Those with a sense of history know that throughout the millennia, the city of Florence has reigned supreme as a center of art and architecture. But what is Florence today? Has it become merely a museum for foreign tourists, or is it a living city, still protected by the grace of its beauty and harmony?

Experience Florence from an architect's point of view by joining the AIA at a conference centered on the city's rich heritage. The AIA International Committee and AIA Continental Europe are proud to serve as cohosts for the "Florence Through the Millenia" conference, October 2–6. They are presenting the conference in cooperation with the Ordine degli Architetti di Firenze Fondazione Professione Architetto, Florence's professional architects' society. Sponsors for the conference include the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara, Lutron, Technal, UNA Hotels & Resorts, and Moretti e Interholz.

Special events
Architect participants will join notable Italian architects and historians as they present a picture of the city through the millennia, including new projects planned for the 21st century. Special events include:
• Tours of the marble caves of Carrara, not open to tourists
• A walk above the city's street through the Vasari Corridor—where the Medici walked—from the Uffizi Gallery to the Palazzo Pitti
• A gala dinner and lecture at the Certosa Monastery, a centuries-old architectural jewel that greatly influenced both Mies and Le Corbusier during their early years
• Newtours, the conference organizer, also is offering a post-conference tour of "Unknown Tuscany," October 7–9, for a group of 15–30 people. (If you are interested, click for details.)

Lots of learning units
The conference offers 26 learning units, 14 of which meet AIA standards for health, safety, welfare requirements. At this conference, you will learn to:
• Analyze old patterns of development and identify traditional construction and design techniques in historic centers
• Understand practice in Florence today and how to establish working relationships with young practitioners in Italy
• Evaluate the difficulties encountered in constructing in historic fabric
• Evaluate the success of recent projects in historic areas.

Register now
Early registration ends July 31. The basic three-day conference registration fee is $400 early registration/$475 after July 31.

For details about the conference, view the online brochure. (If you need another reason to attend the conference, check out the brochure site's Webcam links, which provides a panorama of Florence from Brunelleschi's Duomo. Warning: You may not be able to resist!)

If you have any questions, contact Michael Pinkston, AIA, or Ellen Delage, director, international relations 202-626-7415.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.