Summer in Florence: July 4-17 and July 17-30, 2021
A unique summer learning experience in Florence, Italy designed for high school students to advance their expertise in reading Latin. Here, in the birthplace of the Renaissance, we make the Classics come alive through an interplay of literature, art history and travel.
Reading Latin & Discovering Art History in Italy
Calder Classics invites students entering 9th through 12th grades to join us in Florence in the summer of 2021. Over the course of a two-week program, the Classics come alive through the study of Latin, exploration of ancient and modern sites and immersion in daily Italian life.
We spend the weeks together in a furnished apartment in the Oltrarno district of Florence. Language, art and scholarship merge fluently in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and interdisciplinary exchange. Our days consist of reviewing Latin grammar and reading the great authors of Latin literature, exploring the historical treasures of Florence, and taking trips to the churches and monuments of Milan, Siena, Rome or other nearby places of interest. The evenings feature Italy’s many cultural, leisure and culinary offerings.
One free day is scheduled for students who choose to experience Florence on their own (with advance parental permission), or rest at our apartment.
The end date of the July 4-17 session of this course is coordinated to allow students to optionally continue with the Calder Classics Reading Latin + Ancient History course in Rome from July 18-30.
Master Latin
Each day, students and their mentors read, translate and discuss Latin literature in a residential “salon” style environment. Our Latin readings include such influential authors as Lucretius, Livy, Vergil, Ovid and Petronius. We cover material likely to be found on the Latin SAT II. Given that participants join us from a variety of schools, we begin with a brief review of Latin grammar. We then analyze the texts from both a grammatical and literary perspective, engaging in such topics as the significance of rhetorical devices, meter and intertextuality. At least one year of reading original (or slightly adapted) Latin texts is required.
Dive into Italy’s Art, Culture and History
Throughout the course, we engage with art that is related thematically to, or directly inspired by, the literature we have read. Guided by our resident art historian, we explore the treasures of Florence, a myriad of museums, monuments, churches, palazzos and piazzas, and view such works as Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s David, the Duomo of Florence, the Fra Angelico frescoes at the Convent of San Marco and a selection of Last Supper paintings. Our discussions will focus on the historical context and broader themes of the art as well as its connection to the Latin curriculum.
Calder Classics Students Have Joined Us From These High Schools (click here)…
Our Alums Have Enrolled in These Top Colleges and Universities (click here)…
Staff
Cindy Calder
Caitlin Petty
Accommodations
We have exclusive use of our own large furnished apartment in the residential Oltrarno district of Florence, known for its maze of streets, gardens, basilicas and artisan shops. With full private access to the apartment’s kitchen and living areas, we cook, study and relax together in an intimate and comfortable environment.
All rooms are doubles or triples and feature air conditioning and internet service.
Dates & Fees
Session 1: July 4-17, 2021
Session 2: July 17-30, 2021
The $5,000 tuition includes accommodations, transportation within Italy, museum entries, instruction and course materials (certain additional books need to be purchased). Breakfast, plus either lunch or dinner, are also included. Depending on our daily schedules, students will be on their own for either a midday lunch break or an evening dinner break. Students are responsible for the cost of their own activities outside of the group. Airfare is not included.
Transportation
Students may travel with our chaperone on both legs of the journey, from New York City to Florence and from Florence to New York City. Calder Classics will arrange transportation between the airport and our apartment only for those students who travel on the same flights as the chaperones.
Testimonials
“I have such a strong passion for Classics and I honestly owe it to you and your program which introduced me to the idea of furthering my Classics studies. I still follow the Calder Classics instagram and I absolutely love seeing all the fun things the kids are doing year by year. I have such fond memories of my time with you in Florence!”
