New accessible entrance inaugurated at Syracuse University Florence

A new accessible entrance has been inaugurated at Villa Rossa, the historic headquarters of Syracuse University Florence, located in Piazza Savonarola, north of Florence’s historic centre. The opening ceremony took place on Monday morning, 19 January 2026.

The works are part of a renovation project aimed at significantly reducing architectural barriers and improving reception spaces for students, faculty and visitors. The intervention focused in particular on accessibility, an issue that has long been critical in historic buildings adapted for educational use.

The project was made possible thanks to a major donation by Daniel D’Aniello and his wife Gayle. D’Aniello is an alumnus of Syracuse University who studied in Florence in the autumn of 1966 and took part in the volunteer efforts following the devastating flood of 4 November that year, becoming one of the city’s so-called “mud angels”.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony were the director of Syracuse University Florence, Sasha Perugini, Florence city councillor for universities and research Dario Danti, regional undersecretary Bernard Dika, and the president of Florence’s District 2, Michele Pierguidi. Former Florence mayor and current MEP Dario Nardella also commented on the completion of the project.

According to the organisers, the renovation enhances the architectural value of Villa Rossa while making the campus more inclusive. The donation by the D’Aniello family, made in 2022, was intended both to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds and to improve the physical accessibility of the Florence facilities.

D’Aniello’s long-standing bond with the city has been formally recognised in recent years. In 2023 he received the Keys of the City of Florence in acknowledgement of his contribution during the 1966 flood and his continued commitment to Florence.

Syracuse University Florence is the overseas campus of Syracuse University in New York. Established in 1959, it was the first study abroad programme to open in Florence and has since hosted generations of American university students, offering multidisciplinary courses ranging from art history and architecture to Italian language, with a strong emphasis on cultural immersion and experiential learning.

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