Tour the gardens of Italy with Farmingdale State
Experience la dolce vita in Florence this summer with Farmingdale State College. Credit: Handout
How's this for a gardener's dream trip? Travel to Italy with Farmingdale State College and tour gardens and culinary venues with like-minded adult learners.
The three-week trip, from May 15 to June 4, will take you to Florence, where you'll stay in a furnished apartment in the heart of the city. You'll visit Italian gardens and villas with Farmingdale horticulture Professors Richard Iversen and Michael Veracka, and even take cooking classes with FSC's Culinary Institute partner, Florence University of Arts. You'll also get a museum pass and free time to explore on your own.
The gardens you'll visit in Florence, Lucca and Siena date to the Renaissance and Baroque ages -- site you just can't find on this side of the pond. And you'll get into gardens and villas not typically accessible to tourists. Plus, there will be a weekend excursion to gardens outside Rome.
The cost for the program, including tours, cooking courses, housing, transportation, partial meal plan at the FUA Culinary Institute restaurant, international health insurance, cell phone, museum pass, orientation and a "Farmingdale in Italy" T-shirt is $3,800. You're on your own for airfare and additional food.
For details and an application, email michael.veracka@farmingdale.edu, or call the department of ornamental horticulture at 631-420-2113.
A $1,500 deposit is required by April 15, with the balance due by May 1.
