Tuscany

Our Italy programs for Architecture and Visualization are held at the Santa Chiara Study Center in Tuscany. We have conducted programs in Italy with Italart since 1982.

A Brief History of the Program: Italart Cultural Association

The idea for the program began in 1972 when Professor Paolo Barucchieri, then a faculty member at the University of Northern Colorado, began bringing his students to Italy and developed the original center (La Poggerina) located outside of Florence. In 1982 Texas A&M University initiated their first Italian program at the Poggerina Center and began collaboration with Professor Barucchieri. Professor Barucchieri left his position with the University of Northern Colorado to begin teaching for Texas A&M. In 1989, due to the impending sale of the Poggerina property, it was necessary to relocate the program. Over a period of two years, several sites were studied to serve as the alternate site and Castiglion Fiorentino offered the best facility and environment for a resident study complex. The mayor of Castiglion Fiorentino proposed the use of Santa Chiara, the Town Hall approved restoration work began on the building at his suggestion. The total project cost the community almost two million dollars. We hope that you will enjoy this facility, consider it your home, and help us keep it in good condition. The late Professor Paolo Barucchieri taught for TAMU since 1982, providing Art History classes and seminars as well as directing Santa Chiara and Italart. (from the Faculty Handbook)