The Institute at Palazzo Rucellai is committed to providing quality international educational opportunities for students of American colleges and universities. In support of this mission, the Institute offers a study abroad program firmly rooted in the American liberal arts tradition taught by a distinguished faculty and supported by an experienced and dedicated administration and staff.

Participants take courses in a variety of disciplines (language, art history, architecture, history, political science, literature, psychology, business administration, studio art) while immersed in the artistic and architectural riches of a unique urban complex and experiencing the city-as-campus. 
 
The historic "palazzo" has been refurbished for use as an educational center, with classrooms, two computer labs, a library, studio art space, a student lounge and a large welcome area with staff for student services. The entire facility has wireless internet access. 

 
The Classrooms 
The Institute is located on two floors of the historic Palazzo Rucellai. The large and ornately decorated rooms serve as classrooms which are well equipped for learning with blackboards, overhead and slide projectors, multimedia display and cinema equipment. 


Library Resources 
The library holds a growing collection of books and periodicals selected to support the needs of the academic program. In addition, Internet access to electronic databases and libraries is available on all computers, and both wireless access and an Ethernet port system provides convenient access for personal laptops. Students may also access the nearby Library of the British Institute and other city libraries whose holdings include titles in English.

Computer Lab 
There are computer labs on each of the two floors of the Institute which contain regularly updated PC systems. A network server with broadband Internet connection offers students access to the Internet. Our wireless access point allows students to connect their own laptops to internet.

The Fine Art Rooms 
The art studio space consists of two large rooms with high vaulted ceilings that serve for art courses and exhibitions of student work. One of the rooms serves as a drawing, painting and sculpture studio with space for traditional life-drawing and for art shows. The second room has been designed specifically for frescoes with walls specially prepared with rough plaster. Students are able to paint directly on the walls using the same traditional fresco techniques as the medieval and renaissance masters such as Giotto, Masaccio and Michelangelo. Students learn the strappo technique of removing frescoes from walls - a process used by modern-day fresco restorers.