Florence deserves its reputation as the quintessential city for those wishing to truly experience Northern Italy. From the fantastic art to the friendly people to its gorgeous cathedral, Florence charms and welcomes.
Despite being a decidedly modern town, Florence managed to grow into today's world without losing the personality and flavor of a medieval village. Amazingly, Florence manages to be both, as its beautifully preserved buildings and stunning Renaissance art mix seamlessly with trendy boutiques and cafes. This makes Florence a rich environment for studying Italian history as the past meets the future, and the progression can be truly seen and appreciated.
Study Abroad Programs in Florence
Florence is also an incomparable location for studying art. There are numerous programs for studying abroad there that focus on all different aspects of the arts, ranging from Art 101 to much more specific programs in art history, Renaissance art, and a variety of other foci. The influence of the famous Medici family as patrons of the arts and rulers of the city can be seen throughout Florence. Their legacy astounds and impresses. Statistics from United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimate that 60% of the world's most important artwork can be found in Italy. Of that staggering total approximately half of that artwork is located in Florence.
Just a few of the astonishing sights not to be missed include the Duomo, the church of Santa Croce, the Pitti Palace, and the Piazza San Lorenzo. Also check out Florence's museums including the Bargello Musuem which houses many wonders including Michelangelo's Bacchus, Donatello's David, Giambologna's Mercury, and Brunelleschi's designs for the baptistery doors competition.
Interestingly, Florence is also home to the European University Institute. The EUI was founded in 1972 by the European Community Member States and is dedicated to advanced research in three categories: fundamental, comparative, and Community. The students there carry out research (typically over a three year period) in European history, law, economics, political and social sciences.
Another benefit of Florence that cannot be ignored is its ideal geographical location. Florence is located in Italy's Tuscany region and is a great starting point for exploring the northern half of the country. Tuscany is renowned as one of the most beautiful regions in the world, and there are a number of fascinating destinations within easy reach of Florence including Pisa, a collection of charming hill towns, and the many other cities and sights of Northern Italy.
Florence is also logically a wonderful place to study Italian. The warm and welcoming nature of the people there make it a natural location to develop and practice Italian language skills. The beauty of the Italian art and surrounding countryside creates an inspiring setting for those mastering the grammar and vocabulary of the equally beautiful and flowing language.
Not the sort of city to limit their interests, Florence's love of the arts extends to many areas including theater, cinema, dance, and more. The city is therefore rich in activity and cultural events as well as attractions. Operas, ballets, special guest performances, plays, concerts, shows, and any other type of exhibition you can imagine entertain visitors and residents year round.
Overall, Florence is one of the most cultured and historically rich places in the world. Students there can expect to learn from the great artists and thinkers of history as well as the friendly and talented modern population. For all things art, Florence is the destination of choice.
