Take Me to the River[1] is the ninth edition of the walking Summer School promoted by the Laboratorio del Cammino (LdC), an inter-university network of researchers that develops research and teaching projects aimed at exploring the possibilities of walking within urban planning and design. The goal of this ninth edition is to follow by walking the course of a river—the Pesa stream, between the provinces of Siena and Florence—in order to foster a perspective on waterways that explores their morphogenetic and multifunctional role in the landscapes they traverse[2]. As Simon Schama (1995) wrote, rivers are the arteries of the landscape, as they shape its morphology, fertilize it, and influence both settlement patterns and their internal organization. However, processes of anthropization in recent decades have drastically reduced their complexity: rivers have mostly been viewed either as resources, within an extractive framework, or as risk factors. Yet, as numerous regeneration experiences demonstrate, rivers can once again become key structuring axes[3] of territorial projects intrinsically oriented toward sustainability, resilience, and the co-evolution of humans and nature. By following the course of the Pesa stream, Summer School participants will be able to interpret the river as a complex and integrated landscape infrastructure, with its own spatial depth defined by the watercourse itself, its riparian vegetation, and the slow mobility paths that run alongside it. This infrastructure is also connected to the surrounding hillsides through the Pesa’s tributaries, spontaneous vegetation formations, and minor road networks linking settlements and points of interest. Walking along this blue and green spine and its branches, students—accompanied by lecturers, researchers, and local stakeholders—will be able to broaden their perspective from the valley floor, where the river flows, to its entire watershed. In doing so, they will grasp the complexity of the processes that govern it and envision possibilities for restoring a renewed internal coherence, balancing functionality, hydraulic and hydrogeological stability, beauty, and habitability. The Summer School will take place from August 25 to September 4, 2026, and will consist of a walking route across the territory, starting from the upper Val di Pesa, within the municipalities of Radda and Castellina in Chianti, and ending in Montelupo Fiorentino. The final phase of production and elaboration of the Summer School outputs will also take place there, while the concluding presentation day will be held in Florence, at the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence.​

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THEME AND TERRITORY

Take Me to the River proposes to interpret the river as an opportunity for the aesthetic and structural unveiling of the landscape, enabling the simultaneous perception of its sensory, morphological, and perceptual values, as well as its internal relationships of various kinds, its tangible qualities linked to everyday practices of inhabiting places, and the critical issues that demand a strong assumption of technical and civic responsibility on the part of future designers. The territory to be explored is the Val di Pesa, located between the provinces of Florence and Siena and crossed by the stream having the same name, which originates in the Chianti hills and flows into the Arno River near the town of Montelupo Fiorentino, within the Florence metropolitan area. It is a complex and diverse territory—a valley of hybrid character—where natural areas alternate with densely urbanized and infrastructured contexts, high-quality contemporary architecture, and significant historical and heritage elements.

Stretching for about 55 km, the Pesa stream rises in the upper valley (where the walking path will begin), a highly natural area where the river runs deeply incised between rocky banks; the slopes are covered with woodland interrupted only by extensive specialized vineyards, and settlements are sparse and of historical origin. This is one of the most typical and iconic Tuscan landscapes, geographically coinciding in part with the Chianti subregion.

Continuing downstream, a clear and recognizable landscape break introduces the middle valley, which is much more anthropized and settled, with extensive residential and industrial areas developed along the riverbanks since the 1960s, as well as major infrastructural corridors. Finally, the lower valley landscapes emerge, where these dynamics intensify, while the surrounding hills display agricultural mosaics clearly shaped by the historical sharecropping system, with farmhouses, parish churches, and villa-estates.

The Val di Pesa is thus, in some respects, an archetype of the Tuscan landscape; in others, it is a “transparent” valley[4] with an uncertain identity (especially when compared to nearby Chianti), marked by processes of urbanization and infrastructural development that have generated evident conflicts between the built environment and the river territory.

By walking along the Pesa and the selected transects corresponding to its tributaries, students will engage with several critical issues—such as water scarcity, riverbed artificialization and hydraulic risk, loss of biodiversity in the watercourse and along its banks, and conflicts with productive areas—but also with a range of opportunities for social and ecological regeneration. These include the recovery of spaces for natural river dynamics, the enhancement of fluvial ecological corridors, the valorization of the historical settlement system, public spaces and collective facilities, slow mobility networks, abandoned areas as privileged sites for transformation, and industrial areas as testing grounds for integrated regeneration.

