long period of time, and the least vitamins.

When it comes to tasting dipping in bread, robustness, and healthiness extra virgin olive oil could be regarded as the best quality.

Following Ms. Lottero's instructions, I thoroughly swished the oil in my mouth for a prolonged amount of time and puckered up my taste buds judging the flavour of the extra virgin olive oil.

Upon tasting the olive oil Clay Campbell, an FSU student, began to breath heavily indicating the spiciness. “I am oxygenating,� he comically claimed in the video.

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Interview «SHARing IS caring» FSU AND ITS CHARITY PrOJECTS Q&A wITH lucia cossari, fsu florence ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR By hunter redinger What made you decide to partner with Meyer's Pediatric Hospital?

Meyer Children’s hospital is famous for being one of the premier pediatric hospitals in the world. For this reason, and because it enjoys support from many institutions, news outlets, and businesses who fundraise for it, we weren’t sure about how to launch this particular kind of partnership. In the past we always sought to lend a helping hand to smaller, less known charitable organizations in town, because they don’t receive the same sort of attention that Meyer does. In the end, we are really happy when we are able to help and involve students, faculty and partners in paying attention to smaller realties and individuals that need support, help and care.

Do we have plans to eventually visit the hospital?

It’s not easy to organize a visit to the hospital because, unfortunately, the recovering children are experiencing serious health problems. So I don’t think it is possible. What we want is to make students aware of certain realities, involve them in our way of thinking and philosophy towards the community and world. IN this specific case with Meyer Hospital we preferred to respect the privacy of the families and the important and delicate work of the doctors. Of course, children love to have visitors, but given the short nature of the university semesters it’s difficult to have a meaningful human interaction between our students and the children.

FSU Florence Associate Director, Lucia Cossari

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Fsu’s philanthropy efforts have garnered much local attention, from a newspaper, the US vice consul general, and the vice mayor of Florence. Can you Tell us about this?

First of all I do not really like the word Philanthropy but I will explain this later …

The FSU Florence Program, in particular myself and Director Nero, have made “charity” one of our missions to foster collaborations between Italian and American institutions in Florence and Tuscany. Even in our official name, Florida State University International Programs Italy, this mission is spelled out with the words Florida, International, and Italy. Besides or educational mission, we’re here as a conduit for our students to become integrated in Florentine society. For us, whether it’s the American Consulate or the Mayor of Florence, who are friends and supporters of our program, as the years progress we’ve all took it upon ourselves to create a meaningful dialogue for the good of both our countries. Part of this is to present a united front, even when tackling difficult societal issues, opening the minds of our students and strengthening the bonds between Italy and America within the context of the City of Florence.

Does fsu Florence have any similar events planned in the future?

Currently, we are working with a group on next semester’s relationship. Volunteering and charitable activities will be a permanent part of the mission of FSU Florence Program as we move into the future.

Invitation card “From Florida to Florence”, the charity event for the Meyer Pediatric Hospital

A group pf students during the charity event for the Meyer Pediatric Hospital 35

What is your vision for this philanthropy?

The dictionary’s definition of philanthropy is “the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.” But we at FSU Florence want to add “education” to the mix, both in the English sense of the word, but also in the Italian sense. “Educazione” in Italian means the learning and comprehension of intellectual and moral principles with the purpose of harmonizing the needs of the individual with society. What we at FSU Florence want to propose, is a certain way of thinking “culturally,” so that we and our students and our partners are more sensitive and aware of how volunteering and donating time and money cannot just be an educational experience, but a way of constructing solidarity in a foreign country with classmates and professors and environments on a path that leads its self to a deeper understanding of oneself and others. Education is also a way of life, leading to a greater sensitivity and attention to values and deeper relationships of togetherness at important points in our students’ lives, beyond the causes promoted on social media via how many likes can be obtained.

Instead, in everyday life, sometimes we choose to ignore what is happening before our very eyes. For example, the anti-bullying campaign that we collaborated on with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Institute of Italy. Just as we are a school with a community of students who may have experienced bullying in their lives, to be able to promote a greater attentiveness to this unfortunate phenomenon in grammar schools throughout Italy may have fostered a greater awareness and responsibility among our own students. Thus, performing a greater good for society in general, works toward the greater wellbeing of the individual on a more personal plane.

Would you like to add anything else?

I’d like to thank everyone who has participated.

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Reportage IN THE GALAXY OF GUCCI AND IN THE MIND OF ALESSANDRO MICHELE

By Madison GRACE MUNSON

So many of us aspiring fashion connoisseurs, including myself, dream of being able to just understand what goes on in the mind of the creative director of our favorite brands. For Alessandro Michele, the creative director of Gucci since 2015, this is exactly what the Gucci Gardens allows his demographic to do. In all of the time I’ve spent focused on the intricacies and nuances of the fashion Industry, never have I experienced an art form as mesmerizing yet informational as this Galleria in Florence, Italy. If you’re debating whether or not to take the time and see it firsthand, let these descriptions of each exquisite room, designed by the Michele himself, be the convincing argument.

Walking into the building, you are promptly greeted to the right, with a fluorescent purple neon sign that reads,

«I WENT TO THE GARDEN OF LOVE, AND SAW WHAT I NEVER HAD SEEN» - William Blake This sign, in addition to the plethora of other rooms, are entrancing in their modern and photogenic layout.

Alessandro Michele, whether as a marketing strategy or strictly for aesthetic purposes, has cleverly targeted the generation Z / influencer-era mindset and aimed for a very social media friendly, post-worthy setting.

Continued from Opposite page

A portrait of Alessandro Michele, Creative director of Gucci, Courtesy of @LVMH

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As we were led up a flight of stairs by our tour guide, we found cryptic phrases in black font which instantaneously gave to me flashbacks of Drake’s “If you’re reading this it’s too late” 2015 album feel. Though comparable to that of a third grader’s handwriting, these open-tointerpretation expressions begin to provoke your interest and set a tone for the remainder of the exhibit. Preceding the first historical room of this museum which is dedicated to luggage and travel of Guccio Gucci throughout the years, is one which truly appeals to the idea and embodiment of nuovo eclecticism.

Contemporary yet whimsical designs are found contrasted against a large white wall, remaining entirely on brand as the iconic double G logo is incorporated into almost every single one; whether it be found in the detailing of a colorful pineapple or the G’s in the word “egg” aimlessly printed amidst them all, they’re there, and they’re genius. The wall itself is teeming with clout, allowing for the perfect instagram photo op.

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Adjacent to this canvas stands a handful of mannequins perched on black cubes, fully adorned in discernable Gucci pieces. The most striking and evident one in sight originates from the most recent cruise 2018 collection. “GUCCY” is embedded on the chest of a mid-thigh length teal and tiffany blue floral embroidered dress. Sparkles which dance upon the cross stitching between roses on the bustier of this dress, add a rainbow-esque touch making for the quintessence of eye-candy to any fashion connoisseur, and personally, I drooled. The playfulness and conscious self-parody of this room and entire museum are all derived from Michele’s intentions upon reviving the brand by converting the atmosphere into one that appeals as a lifestyle By doing this he has truly revolutionized the image of Gucci in itself, intending to reach an all inclusive audience rather than just one echelon of society.

The doorway between this room and the next opens up yet another entire wall of Gucci, but this time in the form of luggage pieces categorized by design on a ceiling-to-floor wall-to-wall wooden shelf.

Bags curated from Elephant skin, Zebra fur, Giraffe hyde, Crocodile leather, amongst many others are on display merely because they are archetypes of travel and evolution of design, as Gucci has just recently announced in 2018 that the entire brand will be going fur-free. To top off this fascinating collection, just opposite of the suitcase display, wall holograms in the shape of the first original Gucci logo and symbols fade in and out on repeat The first mural of the tour mentioned earlier was just preparation for what the next room we came across consisted of - soft-hued green, pink, cream pastels, and the occasional pop of black color permeating all four walls, extending from ceiling to floor in rooms directly above each other.

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This panoramic wall art exuded a very Asian Romanticism feel, with women in Kimonos riding animals, wearing sedge hats, carrying umbrellas around zebras and turtles which graced the baseboards as plants blossomed behind them. “MANY A LOVER WANDERED HERE” is printed in crisp, clear manuscript, hanging from a painted banner took up a large chunk of the wall art. The nonsensical graphics and sprightly slogans added here and there contribute to the mindframe that fashion, particularly that of Gucci, is above all, an art form. The room immediately following this one only intensified this opinion of mine, and surely anyone else’s who has visited before.

Bright lights faded way as we entered and exited each space. The following room was completely void of lumination save for the single spotlight which emits an empyreal shine upon what I find to be the main attraction of this exquisite shrine to Gucci.

550 hours of hand making, and 320 hours of additional embroidery allowed for the most remarkable ensemble I have ever witnessed to be constructed. Icelandic Musician Bjork had Alessandro Michele custom design a Gown in 2017 to debut in the music video of her single “The Gate.”

“The dress’s fabrics include 5 meters of PVC plastic material, 3 meters of PVC and 20 meters of pleated lurex.”

The gown is exactly as follows: The iridescence of shimmering brilliant pink green and blue plastic layers, a holographic accumulation of cascading pleats which radiate celestial ambiance. A much less overwhelming, yet beautiful all the same, gown, which Bjork also wore made of pink organza is arranged adjacent to this one, and the video in which Bjork wore these costumes plays off to the side.

