By Makenna Sowards
Studying abroad is no easy feat. You are dropped into a brand-new world with different etiquette, standards, expectations, and languages. It’s an overwhelming feeling, to say the least. My first week here, I think I saw every one of my new friends cry at some point.
Continue reading How Gratitude Shapes Culture Shock: Navigating Overwhelming Unfamiliarity
By Meredith Bach
All around Florence, landscapes are changing as October comes to a close. Colored leaves pepper the trees and scatter through the streets, residents sport sweaters and coats, and the wind carries on with a little more bite across the Arno. Across the city, most restaurants and shops stay the same, although there are a select few that change their scenery. Between buildings and in corners of Florence, there are hints of Halloween decorations that emerge at the end of the month—but why only so few? With the holiday at the end of the month, one is left to wonder how Florence celebrates, if at all. Is Halloween a thing in Italy? What about the pumpkins and the costumes? How is Halloween celebrated in this part of the world?
Continue reading The Tricks, Treats, and Traditions of an Italian Halloween
By Meredith Bach
Florence, like a morning person, rises early and gets her work done in the first hours of the day. After all, when else would the piazzas and palaces come to life? Such a birth of movement and livelihood is only made possible by the rhythm and pulse of a Florentine morning. No sooner are the dark alleyways filling with light than the workings of the city inhale and breathe.
Continue reading Florence is a Morning Person
By Caylee Brand
After four months spent studying abroad in Florence, I reflect on my favorite moments as well as lessons I’ve learned, and share some of my friends stories as well.
Continue reading Then and Now: Studying Abroad in Florence
By Ryan Manor
Throughout the streets of Italy, it’s hard to ignore the abundance of Italians accompanied by their fabulous dogs. The cobblestone streets of Florence are swarming with leash-less pooches following closely behind their owners, doing a better job at navigating through the traffic of people than I can admit about myself. Even without a patch of grass in sight, these pooches seem completely and utterly at ease. Not to mention their impeccable fashion sense, from designer jackets to top hats, the people of Florence truly take dog ownership to an entirely new level. By observing these relationships, you can learn much more about Italian culture than you might think.
Continue reading Florentine Dogs
By Ryan Manor
If you’re a fan of live music, Florence has plenty to offer. Musicians make up a large part of the artist community and there are several venues around the city where you can enjoy some amazing tunes.
Continue reading Live Music in Florence
By Caylee Brand
One of the trickiest parts about being an international student in Florence is balancing classwork with experiencing the city. There’s just so much to do! But who says you can’t do both at the same time? Here are my top three favorite spots to study in Florence that allow you to get all your work done while still taking in all this incredible city has to offer.
Continue reading 3 Study Spots in Florence You Must Check Out
By Becca Baitel
As I near the end of my semester abroad, I reflect on how much there is left to see within Florence itself. As study-abroad students, many of us dedicate so much time to traveling, but how well do we even know our own city beyond the most famous attractions, such as the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio? On a blustery Tuesday afternoon, I decided to venture outside of the familiar, beloved center city, which houses so many of my incredible memories from throughout the semester and explore Le Cure. Offering views of the neighboring Fiesole and Tuscan countryside, Le Cure is a neighborhood located north of Florence on the banks of the
Mugnone River.
Something I noticed immediately was the fall foliage, the vibrant reds, and oranges still present in many of the trees. Missing the autumn season at home this year made this moment something I was quite excited by. Leaves crunching under my feet, I made my way over to
Piazza delle Cure, which features its legendary open-air market with clothing, artisan work, and food. Even on a cloudy weekday, the market was bustling with people, young children grabbing fresh produce on the way home from school, and women buying cardigans to keep warm as the seasons change. I was surprised I had never once heard about Le Cure in the entire duration of my stay here in Florence. While small in size, the Piazza immediately stood out to me as the central hub for Le Cure residents to gather and engage.
From its tree-lined streets scattered with independently-owned shops and easy access to the center city of Florence through the 1, 6, or 11 buses, and on foot, Le Cure provides a peaceful, natural ambiance perfect for a laidback afternoon day trip. For those wishing to gain a different perspective of the neighborhood, be sure to venture to the underground tunnels below the streets, which serve as a bypass to get over the train tracks. In Le Cure, looks are certainly deceiving, as these widely spread tunnel entrances can easily be overlooked. However, the tunnels feature an impressive array of unique graffiti art underneath! Even today, artists are still adding new work to these underground spaces, making Le Cure a vessel for creative expression. Le Cure also houses the famous Stadio Artemio Franchi, ACF Fiorentina’s home stadium, and many parks like the famous Pettini Bursi Park, offering yet another community center for people of all ages to interact with one another in this true Florentine gem.
By Becca Baitel
From the smells of fresh pastries blazing through the air on a warm, sunny morning to the vibrant hubbub and personality of the city, Florence has truly grown to be a second home to me after living here for a month. However, my study abroad experience has exposed me to a myriad of different emotions, many of which have been unpleasant and difficult to handle without the comfort of my family, friends, and most importantly, the gluten-free bakery down the street from my house. As time passes and reality begins to set in, battling homesickness, FOMO, and the stresses of school, traveling, and budgeting simultaneously can feel quite stifling. Learning how to radically accept and welcome feelings of joy, excitement, anticipation, and pleasure to coexist with ones of anxiety and stress is key to making the most of your study abroad experience.
By Becca Baitel
Firenze’s Santo Spirito neighborhood has an unparalleled, captivating charm which truly encapsulates the authentic Florentine experience. Walking down the street on a typical day, visitors can hear the sounds of bustling, open-air markets, smells of fresh produce, and the warm, inviting melody of church bells. Tucked away on the south side of the Arno River in the Oltrarno quarter, Santo Spirito is most notably home to the Basilica Santo Spirito, or the Church of the Holy Spirit. Donning a Renaissance architecture style, the church attracts the public on every day of the week except Wednesdays when it is closed. Behind its noticeably unadorned exterior in comparison to many other Florentine churches, its true beauty is displayed inside where visitors can discover some of Michelangelo’s earliest work, as well as the unique design and columns by architect, Filippo Brunelleschi. The Basilica faces the main square, which alone boasts plenty of trattorias, markets, galleries, and shops, catering to every age and interest. With its convenient location steps from the esteemed Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trinita bridges, Santo Spirito is a must-see for every traveler and student alike.
Continue reading Why Santo Spirito is a Visitor’s Best Introduction to Florence