The City

The Birthplace of the Renaissance

Florence is a global art capital, housing some of Italy’s most important artwork and architecture. The works of Brunelleschi can be seen throughout city buildings, helping define the city skyline, notably the Duomo. Intellectuals and artists found a home in Florence, such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Dante Alighieri. The David is an iconic piece of art that is featured in the Galleria dell’Accademia.

The Power of the Medici

Before coming to Florence, we had only heard of the Medici family briefly. After spending 4 months living in Florence, we quickly came to realize how important they are in the history and creation of Florence. They funded works from artists such as Da Vinci and Donatello, which fill Florence’s museums today. The Medici’s also commissioned the building of the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Medici, the Boboli Gardens, and more. Without them and their presence as an economic superpower, Florence would not be the powerful city it is today.

The Food

The food in Florence and in Italy as a whole is some of the best food in the world. The ingredients are fresh, and the food is made to order. This differs from the US where most of the food is frozen or produced in mass quantities. We were happy to learn that the food in Florence is really as good as it looks!

Ourselves

Traveling Solo isn’t Scary

Before coming into abroad, people would talk about how doing solo travel is dangerous as well as expensive. While that can be true, there are ways to make solo traveling safe and fun! It is not as intimidating as it seems, and can be a nice way to recharge away from other people.

Spend a Few Weeks in Florence

Everyone wants to make the most out of their abroad experience and travel to all the places on their bucket list. While it is fun to travel, it can also cause burnout easily. I was once traveling for 5 weeks straight, and after week 3 I was drained. It is important to know the city you are living in aside from the weekdays! When you have free weekends in Florence it is a great time to see all of the touristy places, as well as find the niche spots that allow you to fall in love with the city even more.

Abroad will Challenge and Change You in the Best Ways

Living in a foreign country for 4 months is very daunting, but is a life changing experience. From navigating public transportation in a new language, to planning trips every weekened, there are new fun adventures and challenges everyday. As a person, we have only grown from being abroad. We are now more well rounded, cultural, and educated on the world and on ourselves. We would not change this abroad experience for the world!

Firenze has been an amazing second home to us. The people really make the place, and we couldn’t have asked for a better city. To our next adventure!!

By: Rachel Dahling and Sydney Brooks