Villa di Poggio Imperiale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Villa di Poggio Imperiale is a splendid 18th century Villa to the south of the FirenzeTuscany.
Designed circa 1770 in an evolution of several classical styles, the principal facade is severe and plain. The only attempt at ornament being the five bayed projecting central block. This block has a rusticated ground floor pierced by five arches leading to the inner courtyard. On the first floor is a glazed loggia also of five bays. This block of only two floors crowned by a low pediment is flanked by two symmetrical wings of even greater severity. Each of two floors with a low mezzanine above they are the same height as the central pedimented block.
The Villa was originally the property of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. At the end of the 18th century Grand Duke Ferdinand III leased the villa to King Charles Emanuel IV of Sardinia. Charles Emanuel lived here for just a month from 17 January 1799.
In 1865 the mansion was transformed to become a girls school, known as the "Collegio della Santissima Annunziata", now known as "L'Istituto Statale della Ss. Annunziata".
Contents |
[edit] History of the Ss. Annunziata
It was the first female boarding school in Florence, born for the daughters of Marquis Gino Capponi owner of Poggio Imperiale, who wife had dead, whom he wanted eduacted but not sent away. The Institute was born in 1823, to educate aristocratic, and noble girls, thanks to the Granduchi Maria Anna Carolina di Sassonia and Leopold II, (inaugurated in 1825). The original building was in via della Scala, Florence. It was transferred in 1865 to the Medici Villa del Poggio Imperiale, overlooking Florence where it is still today.
It has a Brother School in Prato, Collegio Cicognini where individuals such as Curzio Malaparte and D'Annunzio attended.
[edit] The Current School
The school is subdivided into a mixed Elementary, Middle, and Upper School.
The Elementary school is an Italo-Deustch school, teaching children in Italian, German and English.
The Middle school teaches children predominantly in Italian and English, with the introduction of Latin and the option of Ancient Greek.
The Upper School which is five years, is subdivided into Scientific, Linguistic, and European Classic schools. Students start at 14 and are expected to finish at 19 years.
English is taught in all three schools, as well lessons in Law, History of Art, Philosophy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Latin, History, Religion (optional) and Physical Education. This is in addition to the core subjects of the specific type of school. However, after the first three years of the Upper school, the subjects focus on the type of school.
The Linguists, focused on German, Italian and English as well as the core subjects.
The Scientific, focuses more on the sciences; Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Philosophy, History.
The European Classic, focuses more into Law, Economics, Italian, German, Ancient Greek and Latin.
[edit] Boarding School
Once run exclusively as a private boarding school for Italian Society more elite girls by the nuns, it is still private but with the School choosing to following the state curriculum. Which in Italy is considered more demanding than what the private school offer.
Even though it is now a mixed school, boarding is reserved for only for a limited number of girls, approximately 80, as spacing is limited within the Medici house. Girls come predominantly from all over Italy but nevertheless, there are few international. Therefore, the rooms are large and spacious, with many of the original features.
[edit] Boarding School life
Boarders, stay from Monday until Saturday afternoon, when lessons finish. Nevertheless, many girls stay for the weekend, as it is too long a journey to travel home.
Girls are given three course meals, three times a day, which are served at the table. They are looked after by a band of matrons, who attend to their needs.
Matrons are a support model, as well as parent figure.
In addition each class also has it own tutor.
For lunch, the girls eat with the rest of the Upper School or Middle School accordingly.
The school provides mid morning snacks, as well as lunch and mid afternoon tea.
At eight o'clock dinner is served in the main dinning hall, and Zeus overlooks the girls having dinner together.
On Sunday services are held in the School's Medici Chapel, but is optional, should the girls wish to attend.
[edit] Poggioline
Girls are called "Poggioline", and Old Girls known as "Ex-Poggioline".
The school is renown for its excellence, as well as for its care in nurturing young Ladies of Italian Society. It was once exclusively reserved for the very Elite of Italian Society.
The school is entralled in mystery and romance. It is an idealitic place for any child to grow up in.
Old Photo of Poggioline girls.
[edit] Alumni
Pass girls include many of the now expatriate Italian Royal family, Maria José di Savoia, Maria Giuseppina, Mussolini's daughter, D'Annunzio daughter, Marquessa Alessandra di Rudini, and many others.
