studying abroad in Florence?
 

Well I live in Seattle, WA, and at my college there is an opprotunity to go to Florence Italy and study for a quarter. For those of you that HAVE been to Florence, what do you think of it? Overall I think it'd be a FANTASTIC opprotunity, but I've never been and am just curious to see what people think of it...

Well it appealed to persons as diverse as Robert and Elizabeth Browning, Henry James, Nancy Cunard -- do you need more names?

I was a student there for a "quarter" 30 years ago and yes, I loved it -- but NB it was winter, not tourist season. You will find many American students there -- that may be a plus or a minus, depending on your view.

Florence is very nice. What is it that you want to know?

I didn't study there, but a number of friends when I was in college did (this was about 10 years ago). They liked it, although, as the previous poster noted, many many American college students spend a semester or so there. Some people appreciate that. For others it's a drawback.

I say go for it, are you arranging this through a community college? That would be the way to go, I know it would be much more affordabe.What is your interest of study? Sometimes those study abroad programs can be limited.If you've never been to Italy , I highly suggest Florence. You could be in Rome in 1 1/2 hours, and Venice in three, if you take the bullet train. If you want to get away for the week end.
I was in Florence last Sept. and stayed near one of the language schools, I really enveied the students, studying in Italy.
Best of luck
Fluffy

One of my sons did an exchange quarter, but not in Florence. If they offer expertise in your field of study, I think it is a rare opportunity you would not want to miss.

One suggestion I would make is that you pick a quarter that abuts summer or the holiday break, so you can have a few extra weeks there when you are not tied up with studies, perhaps even have your parents come over and share the experience.

We too live in Seattle and my daughter is going to Siena next Spring to study and I'm SO EXCITED FOR HER! (Of course we're going to meet her there for a few days!) Florence is great too--I say GO FOR IT!

I studied in Mexico for a quarter when I was an undergraduate about 100 years ago, and am glad I did, but wish I had gone to Europe instead of Mexico!

Thank you for all your replies...

Yes, this is my freshman year in a COMMUNITY College, and it would be spring quarter. So..end of march- mid June. MY particular field of study would be journalism and photography.
I've ALWAYS dreamed over going over to Europe (besides Antarctica, the only continent I haven't been on), and living there for a few months would be amazing. I actually dont know what i want to know...haha. Just...about the city I guess. Any good sites you might know? Thanks again...

Just go--you'll love it! Amazing art, stunning skies, fantastic food and wine, a long and interesting history.

The Florentine men are pretty easy on the eyes, too.

Hi alm,

Go. Enjoy.
"No" in Italian is "No". "Yes" is "Si".

I was a student in Florence in 1987. It was one of the most worthwhile years of my life, and I am so glad I had and took the opportunity to study abroad. It was nice to explore all the great works of Renaissance art at my leisure, and also nice to have a "base" in Europe if I wanted to travel elsewhere. (And I did. I spent long weekends in Venice and Nice, went to Avignon, Arles, Orange, and also accompanied a British classmate home for a short school holiday.)

I hope you do this and love every moment!

BC

IMHO, Florence is the most wonderful city in the world! My first visit there was in 1982 and I have been a regular ever since and hope to live there one day in the near future.

I was an exchange student in Austria at the University of Salzburg in 1974 asnd it changed my life. I had never really travelled before that but I have not stopped since.

There is no greater education than travel and Florence is an absolutely fabulous city. There are a ton of American students there and it is a very easy city to get around in.
I think this is a wonderful opportunity for you!