Written by Sofia Gonzalez (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Student Correspondent for CET Florence, Summer 2026
Before studying abroad, I knew life in Italy would be different from life in the U.S., but I quickly realized there were far more differences than I expected. In this post, I’ll share some of the culture shocks I experienced while living in Florence, along with what I’ve learned from adapting to a new country.
Summer Heat
Possibly the most notable shock to me was how hot it is here in Florence. For most of the program, temperatures have been in the 90s and reaching 100 (Farenheit). This, combined with the densely packed city make me feel like I can’t go outside without sweating.
To make matters worse, many places have no or minimal air conditioning! We are lucky enough that our CET classrooms and apartment bedrooms have AC, but of course, many of the old churches and historic sites we visit don’t. However, we are here during the hottest time of the year, and I’m sure other seasons in Florence have much more pleasant temperatures.
Restaurants
The dining experience in Italy is another thing that differs a fair amount from the U.S. In Italy, meals are taken at a much slower pace. The waiter won’t be hovering around your table, and you have to ask for the bill when you’re ready.
Meals themselves are also much later than I’m used to back at home, with lunch usually from 1:00-2:30 pm and dinner from 7:30-10:30 pm. Of course, many places catering to tourists will be open earlier, but some authentic Italian restaurants don’t open for dinner until 8pm! This is a huge difference from many Americans that eat dinner at 5 or 6pm.
Some of the costs paid when sitting down to eat at an Italian restaurant differ as well. Tips are not expected as they are in the U.S. Instead, each person pays a coperto or cover charge of a few dollars. Another thing that was shocking to me is that water is not free at restaurants. You can order a bottle for the table, but you will have to pay for it.
Restaurants are also a good place to use the bathroom because there aren’t many public ones available. Typically, you will have to buy something in order to use an establishment’s restroom.
Food
Of course while being in Italy, I’ve had a lot of amazing food. From trattorias to cafes to sandwich shops, it has been so enjoyable to try many different things. My favorite type of restaurant to get food from in Florence is sandwich shops because they are delicious, not too expensive, and huge! All’Antico Vinao is the most famous here, but I really like La Prosciutteria and Pino’s Sandwiches because they are much less busy and just as good.
The thing I will probably miss the most after my study abroad experience ends is gelato. It is so refreshing after walking around in the hot sun and I like it better than regular ice cream. My favorite place to get it is La Carraia in Santa Croce, but I also love Gelateria de Neri, which CET took us to during our orientation. My favorite flavors are strawberry and limone.
Groceries
Grocery stores in Italy are pretty similar to the U.S., although some of the products and brands obviously differ. Not knowing Italian, it is sometimes a little challenging for me to figure out what things actually are, but being able to translate it on my phone is very helpful. It has actually been very fun to try different snacks and foods I’ve never heard of before.
One major difference I noticed between Italian and U.S. grocery stores is that in Italy, you have to weigh and bag your produce at a little station before going to the checkout. The machine prints out a sticker with the price on it, which the cashier can quickly scan with the rest of your groceries. It’s not very hard to do, but it was a little stressful for me to figure out at first since I wasn’t used to it. Also, most Italian grocery stores charge for bags, so bring your own if you can!
Daily Life
Living in Italy has introduced me to more differences than I probably would have noticed if I was only traveling through it. For instance, most residences have a washing machine but not a dryer. Air drying clothes isn’t too hard, but takes longer than I’m used to with my dryer back at home.
Recycling is also big in Italy, and you are required by law to sort your trash into organic (food scraps), paper, plastic and metal, glass, and indifferentiable waste. There are many bins located along the streets where you can put each category of trash. This is probably one of the biggest culture shocks I had when coming to Italy because, in my experience, many places in the U.S. simply dump all their trash together.
My Thoughts
While there are many differences between life in Italy and the U.S., I definitely don’t discourage coming here or studying abroad. In fact, immersing yourself in another culture is a great way to experience life through a different lens and can change your mindset about a lot of things. I think that living in Italy is going to change how I view some things at home (like recycling) and make me much more grateful for what I have there that I don’t always get here (air conditioning, free water, etc.) It can be overwhelming to be in a new country with different rules and customs, but I think it’s worth it because it’s an experience that broadens your worldview.
It’s also hard to believe I’ve already been in Florence for almost six weeks! During my time here, I’ve had so many memorable experiences, so I wanted to wrap up this blog by sharing a few of my favorites.
Churches
Living in Florence, I have seen so much beautiful art and architecture. In my Renaissance Art History class, we have visited a lot of churches especially, which are all amazing to see in person. I will never get sick of seeing the grand architecture and painted ceilings. I’ve loved all of them that we’ve been to, but some of my favorites are Santa Croce and the Medici Chapels. Santa Maria del Fiore is also iconic, and it was so cool to see the ceiling in more detail when we climbed the Duomo for a CET activity.
CET Activities
Speaking of CET activities, there were so many fun ones offered throughout the program, such as climbing the Duomo and going on a picnic in the park. I loved being able to try something new with my other program members after class every week. My favorite activities were rafting on the Arno and the cooking class we did. We made pizza and gelato, which was so fun and delicious.
Weekend Travels
Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity to travel to a lot of different places. Since I only had six weeks in Florence, I wanted to travel as much as possible while also leaving time to relax and explore Florence. I ended up traveling most weekends, although sometimes it was just a day trip. Over the course of my program, I went to Pisa, Rome, Cinque Terre, Venice, and Paris. While I really enjoyed everywhere I traveled, I think my favorite place was Paris, followed by Cinque Terre. Both were very different experiences, but still fun nonetheless!
One thing I wish was different about the summer program is that I wish we had more time to explore different places around Italy and Europe. With only six weekends, it’s hard to go on a lot of long trips, especially without feeling exhausted from traveling every weekend. How often you want to travel is definitely an important factor to consider when deciding how long to study abroad. Make sure to leave time to explore your home city too!
Green Spaces
Living in the city can really make you appreciate green spaces when you do come across them, and Florence is no different. When exploring the city one weekend, I stumbled across the Giardino delle Rose, which is the perfect place to relax in nature. It’s free to enter and right by Piazzale Michelangelo, so you can also get some panoramic views of the city when you visit. I also returned to this garden later in the semester for a CET activity where we had a picnic and tried some traditional Florentine snacks.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell from my list of favorites, I’ve enjoyed my time in Florence. Studying abroad has been an amazing opportunity, and I’ve had so many new experiences and learned so much about myself and Italian culture. It’s definitely a period of my life that will stick with me forever. If you’re even remotely interested in studying abroad, I definitely recommend it!