In this perspective, the river becomes a new landscape backbone along which to coordinate actions for climate change adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, and renewed public accessibility to the watercourse and its banks, with an approach that minimizes impact on natural systems. Local communities in the Val di Pesa have long been active on these issues, particularly since the signing in 2019 of the Pesa River Contract, a voluntary and negotiated planning instrument involving the nine municipalities of the area along with numerous other institutional and non-institutional stakeholders. More recently, the themes addressed by the River Contract have become central pillars of an ongoing landscape project promoted by the Tuscany Region, aimed at implementing the regional landscape plan and supporting local development. The Take Me to the River Summer School will therefore benefit from productive synergies with the rich body of existing projects in the area, offering participants the opportunity to understand the transformative potential of landscape—both as a lens for the structural interpretation of river territories and as an integrated approach to their planning and design.​

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PROGRAM

Two training days are scheduled before the beginning of the walk: one held online and one in person. Both will provide participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to carry out the Summer School activities. Attendance at both training sessions is mandatory.

The online training session will take place on the afternoon of Monday, July 20, via the Zoom platform. The in-person training day will be held on Tuesday, August 25 in Florence, at the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence. The program will include a seminar on methodological issues related to practicing urban planning through walking, a presentation on the territory to be explored and on the related planning tools and policies, and an initial discussion with participants aimed at outlining the objectives and working methods of the Summer School.

The Summer School will take place from August 26 to September 4, 2026, and will consist of a walking itinerary from the municipalities of Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti (province of Siena) to Montelupo Fiorentino, passing through Greve in Chianti, Barberino Tavarnelle, Montespertoli, San Casciano Val di Pesa, Montespertoli, Scandicci, and Lastra a Signa. Each day, the group will walk between 10 and 20 kilometers to reach the next stop, where they will stay overnight.

On Friday, September 4, a final Study Day will be held at the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence to present the results of the Summer School and assess its outcomes. Participation in the Study Day is mandatory for the awarding of ECTS credits. The results of the analytical and design work will be published on the website of the Laboratorio del Cammino, and a selection will be the subject of a subsequent publication.​

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE​ 

The Call for Applications to participate in the Summer School is open from April 30 to June 3, 2026. Eligible applicants include undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree programs in: Urban and Territorial Planning; Urbanism; Architecture; Landscape Architecture; Geography and Territorial Studies; Design; Building Engineering–Architecture; Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as related fields. Applicants should come from the Summer School’s partner universities: LAUD/Bilkent University, University of Florence, Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Milano, University of Camerino, University of Cagliari, University of Molise, University of Palermo, University of Basilicata, University of Bologna, University of Parma, University of Trieste, University of Pavia and University of Naples 'Federico II'.

Students from other universities are also welcome to apply; however, their admission will be subject to limited availability. The maximum number of participants is 30.

To apply, candidates must submit by June 3, 2026: an academic curriculum vitae, a motivation letter, and two projects representative of their academic work, to the following email address: laboratoriodelcammino@gmail.com. The Summer School will be conducted in Italian. Applicants who are not native Italian speakers are required to specify their level of proficiency in Italian in their CV.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Monday, June 15, 2026.

During the Summer School, participants will work in groups to produce an instant report (in a format of their choice) and an A1 vertical map-diary presenting the results of their research and activities. Groups will be inter-university, composed of students from different institutions within the network.

At the end of the Summer School, participants from partner universities will be awarded between 3 and 6 ECTS credits (depending on their study plan), based on the evaluation of their final work by the Scientific Committee of the Laboratorio del Cammino during the concluding Study Day, scheduled for September 4 at the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence.

Each group of students will be supported by two mentors, who will provide guidance throughout the development of the work.​

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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST

Participation in the Summer School requires the payment—upon registration—of accommodation costs and the rental of a van with driver for the transport of luggage. An approximate estimate of these expenses is €200 per participant (+ €2 stamp duty). Travel to Florence is at each participant’s own expense.

