Free Architecture, Wine & Tourism Talks in English

Two American university centers in Florence will offer free architecture, wine, and tourism talks in English to both students and the public in a series taking place from Monday, Nov. 11 until Wednesday, Nov. 13.

On Monday, Alessandro Melis, a professor of Architecture Innovation at the University of Portsmouth, and co-founder of Heliopolis 21 Architects will reveal secrets of how to become a successful architect. Melis received a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Architecture and Urban Design from the University of Florence and has carried out research in the fields of sustainability and climate. He was also a curator at New York’s MoMA, and the China Academy of Art. In 2020, he will take over from Mario Cucinella as the new curator of the Italian Pavilion for the 17th Architectural Venice Biennale.  At California State University he will be talking about his project in Venice, “Resilient Communities” on Nov. 11 (4 pm, Via Giacomo Leopardi, 12n).

Diletta Frescobaldi, a professor of Business Administration at the Florence University of the Arts, will talk about the importance of wine marketing and the connection between art and wine. The Frescobaldi family has been producers of wine for over 700 years. Frescobaldi will explain why producing good wine is not enough, and  how to improve strategies in addition to historical depictions of wine and winemaking in paintings. A reception will take place after the lecture with free finger food and drinks (Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6 pm; CEA Study Center, Piazza della Repubblica, 6; RSVP: mfrancioso@ceastudyabroad.com). 

Wednesday, Nov. 13 will bring a presentation by Marco d’Eramo about tourism. D’Eramo is a writer, journalist and author with his last book “The World Selfie. Survey on the Age of Tourism” and “The Pig and the Skyscraper. Chicago: A History of Our Future,” which is one of his first books that has been translated into English (4 pm; California State University Florence, Via Giacomo Leopardi, 12n). (mary filatova)