Take a Tour of NYU Florence’s Stunning Home

Nestled among olive groves and Renaissance Revival gardens, Villa La Pietra is an ideal setting for students to begin exploring the rich culture of Italy—from the art and history of the Renaissance to contemporary subjects such as the business of fashion, international politics, and sustainability.

Most classes at NYU Florence take place at the academic center, Villa Ulivi. The building is also home to the Office of Academic Support, the Ulivi Library, the Italian department, the Digital Studio and Writing Center, faculty offices, and a cafe.

Villa Natalia Residence Hall features 29 rooms accommodating approximately 75 students as well as a cafeteria, student lounges, a reflection room, and a classroom.

The historic gardens and grounds function as an outdoor museum featuring a large collection of historic sculptures, works of art, and citrus trees. It’s a setting for open-air performances, installations, lessons, and workshops. The villa’s grounds provide an invaluable resource in the study of Italian gardens and landscapes as well as the production of food and its environmental impact.

Students in the gardens overlooking the pathway to Villa Ulivi.

Villa Ulivi Library is home to 7,000 physical books, periodicals, and media materials in both English and Italian. The resources primarily reflect the undergraduate courses taught at NYU Florence.

The Rotonda in Villa La Pietra.

An NYU student guide leads a tour of the Acton Collection.

Professor Francesca Baldry leads students on a Museum Meetings tour. Museum Meetings is a series of discussions about art and museums open to all NYU Florence students.

Not only is Villa La Pietra a beautiful place to study, but it also acts as a Green Laboratory for the University’s academic mission. Each semester, students are involved in garden-based events through the Terra Firma program. Annual highlights include helping out in the vegetable garden as well as participating in the fall olive harvest and the spring Lemon Day.

Students can partake in weekly yoga classes at Villa La Pietra. NYU Florence offers a range of wellness activities to help stay active, reduce stress, and maintain overall well-being throughout the semester.

During a pasta-making class, students have the opportunity to learn how to prepare Italy’s most popular dish.

Students take in an iconic view of Florence from the magnificent terrace at Piazzale Michelangelo.