Florence
A UNESCO icon for a unique academic, intellectual, visual, and biographical experience.
A UNESCO treasure, Florence draws millions worldwide, once Italy’s capital (1865-1870). Home to the world’s largest masonry dome (1436), the city hosted masters like Michelangelo and Leonardo. Florence, birthplace of gelato and brands like Gucci, Lotti, and Ferragamo, resonates with creativity. It sparked the “Stendhal syndrome” and ranks 16th in European tourism. With 5.1 million annual visitors, including 18,000 American students, Florence blends history, art, and cultural allure. The Florentine dialect birthed the Italian language, and the Uffizi Gallery stands among the world’s finest museums.
Live Florence
If you are looking for art, culture, and for a full immersion across history, Florence will provide you with inspirations in every corner. Visit Renaissance churches, world-famous galleries, renowned restaurants, libraries, and archives… Sit in our campus, contemplate the scenario, and design your journey across one of the world’s most iconic cities.
> Visit the official website for tourism in Florence.
All upcoming shows and exhibitions here:
> MUSE
Among Florence’s important museums:
> Gallerie degli Uffizi > Galleria dell’Accademia > Palazzo Pitti > Palazzo Vecchio > Palazzo del Bargello > Museo Galileo
> Museo dell’opera del Duomo > Museo Salvatore Ferragamo > Museo del novecento
Celebrate your stay in Florence with a full Florentine meal: an antipasto (starter) with prosciutto e formaggi (cured ham and cheese); then try either the typical “Fiorentina” (a one-kilo traditional steak) or a vegetarian recipe, the “pappa al pomodoro” (a tasty bread-based recipe, dressed with refined oil and tomato). Order “vin santo e cantucci,” a very traditional fruity spirit to dip nuts-based cookies. Buon appetito!
Restaurants, trattorie:
Delivery services:
As the very cradle of Renaissance and therefore of human-based proportions, services, and well-being, Florence is designed to be a very walkable city. Indeed, most important monuments and attractions are all reachable on foot. For destinations just outside the city center, pop on buses, trams and “treni cittadini” (tram-trains). Taxi and car sharing services are moreover available at all time (via app).
Metro, tram, bus, taxi:
> Autolinee toscane > AppTaxi > TaxiMove
Carsharing:
Trains:
If by day Florence is the city of art and culture, at night it becomes a perfect scene for a vibrant nightlife. Have an aperitivo by the Lungarno surrounded by famous sculptures, prestigious palazzi and astonishing fountains.
Curious to explore the DJ scene? Every disco in town has its own style and music genre – it’s hard not to find the right one for you! Enjoy live concerts as well: emerging groups and international bands frequently stop by the city and hold open air performances across the whole city and its iconic squares.
Ready to go out?
Nightlife, music, events:
> Zero > GogoFirenze > Pitti immagine > Festival dei popoli > Maggio musicale fiorentino > Middle east now
Are you ready to explore Florence and its sorroundings?
Florence’s Duomo, officially Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, is a stunning architectural marvel located in the very heart of the city. Designed by Brunelleschi, its iconic red dome dominates the whole surrounding skyline. The hybridization of Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance styles on its façade are embellished with a polyphony of intricate sculptures that echo a luxurious and heroic past. Climbing up to the top of dome offers memorable panoramic views, along with the inside, where you’ll find impressive artworks – including Vasari’s frescoes and Paolo Uccello’s clock. The Duomo really captivates with its grandeur and historical significance any visitor and eye.
Ponte Vecchio is a timeless symbol of charm and history. Dominating the Arno River, this medieval bridge is renowned for its unique shops on both sides, which create a vibrant, memorable, and picturesque scenario for people from any corner of the world. The bridge gathers a range of jewellers, art dealers, and souvenir shops with its distinctive architecture that benefits from the scenic river flowing beneath and that makes of Ponte Vecchio a living testament to Florence’s rich heritage and artistic allure.
The Uffizi Gallery holds an unparalleled collection of masterpieces, housed in a historic building designed by Giorgio Vasari. The gallery showcases works by iconic artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raffaello. Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, da Vinci’s Annunciation, and Michelangelo’s Tondo Doni are just some of the icons that characterize this unique treasure of artistic brilliance.
The Chianti Region is known for its picturesque vineyards, charming villages like Greve and Radda, as well as for its iconic wines like the famous Chianti Classico. The region is characterized by historic castles such as the Castello di Brolio, as well as vineyard-covered hills tourists can explore through hiking and cycling trails that culminate with breathtaking panoramic views. The region’s culinary scene also features unmissable traditional Tuscan trattorias, century-old restaurants that still echo ancient flavors and recipes.
The Val d’Orcia is a UNESCO site in Tuscany; a mesmerizing landscape characterized by rolling hills, cypress trees, and charming medieval villages. This picturesque region is renowned for its postcard-perfect scenery, where every vista looks like a painted masterpiece by Leonardo – who indeed came from this very place. Such undulating hills are adorned with vineyards, olive groves, and golden fields of wheat, which create a visual symphony of colors and tones. Val d’Orcia invites students and visitors alike to explore its winding roads, iconic cypress trees, and famous countryside. It’s a haven for photographers, nature enthusiasts, and those seeking an authentic Tuscan experience amidst breathtaking beauty.
Cinque Terre, a stunning coastal region on the Italian Riviera, is a collection of five colorful villages perched along the rugged cliffs of the Ligurian coastline. The villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore boast a unique charm with their pastel-hued buildings, narrow winding streets, and breathtaking sea views. The region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its harmonious blend of human settlement and natural beauty. Visitors can explore the vibrant waterfronts, enjoy fresh seafood in local trattorias, and embark on scenic hikes along the cliffside trails that connect the villages. Cinque Terre provides a postcard-worthy escape, where the simplicity of life, stunning landscapes, and coastal allure converge to create an unforgettable experience along the Italian coast.
Design a full academic and life-changing experience with us.