Every once in a while, a professor becomes a mentor and an inspiration to his or her students.

Niccolo Capponi, an instructor in Florence, Italy, has been that and more to a number of ISU students.

Capponi teaches a political science course for Iowa State’s Florence Study Abroad program.

Capponi will be making his first visit to Iowa State this week at the second annual Florence Symposium.

Capponi will give the symposium’s opening lecture on Friday evening.

The lecture is titled “Political, Military and Cultural Implications of the Sack of Rome, 1527” and will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Carl Bleyle, retired music professor and a friend of Capponi, directs the Florence program. Bleyle says although Capponi’s classes are difficult, his students seem to greatly enjoy them.

“Dr. Capponi is a tough taskmaster, but beloved by most of our students,” Bleyle says.

Kelly Kruse, junior in music, says it was a delight to be in Capponi’s class.

“He was enthusiastic, unconventional and interesting,” Kruse says.

“He was also kind and very hopeful that we would take life lessons away from his course.

“Taking a class with Niccolo was like having a short-term mentor.”

Chris Reardon, senior in political science, had a similar experience in Capponi’s class.

“He is one of the best teachers I have had in college,” he says.

“He is a pretty amiable person and his classes are always enjoyable. His class was the most difficult that I took while I was in Florence, but it was also the one in which I learned the most.”

While in Florence, Capponi hosted Reardon and his classmates at his Tuscan home.

There, he showed them the process of wine making and gave them a tour of his estate.

Capponi is also “Count Capponi,” a descendent of the influential Capponi family of Florentine aristocracy, which dates back to the 13th century.

Despite his ancestry, his students saw no hint of arrogance in him.

“He is in no way stuffy or condescending,” Reardon says.

“In fact, it is quite clear that he always wants his students to enjoy his class and learn as much as possible.”

In addition to teaching an enjoyable and interesting class, Capponi’s students say his teaching has had a great influence on their lives.

“Dr. Capponi forced us to look at situations from all angles and to question everything we read or discussed,” Kruse says.

“He is a man who has learned many lessons in academic and practical areas of life, and who has the enthusiasm to pass them on to young minds.”

What: Florence Symposium

Where: Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Cost: free