Gamble Garden Special Event - An Evening in Florence March 14, 2012

Join us for a special program for our community of travelers, artists, gardeners, and friends.

Professor William Fredlund, Director of the Institute for the Study of Western Civilization, will take us all to the jewels of the Renaissance, the most beautiful, best preserved urban masterpieces, almost all of which date to the Renaissance or before. During our evening we will wander through the narrow medieval streets that stand exactly as they did in 1300, visit some of the greatest palaces, and enjoy some of the greatest paintings in the world.

In addition, Professor Fredlund will take us out into the Tuscan hills to the most perfectly preserved Renaissance villa and gardens anywhere in Italy: Villa Gamberaia.

William Fredlund obtained his BA and his MA from UCLA where he specialized in European history and art history. After independent study in Europe, he came to Stanford University to pursue graduate study where he specialized in Renaissance Italy and completed a Ph. D. in both history and humanities. Dr. Fredlund studied in Italy on a Fulbright Fellowship where he began work on his book about Renaissance Italy.

While living in Italy, he lectured extensively in Florence for American university programs such as UCLA and University of Michigan, as well as for the University of Florence. In the United States, Dr. Fredlund taught for UCLA, UCSC Extension, and Stanford. Dr. Fredlund is currently writing a book entitled 1494: The Year the French Discovered Italy in which he explores the extraordinary changes that occurred in Italy during the crisis of 1494.

Official Website: http://www.gamblegarden.org