Why Study in Florence?

Florence (Firenze to the locals) in the heart of Tuscany offers an unparalleled opportunity to students of art, history and literature to explore a wealth of museums, churches and culture in this most walkable of cities.

For many, it is the loveliest city in Italy, if not in Europe. Nearly every street is in some sense a showpiece. People from all over the world visit Florence museums and churches, but the city is more than just a constant reminder of art history. It is a busy city teeming with Italian vitality, a city for young people with cafés, shops and cinemas. Whether reliving the Renaissance, indulging in opera or feeling the passion of an Italian soccer match, Florence is a city worthy of discovery.

Historically, Florence was a Roman colony, founded in the fifth century B.C. First governed under feudal laws and afterward by bishops, Florence became a free commune shortly after 1100. From the beginning of the 14th century, Florentine merchants extended their commerce beyond the Alps and across the sea.

Situated on the banks of the River Arno, this city of half a million people has an immense wealth to offer the discerning visitor—from the architecture of Giotto, to Michelangelo's David and from the paintings of Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci to the Ponte Vecchio, 14th-century bridge across the Arno lined with shops, jewelers, goldsmiths and silversmiths.