Reflecting on the Past, Envisioning our Future
Our DCI cohort’s capstone adventure in Florence
By Patricia Sullivan, DCI Fellow 2025
Shortly after our DCI graduation in early June, several Fellows from our cohort flew to Florence, Italy for two splendid weeks of activities and experiences carefully curated by the DCI faculty and staff. After our transformative year together at Stanford we had all grown very close, so commencement was bittersweet. Time together in Italy was exactly what we needed to ease the transition.
We arrived in the heart of the Renaissance and passed through the large 15th century doors of Stanford’s Overseas Studies campus in Palazzo Capponi delle Rivonate overlooking the Arno River. Anticipation mounted as we toured the splendid villa and stood on the balcony gazing out at the city of Michelangelo, DaVinci, Botticelli and Dante. We stood around the grand piano in the historic salon as our co-Fellow Loretta expertly played, and we could barely contain our excitement for the adventures that lay ahead. That night we enjoyed a long Tuscan meal beside the dome of Florence’s cathedral, reflected on our fellowship growth and dreamed of our next chapters together. We were family.
Our mornings started with a hot cappuccino in a local bar before meeting expert guide Camilla in front of one of Florence’s churches or museums. The material we’d studied in our Stanford classes during the year — art history, philosophy, architecture, classics, politics, economics — was fresh in our minds and motivated stimulating conversation and shared wonder as we explored the enchanting city.
Our conversation and laughter continued over our lunch breaks of pasta and salad in local trattorias or a quick panino while browsing the shops and open markets. Returning to Richard Saller’s cool classroom at the villa after lunch was a welcome delight. Richard’s broad knowledge as a classics professor and experience as former Stanford Dean of Humanities and Sciences and Stanford President was invaluable. He led vibrant Socratic discussions on assigned readings that prompted broader reflection on the human experience. These were key moments when we bonded further as a group and got to know each other even more deeply.
A shared cooking class, a private outdoor dinner in the Tuscan hills, a weekend trip to Venice to attend the Biennale, and helping tour-organizer-extraordinaire Dana choose a custom wedding dress — these experiences solidified lifelong community and continued our shared year with memorable real-world adventures.
On our final night in Florence our cohort stood on the villa’s balcony and watched a spectacular display of fireworks celebrating San Giovanni, Florence’s patron saint. It was a profound moment of awe, fellowship and reflection. We realized that our shared experience in Florence was much more than an ordinary vacation. It helped us synthesize our year at Stanford and process “what’s next.” Most importantly, it reminded us how fortunate we are to have a tight-knit community with whom we can share the rest of our lives.
It’s clear that the DCI staff plans these travel-study options to encourage reflection and renewal. They’re a time to celebrate our shared growth and a launchpad for our next chapters. Our time in Florence certainly set a successful precedent for the many adventures together that we can look forward to in the years to come!