During the itinerary, the group will be accommodated in public spaces or facilities made available by the local administrations along the route, as well as in hostels or other budget-friendly accommodations. Participants are expected to demonstrate adaptability and a spirit of sharing, while respecting individual needs and values.

Most meals will be prepared by the group itself, based on a shared fund collected at the beginning of the Summer School directly by the organizers.

 

For any information, please send an email to laboratoriodelcammino@gmail.com. 

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[1] Take me to the river is a song written by Al Green and Teenie Hodges in 1974, which achieved its greatest fame through the 1977 version by Talking Heads.

[2] Reclus E. 1869, Histoire d’un ruisseau, Hetzel, Paris.

[3] Schama S. 1995, Paesaggio e memoria, Mondadori, Milano, p. 371.

[4] Nesi L. (2025), “Il Contratto di fiume del torrente Pesa”, in Gisotti M.R., Lucchesi F., Morelli E. (edited by), The shape of water. Reflections, research, and strategies for the Pesa river agreement, special issue Contesti. Città Territori Progetti, pp. 185-190.

Gisotti M.R. (2025), “Il Contratto di fiume come progetto strategico e integrato di paesaggio. Una sperimentazione nel territorio della Val di Pesa”, in ivi, pp. 191-214.

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Summer School promoted by:

Laboratorio del Cammino – Associazione di Promozione Sociale

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Dipartimento di Architettura (DiDA), Università degli Studi di Firenze

Dipartimento di Scienze, Progetto e Politiche del Territorio (DiST), Politecnico di Torino

Dipartimento di Architettura e Studi Urbani (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano

Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura, Università degli Studi di Trieste

Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura (DIA), Università degli Studi di Parma

Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura (DICAr), Università degli Studi di Pavia

Dipartimento di Architettura (DA), Università degli Studi di Bologna

Scuola di Architettura e Design e Scuola di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi di Camerino

Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio, Università degli Studi del Molise

Dipartimento di Architettura (DiARC), Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

Dipartimento per l’Innovazione Umanistica, Scientifica e Sociale (DIUSS), Università degli Studi della Basilicata

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale e Architettura (DICAAR), Università degli Studi di Cagliari

Dipartimento di Architettura (DARCH), Università degli Studi di Palermo

Dipartimento di Scienze della Formazione (DISFOR), Università degli Studi di Catania

Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design (LAUD), Bilkent University

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EQuiStiamo Associazione di Promozione Sociale – Progetto Vaghe Stelle

Associazione Archivio Storico Olivetti (AASO)

Progetto Fiori

Ikonemi Centro indipendente fotografia di paesaggio

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With the support of:

Contratto di Fiume del torrente Pesa

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Organizing Committee

Maria Rita Gisotti, Elena Tarsi, Benedetta Masiani (Università degli Studi di Firenze), Luca Lazzarini, Serena Marchionni (coordinatori LdC).

 

Scientific Committee

Cristiana Rossignolo (DiST/Politecnico di Torino), Marco Mareggi, Chiara Merlini, Andrea Rolando, Luca Lazzarini (DAStU/Politecnico di Milano), Filippo Schilleci e Annalisa Giampino (DARCH/Università di Palermo), Luciano De Bonis (Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio/Università del Molise), Anna Maria Colavitti e Sergio Serra (DICAAR/Università di Cagliari), Chiara Rizzi e Maria Valeria Mininni (DIUSS/Università della Basilicata), Massimo Sargolini e Flavio Stimilli (Università di Camerino), Elena Mucelli e Stefania Rossl (DA/Università di Bologna), Maria Rita Gisotti e Elena Tarsi (DiDA/Università di Firenze), Michele Zazzi e Barbara Caselli (DIA/Università di Parma), Elena Marchigiani e Sara Basso (Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura/Università di Trieste), Andrea Membretti e Roberto De Lotto (DICAr/Università di Pavia), Maria Federica Palestino e Gilda Berruti (DiARC/Università di Napoli Federico II), Hatice Karaca (LAUD/Bilkent University), Giambattista Bufalino (DISFOR/Università di Catania), Daniele Cinciripini e Serena Marchionni (Ikonemi), Daniela Allocca (Progetto Fiori), Marcella Turchetti (Associazione Archivio Storico Olivetti), Pierangelo Miola (EQuiStiamo/Progetto Vaghe Stelle).

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