Stony Brook University and The American University of Florence (AUF) are
pleased to announce their 15th Annual Conference, taking place in Florence on
Friday, December 4, 2026.

Florence and Water:

The Flood, the City, and Six Decades of Urban Transformation

Sixty years ago, on November 4th, 1966, Florence was struck by the devastating flood of the Arno, the most recent in a long history of inundations, yet one that left an unprecedented mark on the city’s identity. Images circulated worldwide revealed an unfamiliar Florence, its most intimate spaces and priceless cultural heritage violated by water and mud. At the same time, the disaster triggered an extraordinary international response. Local residents, students, and volunteers from across the globe, the “Mud Angels” or “angeli del fango,” joined in a collective effort of rescue and recovery. This mobilization also involved the nascent community of study-abroad programs in the city, demonstrating Florence’s internationalist spirit and the profound bond between the city and the global academic community.

The 1966 flood became a turning point, reshaping global awareness of Florence’s cultural significance and contributing to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Six decades later, this conference invites scholars to use the 1966 event as a catalyst for a broader investigation into how water has shaped the urban, sociological, and artistic fabric of historic cities across the globe.

As climate concerns intensify, the lessons of 1966 inform new strategies for urban planning, design, and environmental resilience. This conference intends to explore the flood’s enduring legacy and the evolving challenges it continues to pose to a dynamic, ever-changing urban landscape.

Join scholars and artists in Florence on Friday, December 4, 2026 - from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Florence & Water explores the profound and enduring relationship between Florence and its river. The conference reflects on the images, stories, and extraordinary international response that followed the disaster, from the local community to the “Mud Angels” who came from around the world to help protect the city’s cultural heritage. Through scholars, artists, practitioners, and students, the program examines how the 1966 flood reshaped Florence’s identity, its relationship with the Arno, and its understanding of cultural preservation. Even today, the conference also considers how Florence continues to confront water, climate change, urban transformation, and the challenge of protecting its unique heritage for future generations.

Coffee and lunch breaks will be provided by Apicius International School of Hospitality. Attendance is free of charge.

For more information, please contact: conferences@auf-florence.org