L'Istituto Statale della Ss. Annunziata, Educational institution in Florence, Italy.
The institute operates from Villa del Poggio Imperiale and provides education from elementary through upper secondary levels with instruction in Italian, German, and English. The villa houses approximately 80 female students in residential quarters and follows the national curriculum while maintaining its status as a private boarding school.
The school was founded in 1823 as Florence's first female boarding institution and relocated in 1865 to Villa del Poggio Imperiale. This move to one of the city's finest locations marked a new chapter for an establishment dedicated to opening educational opportunities for women.
The institute carries the name of the Annunciation and uses the historic villa as a space for teaching and student life. The female students, affectionately called Poggioline, have shaped daily life here across generations within a place that opened doors to women.
Visiting requires advance notice since the building functions as an active school and residence. The best time to visit is outside school hours when the villa itself takes center stage.
Marie-José of Belgium, the last Queen of Italy, and writer Dacia Maraini attended this school and are part of its history. Their presence here underscores the institution's importance as a place of learning for remarkable women.
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