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Living in Florence

Florence
CET Center
Università degli Studenti di Firenze
Housing, Meals & Italian Housemates
Excursions
Traveling Seminars

Florence
Some say central Tuscany is the most beautiful area in all of Italy. The countryside alone would merit this comment. But the architecture and artistic treasures add to the region's stunning beauty – the master pieces of Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Botticelli. The Uffizi Gallery, which contains works by some of the most famous painters and sculptors from the last few centuries; Florence's beautiful Duomo designed by Brunelleschi; and the Piazza della Signoria, the place where Michelangelo's David originally stood, are all within easy reach in Florence. 

CET Center
The CET Center is centrally located in a restored historic building next to the Arno River. This charming space is fully equipped with air conditioning, wireless internet, classrooms, office space and a computer room. Most classes meet at this Center, but many art history courses also take students outside the classroom to museums and sites around the city. Many language classes meet at the University of Florence.

Università degli Studenti di Firenze
The program is affiliated with the Università degli Studenti di Firenze (the University of Florence), an institution whose roots trace back to 1321. Located in the middle of Florence, the University offers courses and advanced degrees in over 11 disciplines, such as Agriculture, Architecture, Economics, Education, Law, Mathematics, Medicine and Political Science. The University also offers students use of its small library, computers and modern language laboratories.

Housing, Meals and Italian Housemates
Homestays: For serious students of Italian, CET offers a total immersion experience: an Italian homestay. This living arrangement is a fantastic way to practice Italian and avoid the tourist-heavy part of Florence. Homestays are located throughout the city and many students cite their homestay experience as the highlight of their time abroad. In addition to providing housing, homestays offer a window into a critical aspect of Italian culture--Italian home-cooked meals! There is an additional fee for this housing arrangement, so please contact CET's Italy staff or Vanderbilt for more information.

Apartments: Students who do not opt for homestays are housed in apartments near the historic center of Florence. Apartments, located between the CET Center and university classrooms, are an easy walk or short bus ride to both. Every apartment is fully furnished and provides a washer, cooking utensils and limited towels and linens. Cleaning service is provided once a month. All of the apartments are wired for DSL internet service. Air conditioning is not provided.

During the fall and spring terms, many apartments also house an Italian student. This arrangement provides students a unique chance to practice Italian and learn about Italian culture firsthand.

Meals: Meals are not included in the program fee. Students eat at the Università degli Studenti di Firenze cafeteria or at one of Florence's many local restaurants. Students may also cook meals at home with their Italian housemates.

Excursions
CET arranges local excursions to help students and housemates uncover every corner of Florence--the opera in the Boboli Gardens, studio art classes in Piazzale Michelangelo and food shopping in Mercato Centrale.

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Traveling Seminars
One highlight of the program is the traveling seminars. During all terms, core courses take students to historic sites away from Florence. For the Italian Cultural History course, students journey to Sicily, exploring historic sites and ancient ruins. For the Imagery and Public Space in Italy course, students visit Rome in order to see the world-renowned sculptures and paintings of the Vatican first-hand. Each trip is led by a faculty member with expertise in the particular study topics.