Though much about this museum is thoughtprovoking and charming, it is educational all the same. The Galleria aims to bring to life the emotional, historical elements of this multifaceted brand that is only possible to grasp by paying a visit yourself. Alessandro Michele and his team have beyond doubt brought to life a tangible aspect of a luxury line with such rich history for those who posses appreciation for the fashion industry, as well as those who simply want be apart of the #GucciGang...Because let’s be honest, who doesn’t?

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Feature STORY Florentine jobs : Restoring History

by Kelly Ostruszka With a pencil tucked behind her ear and tousled hair, Daniela Lippi, an art restorer, sharply navigated the clutter in her maze of a Florentine studio, where multiple restoration projects lie scattered around in a chaotic, yet organized fashion.

In her refreshingly sunlit workspace, she has been working on several pieces at a time – the most recent being a faded, beat-up, painting of what used to be bright red flowers against an abyssal black background.

Dott.ssa Daniela Lippi, restorer For years, Ms. Lippi, age 50, has worked on numerous works of art – both public and private – and restored them along with their identity and place in history. Florence is home to an immense amount of artistic history and work – even more than just the statue of David or the Birth of Venus. In a city overflowing with art and culture, some works inevitably become lost to the past. Whether it be because they are damaged or are stuck resting within the dark basements of museums - not all pieces meet the public eye.

These hidden treasures can be brought back to life by professionals with a passion for renewing history and its stories. Ms. Lippi, is one of them, with a keen eye for seeing the value in such damaged paintings. On a recent fall morning, with her glasses sitting on the tip of her nose, she took a cotton ball dipped in oil and delicately brushed it against the 17th century floral painting resting on a table. It was her first act to reveal a glossy bright red hidden by years of neglect.

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“I’m hoping to finish this one by December,” she stated, acknowledging just how long the restoration process can be.

Yet restoring such pieces takes more than a simple swab of cotton. This piece in particular had layers of canvas, under which the original painting and the painting of a previous art restorer have been lying. Similar to the rings inside a tree trunk, these layers unveil clues to history.

In recent years, her profession has grown. Two major schools for art restorers exist in Italy, where students can study and practice to become professionals. Ms. Lippi, however, never attended either of these schools, but has a major in art history and restoration, and has developed the patience for this lifestyle at a time when it wasn’t so common. Even now, after over twenty years of excelling in this profession, she said she is still in a constant state of learning and uncovering new information.

As difficult as the job may get, there is always a sense of satisfaction when a piece is finished. Ms. Lippi’s most laborious project was displayed in the Uffizi after months of detailed efforts last spring – the restoration of “The Card Players” by Bartolomeo Manfredi. The painting had been deemed un-restorable after a severe Mafia bombing in Florence.

“It was in such a condition that I knew I couldn’t bring it back to its original perfection” she admitted.

The strenuous task of bringing the piece back to life after being reduced to shreds and scraps did not instill doubt in Ms. Lippi, but only evoked a desire to continue. Not only because it was an impressionable work of art, but because of what it symbolized for the community in the city. “The missing pieces are important, to show what happened to it,” Ms. Lippi continued, “this painting is the living memory of the attack 25 years ago.”

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My favorite italian word is ….

Rubrica a cura degli studenti di italiano e dei loro docenti charles panarella & costanza menchi

#gnocchi #allora POMODORI

BY EMMA KORMAN, I LIKE TOMATOS PASSEGGIATA BY LAURA THOMAS, BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF HOW SMALL OF A CITY FLORENCE IS PREGO BY DEREK CASSETTY, IT’S FUN TO HEAR/SAy PONTE VECCHIO BY SARAH MORRIS, IT WAS AN HONOR TO WALK ACROSS THE OLDEST BRIDGE OF FLORENCE EVERYDAY

GRAZIE MILLE by CRISTINA PEREZ CREPUSCOLO BY Kassidy CHARLES PARADISO BY SOPHIA VARGAS, BECAUSE LIVING IN ITALY HAS FELT LIKE PARADISE CASA BY PAIGE FEASTER, OVER THE PAST MONTHS FLORENCE HAS TRULY BECOME A SECOND HOME TO ME GELATO BY SAMANTHA FINN, BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST THING I ATE IN ITALY

#giocare #dormire CAPPUCCINO BY Bethany baratelli, BECAUSE I’ve been able to have many conversations here over cappuccini

#basta #andiamo 43

FLORENCE PEOPLE

FACES, MOMENTS, EMOTIONS PICTURES taken BY the fashion and media students workshop with the street style photographer IVAN MARIANELLI @ivan_urbanstudios

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Photo by Matteo Vistocco

Fsu_florence

Florida state university international programs Italy: Florence

www.florence.fsu.edu