When picking a location for study abroad, there is a lot to consider: the food, the culture, the history, the location, etc. It can become overwhelming when listing the pros and cons of each place. So, we compiled a list of 3 compelling reasons why your next study abroad location should be Florence, Italy…
1. The Food
Everyone knows that Italy is known for its food. From pasta to pizza, they have endless delicious cuisine. However, different regions and cities in Italy specialize in different foods. Florence, specifically, is known for its tasty paninis and rich steak. So, you can never go wrong when choosing where your next meal is in Florence. Some restaurants and cafès we recommend are: Osteria Pastella, Trattoria Zà Zà, Milkeria, and Il Grande Nuti Trattoria. Additionally, Florences is home to some amazing gelato for dessert!
If you are more in the mood to cook at home, Florence has some amazing markets you can shop from. At the famous Mercato Centrale in the center of the city, you can get fresh ingredients for a meal, or you can have a prepared meal in the upstairs part of the historical building. In addition, the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio is located in a bustling neighborhood with many fun things to do surrounding the market.
If you don’t know how to cook, sign up for a cooking class! Florence offers numerous different types of cooking classes all over the city. You may cook tiramisu, ravioli, chicken, potatoes, etc. It is a good experience to learn from Italian cooks, and you get to taste the delicious food afterward!
You will never get tired of the food!!
2. The Local History & Culture
Not only is the food alluring, but Florence’s rich past makes it an important city to visit. With the sculpture of David by Michelangelo to the amazing street music, Florence packs a lot of culture into one city. Every turn you take in the city center, you can find an amazing sculpture, museum, church, etc. to explore. Notably, Florence is home to the Uffizi Gallery, Duomo di Firenze, Boboli Gardens, Ponte Vecchio, and more that you can check off your bucket list.
If you are less of a history junkie, you can enjoy a soccer game hosted by ACF Fiorentina or attend Calcio Storico (a historical Florentine football game and event) around June. In addition, Florence has many great shops and jewelry stores for you to shop to your heart’s desire. The Ponte Vecchio holds many jewelry stores on its historic bridge for you to browse. During the weekends there are numerous markets all around the city for you to shop for souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, kick-kacks, etc.
Florence, a city that was founded centuries ago in 59 BC, has endless options for fun, history, and new experiences.
3. The Location
Why do we consider Florence to be a prime location?
Situated in the heart of Italy, Tuscany’s capital, Florence, offers easy access to many sought-after Italian destinations. Some of the easy-to-get-to locations include: Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Viareggio, Prato, and San Gimignano, to name a few, that are all less than a two-hour train ride away. These are easy day trips to escape Florence for a few hours that are still in Tuscany. The region has so much to offer, not only their historical and lively cities, but their wineries, too. Florence is a great location to sign up for a wine tasting or wine trip to a winery. You can taste the rich, Tuscan wine with just a short bus ride to a winery of your choosing!
If you want to get out of the region, Florence is also the perfect location to do just that! With their train station, Santa Maria Novella, and the airport, Peretola, you have endless destinations to choose from! Between all of us, we visited many marvelous destinations. These include: Paris, Vienna, Lake Como, Malta, Venice, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Rome, Vatican City, etc.
Studying in Florence allows you to become the traveler you always wanted to be! So, what are you waiting for!?!?
Written By: Lydia Keith, Lauren Golla, Carly Katz, and Rachel Malone
LinkedIn: Lydia Keith, Lauren Golla, Carly Katz, Rachel Malone
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