About the City

What better place to find inspiration than the birthplace of the Renaissance? Florence has cultivated the ideas and inventions of visionaries like Galileo, Leonardo, and Machiavelli. It enabled talents such as Brunelleschi, Dante, and Donatello to emerge to fame. More recently, designers like Cavalli, Gucci, and Ferragamo call Florence home. There's something in the air of this central Italian city that sparks creativity. Discover your muse when you study abroad in Florence, where you can learn about art history while gazing at Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, build your artistic portfolio in the city of Michelangelo, be wowed by high-end fashion as you walk down the street, and satisfy your every foodie-and-oenophile dream as you slip into your own Florentine life.

Student Testimonials

"What I appreciated most about my experience with CEA CAPA Florence was how integrated my program was with the host city and culture. Because the CEA CAPA Florence building is located in such a lively and bustling part of the city (Santa Croce), it re..."

Sidnhy Cheng

Oberlin College

GoOverseas

Fall 2023, Italy

"My time studying abroad was the most enriching experience of my life so far. Despite only being abroad with my class for 6 weeks, I feel as though I spent months there due to the amount of knowledge and perspective on the world I gained throughout my..."

Gabriela Orlando

University of Miami

GoAbroad

Summer 2023, Italy

"My first week in Florence was a culture shock, transitioning from the open-air city of Los Angeles to the compact town. Despite initial apprehension, I discovered the hidden gems behind the yellow concrete buildings. A local coffee shop became a comf..."

Georgia Pulier

Tulane University

GoOverseas

Fall 2023, Italy

"CEA CAPA's Florence program exceeded my expectations. Welcomed into charming apartments in a great location, I quickly bonded with roommates. Orientation provided essential tips and reassurance. Small class sizes fostered close relationships with pee..."

Hannah Alter

Tulane University

GoOverseas

Fall 2023, Italy

"I can't say enough good things about this experience. I went overseas not knowing anyone, which can be very scary, but CEA CAPA made me feel so supported throughout my entire trip. The class went so well and I brought all my knowledge back home. But ..."

Abbey League

Clemson University

GoOverseas

Summer 2023, Italy

Programs in Florence (8)

Show All Florence Programs

What Students are Saying about Italy

Delicious Food I Ate while Studying Abroad in Rome, Italy
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Delicious Food I Ate while Studying Abroad in Rome, Italy

CEA CAPA alum Anna Keller writes about the amazing variety of food she ate in Italy during a semester studying abroad in Rome. Read more.

Exploring Florence with the Locals While Studying Abroad
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Exploring Florence with the Locals While Studying Abroad

CEA CAPA alum Samantha reflects on studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and making connections with the city through professors and locals.

My Experience Studying Abroad in Italy with OCD
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My Experience Studying Abroad in Italy with OCD

CEA CAPA alum Maya Nissenbaum shares about her experience studying abroad with OCD. Read more. 

View more blog posts

Where You'll Study

CEA CAPA Florence Center

The CEA CAPA Florence Center provides instruction in the disciplines of liberal arts, business, and social sciences, with courses that turn the city of Florence into a living classroom. Here, you'll choose from a wide array of courses offered in English, actively improving your language skills while settling into daily life in a city rich in culture and history.

Designed to exploit the educational opportunities that make Florence and Italy remarkable, programs feature courses in art history, anthropology, business, history, gender studies, Italian language, management, marketing, political science, and sociology. Lessons incorporate activities that take you out of the classroom and into the city and community to visit museums, local businesses, food markets, artisans’ workshops, and immigration centers. CEA CAPA Florence Center faculty are committed to fostering intellectual and cultural growth, encouraging you to apply classroom learning to daily life experiences and draw connections between formal and informal lessons. Active study allows you to gain a historical, social, and commercial understanding of Florence and Italy, while developing an international cultural fluency that can help you succeed in our increasingly globalized world.

CEA CAPA Florence Center courses will urge you to critically reflect upon and articulate your own national, cultural, and social identities. Active class participation provides the opportunity for interaction and collaboration—both critical factors in academic and professional success.

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Student Lounge
Student Lounge
Study Area
Study Area
Counseling Services
Counseling Services
Student Health Services
Student Health Services
CEA CAPA Florence Center
Student Lounge
Student Lounge
Study Area
Study Area
Counseling Services
Counseling Services
Student Health Services
Student Health Services
Our Partner Institutions

Excursions

Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.

Where You'll Stay

*Housing options may change and will be confirmed on the housing application form prior to the start of the term. Below are the housing options that have been offered in the past.

Alumni Ambassadors

Gabriela Orlando

Gabriela Orlando

University of Miami
Ally Koeppel

Ally Koeppel

Tulane University
Georgia Pulier

Georgia Pulier

Tulane University
Samantha Lattanze

Samantha Lattanze

University of Miami
Michelle Silver

Michelle Silver

University of Massachusetts
Kade Schmiedicke

Kade Schmiedicke

Purdue University
Lily Cope

Lily Cope

College of Charleston
Drew Hengehold

Drew Hengehold

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Olivia McCabe (She/Her)

Olivia McCabe (She/Her)

Tulane University
Stephanie Eliseo

Stephanie Eliseo

Lehigh University
Megan Nolley

Megan Nolley

Auburn University
Julia Benjamin

Julia Benjamin

Tulane University
Hayley Camponescki

Hayley Camponescki

University of Massachusetts
Haley Noe (She/Her)

Haley Noe (She/Her)

University of Georgia

Get a Flight Credit worth up to $500 when you apply with code* by November 17, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Studying abroad in Florence – Firenze – is a life-changing event for many students. When you study abroad or intern abroad in Italy, you experience learning outside the traditional classroom setting, gain global experience, and expand your sense of cultural awareness. Plus, there is a large international student community to connect with in Florence.
Florence is among the more expensive other Italian cities but more affordable than the nation’s capital city, Rome.
Florence is a flourishing tourist city, so petty crimes like pickpocketing and theft may occur in crowded areas. The average crime rate in Florence is low, making it a favorable city to study or intern abroad in.

CEA CAPA offers many housing options while you’re studying abroad in Florence. Standard CEA CAPA housing is included in your overall program price. You may also have the option of arranging your own independent housing, but we recommend letting us do the work for you! For more information on housing, connect with your site specialist.

Florence study abroad programs offer several housing options for students depending on their preferences. Most of CEA CAPA Florence’s housing options are located close to campus or in the city center, about a 5- to 25-minute walk away from the CEA CAPA Florence Center and Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA).

Florence housing options include:

  • Apartments
  • Apartments with an Italian Roommate
  • Homestays
  • Independent Living
  • Palazzo Dello Studente
Florence is the central Italian city that sparks creativity for every visitor. You can learn about art history while gazing at Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, build your artistic portfolio, and satisfy every foodie craving as you slip into your Florentine life.Florence is the capital city of the Tuscany region of Italy, located about 145 miles northwest of Rome.The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence, became known as a haven for artists by advocating for the arts and cultivating the ideas of visionaries like Dante, Donatello, Galileo, Leonardo, and Michelangelo. More recently, designers like Cavalli, Gucci, and Ferragamo call Florence home. It’s a shopper’s paradise and only a 45-minute train ride from the beach. The iconic Duomo, Pitti Palace, and  Uffizi Museum are just a few of the famous museums and landmarks in Florence.

Florence Onsite Staff

Emily Schiavone

Emily Schiavone

Center Director
Monica Francioso, PhD

Monica Francioso, PhD

Academic Director, Florence