Introduction to Lucca

Patricia holds an Master's in Italian Renaissance history from Cornell University, and another in Italian Renaissance art history from Syracuse University. Both of her theses were on Florentine topics. She also writes about Florence, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna for a popular guide book, has led wine tours in Chianti, and has cooked in several Florentine trattorie. She lives in the Tuscan countryside with her husband and six dogs.

Born and raised in Florence, Alessandra has a degree in art history from the University of Florence with a specialization in seventeenth-century painting. She obtained an MRes from the European University Institute in Florence, where she defended her Ph.D in history, focusing on the patronage of Tuscan nobility in Europe during the seventeenth century. In addition, she holds a diploma in archival administration, palaeography, and diplomatics from the State Archive in Florence. She has been teaching art history and Italian for several years in various schools and institutions in Florence.

After a well-traveled childhood, Martino completed a Ph.D in philosophy at Cornell University. He then taught philosophy for a few years in the States before returning to Italy. Here, he teaches college courses in ethics, Italian culture, and history at various study-abroad programs. He has lectured at the British Institute in Florence on contemporary moral topics. Teaching rekindled his interest in Dante and "The Divine Comedy," as well as the controversy between Galileo's astronomy and the Church. Martino lives in the countryside with his wife and their too many dogs.