“What a wonderful experience exploring Florence and learning Latin! Cindy is very organized and sends detailed information prior to the trip so students are prepared. Living in the villa and making new friends made the journey even more memorable. Thank you Calder Classics!" - Amy, parent
”I cannot stress enough what a magical and valuable time I had at Calder; the instructors are thrilling teachers, the students excel and the chaperones are inspiring; plus, everyone is really fun! Translating the Aeneid Book 6, De Rerum Natura, the Satyricon, and other esteemed texts, visiting Siena and Fiesole, and touring almost every Florentine Museum, brought tears of awe to my eyes daily on the Florence Program.” Maude G., student
“I want to thank everyone involved with making this program happen for both introducing me to really great times as well as an opportunity to greatly improve my Latin and my knowledge of history and the arts.” Elena, student
“A wonderful introduction to Florence. My daughter loved Latin but had never enjoyed museums until her trip with Calder Classics.” C. M., parent
"Our daughter is indeed lucky to be participating in such varied and valuable experiences.” A.S., parent
"I want to thank you for teaching me so much Latin and offering exposure to more difficult texts. I now feel more prepared for next year all thanks to this program." Erin, student
"Thank you for the great experience in Florence and this wonderful opportunity Calder Classics have provided me. It is an honor to be a part of this community, and to learn a brand new language that I found so much interest in". Gago, student
"I feel that I’ve learned a lot and I feel really motivated to practice on my own for the rest of the summer and hopefully see myself improve. Thank you so much." Humu , student
"I really learned a lot on this trip- not just on the educational side of it, but I also learned to really appreciate and understand Latin and Renaissance art and its influences on so many other things. I'm definitely recommending this trip to all my friends!” Angela, student
"I am a firm believer that happy kids love to learn, especially when they are in an environment surrounded by great educators and other enthusiastic students. My daughter loved your program. The photos and updates you sent home were priceless and she enjoyed the small intimate group. These kids will be friends for a long time." - Jojo, parent
"Calder Classics is an amazing experience that greatly improved my translation skills and added to the wonder of the city of Florence. Exploring the city and seeing some of the most beautiful art that exists was the highlight of my summer, especially because it was with such a great group of people. Cindy is fantastic, and I would recommend the program to all." - Anson, student
"I had an amazing time in Florence this summer with Calder Classics. The program was a great mix of academic Latin and cultural immersion. I made so many great friends from across the country and saw buildings and statues that we had read about in my Latin class at school. I loved the experience of reading Latin in the morning and then seeing either, artwork that the texts inspired, or the geological areas by which it was inspired, in the afternoon." - Davis, student
"It wasn’t until the Calder Classics Latin Program in Florence that I realized that Classics is the best way for an artist to ground his interests in academics. Art, culture, and the origin of the Romance languages come together in one program that is by far the only summer course I would consider returning to again. I recommend Calder Classics for those who want to challenge their intellect and immerse themselves in new experiences." - Matthew, student
"Thank you, Calder Classics, for providing our daughter with a memorable summer experience of three interrelated components: language, culture and fun. She returned with newfound confidence in her Latin skills and has begun a new semester reading from prose and verse authors with ease. The engaging activities and friendships she established from this unique learning and personal growth adventure will not soon be forgotten." - Darlene , parent
"Sarah's trip to Florence with Calder Classics was the highlight of her summer. The class time reading Latin was challenging and interesting and always led to something that the group could then experience or see in a new way in the city- she loved that. She also enjoyed her travel companions; she came home with lots of stories and many pictures! She left with a sense of having really lived in Florence and with a greater appreciation of the history and culture of what she studies when she reads Latin." - Kristin, parent
"I had an absolutely incredible time in Florence! All the people on the program were amazing and Mrs. Calder was a wonderful Latin teacher. I really feel that going on this program helped me gain confidence in my translating abilities and important translation experience. Meg, who was our Art/Art History aficionado/teacher, had a staggering amount of knowledge to impart upon us each day about the sights we were visiting. I loved this program, so I would love to come back someday!" - Alexia H., student
“Calder Classics was an amazing experience. The Latin and Art History teaching was fantastic, and I loved making new friends and exploring Italy." - Alexis B., student
"Calder Classics provides a first class opportunity for high school students to learn Latin and Art History from exceptional teachers. The program does a particularly wonderful job incorporating the treasures of Florence and Tuscany into the curriculum." - Debbie and Richard , parents
“I loved my first summer at Calder Classics. My Latin improved vastly and I would love to spend another summer in Italy.” - student, Florence and Rome programs
Photos from Previous Trips
click on photo to scroll through the gallery!
