Orvieto: A Unique Homestay Experience
The Fall 2008 Villa Le Balze students recently participated in the first half a unique exchange opportunity with students from Italian high schools in Orvieto. Organized by Prof. Imperatrice DiPassio, the homestay experience is divided into two phases: Recently, Georgetown University students spent 3 days in the the Italian homes of students at the Liceo Classico and the Istituto d'Arte. While some of the time was spent in the Italian classroom, most of the time the American students were entertained by their Italian hosts visiting museums and monuments with their "local guides". In early November, the Italian students will spend a weekend in Fiesole attending a class at the Villa and seeing how American students explore all that Florence has to offer!
Work in Progress
Anybody who has visited the Villa Le Balze knows about its extraordinary view of Florence, beautiful formal gardens, and elegant buildings. To allow the Villa, which was designed by architect Cecil Pinsent for the small family of Charles Augustus Srong to continue to be used by students, staff, faculty, and visitors, major maintenance projects have become necessary over time.
In 2007, Georgetown began a renovation program to preserve the beauty of this property for year to come, and that, at the same time will make the Villa better equipped to host a vibrant, living-learning community of students, guests, and scholars. Thanks to this program, the second phase of which was completed during the summer of 2009, the Ville Le Balze is able to offer its guests greater comfort, upgraded safety precautions, increased accessibility for physically challenged visitors and a technologically advanced classroom.
The side of the Villa hit by sunlight
During the Spring 2008 semester, part of the annex building at the front gate (formerly the resident faculty apartment) was transformed into student housing and includes a room and a bathroom equipped for physically challenged students. The resident faculty member, an important and vital member of the Villa community, now stays in a rental apartment in Fiesole within walking distance of the Villa.
Overlooking from the Villa at sunset
The homestay exchange group
The grotto in the gardens
During the summer of 2007 the Villa installed a wireless network, giving access to the information available on the web from virtually any point in the Villa and adjacent gardens. This will allow students and guests to work and to communicate in their rooms or while enjoying the sunshine or a fresh breeze in the gardens.
The summer of 2007 also saw major changes in the area of the service entrance, where a large part of the office spaces are now concentrated and where additional facilities for physically disabled persons have been installed in respect of Italian and American legislation. In addition, electronic swipe card readers have been installed at all entrances to increase safety.
The Villa gardens
The renovation activities during Spring 2008 focused on the classroom, the annexed rooms, and the loggia. While the original plans to transform the loggia into a large classroom and conference hall were not approved by the city administration of Fiesole, these new plans allowed for the creation of a second classroom and additional facilities for students and faculty.
We hope that as a result of the renovation activities new generation of Georgetown University students, alumni, and friends will continue to be able to enjoy the Villa for years to come.