students

Lifestyle

Florence treasures for 10 euro or less

By avoiding the well-known tourist destinations, it's possible to enjoy many of Florence's delights for less than 10 euro, But it involves some effort. For instance, it is easy to walk right by to the museum of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure without realizing it: the building'

Lifestyle

See Florence for less

The skies are clear over Florence, the sun is shining and the days are longer, but with the beautiful Tuscan weather come the big crowds. While the center is flooded with people, here is an itinerary for a day of sightseeing just east of the center and a little out

Lifestyle

Get fit: Part II

If you're the type who would never dream of facing shoe-conscious Florence in a pair of the world's most aesthetically unappealing footwear, running sneakers, luckily the city offers a wide range of sports facilities and public pools as perfect resources to help you get fit this spring

Lifestyle

Get fit

In case you haven't noticed, it's about that time of year again in Florence when the city seems to be coming out of hibernation from a long, winter slumber. The certainty that spring is on its way can be felt through the streets: the fashion on via Tournabuoni

Lifestyle

Shhh!

You may have heard whisperings about them as soon as you arrived here, leading to the realization that the so-called secret bakeries are not so secret after all. But the truth is, it is hard to keep quiet about them. Partygoers and night owls who have enjoyed an oven-

Lifestyle

Forget the beach: make waves in Tuscany’s art scene

The intense heat of summer is over and with it, the excuse to spend days confined to the perimeters of a beach towel. Now's the time to indulge the senses in Florence and Tuscany's innovative and plentiful art scene. Be at the forefront of the action and get

Lifestyle

Your essential Florence

Welcome to Firenze! Your visas are valid, classes have started, and you've learned to use that archaic mega-key to your apartment.... Auguri! Florence has been a hot study abroad spot since around 1660, when it was a must-stop on the Grand Tour. You can now proudly rank

Lifestyle

Living on the inside

  “Three years ago, I lugged a suitcase the size of a Fiat 500 up three flights of stone stairs to move into my host family’s apartment; it was the ...

Lifestyle

Get connected

Whether temporary visitors to Florence or long-term residents, netizens in the city can Tweet from the steps of Santa Croce and post photos on Facebook in Piazza Signoria just minutes after taking them.   The Firenze Wi-Fi initiative, started by the city and province of Florence in November

Lifestyle

Italian trains explained

For many travelers new to Europe, the world of train travel can be confusing, and when you add a foreign language to the mix, it is easy to feel defeated. There is always the looming fear that you will accidentally do something wrong and be suddenly faced with an Italian-

Lifestyle

Breakfast, any way you like it

During your semester abroad, you will likely come to miss one thing over all others: breakfast. Italian breakfast staples, the cornetto and cappuccino (which you thought you liked) will quickly become your worst nightmare. If Italians are famous for long meals at the table-they have never given up on

Lifestyle

What a difference a word makes

Although I know I can never claim the title ‘Florentine,' I have been living here for one month and would like to think that I am no longer a tourist. I prefer to think of myself as a ‘temporary resident.' And as a temporary resident, I am in

Lifestyle

Santo Spirito Area Guide

MEDICAL     1. Guardia Medica Via Sant'Agostino, 6r
- Tel. 055 215616 An after-hours medical service. Monday through Friday, 8pm to 8am. Saturdays, day before holidays, and holidays, 10am to 8pm. Sundays  8am to 8pm.   2. Farmacia Santa Trinita Piazza Dei Frescobaldi 13/r
&#

Lifestyle

Travel savvy

Even if you are in Florence for one semester, you may travel in Europe at least 5 out of the 12 or 13 weeks of your study abroad period. Some of these travel weekends will likely be in Italy, with an organized group or a school field trip where transport

Lifestyle

Florence and beyond in five days

Before studying abroad in Florence for four months, I was sure to tell my friends and family to visit. But, although I knew that having visitors was possible, I was not very confident that the bank accounts, availability or courage of most of my friends and family would result in

Lifestyle

Cheap and traditional

Peposo, ribollita, trippa, farinata, bollito. Not knowing how to pronounce them is no excuse for not trying Florence's tastiest traditional bites. Florentine cuisine is known as ‘cucina povera' for its robust and simple dishes made with local products.   Let's start with a predictable but important fact

Lifestyle

How to…

Read addresses   Getting lost while wandering around your new city is a great way to get to know your surroundings. However, when you have places to go and people to see, you don't want to waste time getting where you need to go.   There are two different

Lifestyle

Living Florence

No doubt one of your goals while studying abroad is to 'get to know' the city you will call home for the next three months. In an effort to help you meet that goal, TF has prepared this guide filled with tips on how to have a happy, healthy and

Lifestyle

Dream vacation

Have you ever dozed off in class, wishing you were relaxing in the French Riviera, touring Europe's most famous museums, or exploring the pyramids of Egypt? Well, wake up!  Fall break is fast approaching, and it is time to turn those dreams into realities.   As study abroad

Lifestyle

Forza Viola

In Florence, only one sport reigns supreme: calcio, or football, as our English cousins call it. Calcio is not to be confused in any way with ‘football Americano', but take note of the similarity in the reverence with which both are treated by their fans.   One Sunday, some

Lifestyle

Little by little, but starting right now

It's the start of my second semester abroad in the enchanting city of Firenze, but for many other students, it is just the beginning of the culture unraveling that is to be expected with any new place.   Italy is far more than just any other study abroad experience,

Lifestyle

Lost and found

I've concluded that it's the walk. Speeding down my street each morning as if I'm 15 minutes late for something, even when I have nowhere in particular to be, I stand out among the Florentines, whose measured steps and leisurely strolls belie any stress or pressing engagements.

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