Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a British poet who lived in Italy as an expatriate, wrote that “Florence holds us with a glittering eye; there’s a charm cast round us, and we can’t get away.“ Drawing on literary studies, history, and art history, this interdisciplinary course examines why Italy, and especially Florence, captivated the British and American imagination in the 19th and 20th centuries. From the prominent role Italy played in the European Grand Tour to its popularity during the age of mass tourism, we will examine the representation of Italy in literature and travel writing and study the places, art objects, and cultural landmarks that drew travelers to Florence specifically. As we explore intersections between Italian, British, and American cultures we will also reflect on our own experiences as travelers and tourists and complete a capstone project that curates a modern “Grand Tour” of Florence for contemporary U.S. travelers. This course is writing intensive. Open to students in their third or fourth year of study