Founded in 59 B.C., Florence, Italy, is widely considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. This spring, 37 art and architecture students from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts are soaking in that history by living and working in Florence and pursuing a curriculum that includes studios, art history seminars and Italian language classes. Architecture students, led by Zeuler R. Lima, Ph.D., assistant professor of architecture, are exploring — and sketching — the urban and architectural history of Florence with tours of historical sites from various periods, including the 15th-century Basilica di San Lorenzo (left). Junior Alla Agafonov drew this sketch of the church (right), which was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Students also are developing design proposals for a pedestrian promenade and hostel along the Arno River; the works will be exhibited this fall in Givens Hall.