Study Abroad | Florence

Housing

Student Apartments

Housing is in the center of the city, not more than 30 minutes on foot or by public transportation from the  Global Education Center. Students using public transportation should budget approximately 45 euros for a monthly bus pass to travel from their housing to classes. 

• Between 2 and 6 AIFS students share one apartment 
• Double room 
• Fully-equipped kitchen and bathroom 
• Two sets of linens and blankets
• Washing machine
• Internet access is included in all AIFS  housing in Florence  

Meals

The included meal plan is one of the highlights of the Florence program, with almost 100% of students rating it “excellent” every summer. It gives you a unique opportunity to become part of the Florentine culinary culture, dining alongside locals in selected restaurants and trattorias or shopping in neighborhood grocery stores. 

• May Term students receive a total of 20 vouchers 
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• Students may opt out of the meal plan and pay a reduced program fee

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Florence

City Facts

History

Florence was one of the wealthiest cities in medieval Europe and became the epicenter of trade and finance. The city is also considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and has been called “the Athens of the Middle Ages.”

Architecture

Florence’s incredible artwork and architecture caused Forbes to label the city as one of the most beautiful on earth and the reason millions of tourists a year flock to see the historic center of Florence which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Site Staff

AIFS in Florence Director, Summer Program

Simona Michelotti

Laurea cum laude in Pedagogy at the University of Florence 

Simona was born in Malta, but very soon moved to Italy. She is used to say that her heart is divided between her love for Florence and the one for South Tyrol. She loves to every day walk through the Ponte Vecchio admiring the beauty of Florence, but she cannot stay too much far away from the breathtaking Dolomites mountains, where she hikes or snowshoes according to the season. She is also a wine lover and loves to cook for her friends and family, as a typical Italian! 

Very soon she understood the importance of Study Abroad, when during high school, she spent a summer at a college in Florida: a meaningful experience that somehow directed all her future choices. 

Simona has been working full time for AIFS since 1998, covering different roles, such as Director of the Internship and Service Learning Program, Director of the Summer School, and she also ran a J-Term program on the Dolomites. She is now the Dean of the Florence Program, although she refers to herself as an Educator who has the honor to prepare the ground field for unforgettable learning experiences and change the students’ lives forever, exactly like it happened to her. 

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University. 

Cultural Activities

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of Italian culture, the Program Director arranges activities and excursions. 

Many activities promote a way of learning through “hands-on” experience as well as integration with the local community to allow students to get the most from life in Florence. Most events are included in the program fee and only a few require a small supplementary fee. Examples of activities are: