Welcome to Florence
Understanding identity abroad is important—regardless of whether or not you think it will play a role in your own experience. While we strive to create and maintain programs that support students of all races, religions, abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations, you also play a crucial role in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for your peers navigating aspects of their identit(ies) in a new country. The information and resources on this page serve as a starting point to help you understand experiences you or your CET classmates may encounter while abroad.
Cultural Climate
Race & Ethnicity
Generally speaking, Florence itself is a very open-minded city and students seldom report contradictory experiences. Due to the increase in the immigrant population in recent years, resentment against non-European communities within Italy has grown. As a result, students may hear some blunt opinions while out and about or on the news from outspoken far-right politicians. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian communities (especially those of Chinese descent) have experienced an uptick in racial discrimination and comments. In many cases, students of color have reported that they are first considered American before their racial/ethnic identity comes into play, if it is considered at all. This can be a very different experience from the saliency students of color feel in respect to their racial/ethnic identities back in the US.
LGBTQ
While it is always evolving, Italy on the whole can still be reluctant to fully embrace LGBTQ individuals and issues. However, Florence itself (and bigger Italian cities in general) is an open, international city where LGBTQ individuals are welcomed. Though same-sex civil unions are recognized by law as of May 2016, Italy still lags behind other countries on things like same-sex marriage, which is not yet officially recognized.There are several local LGBTQ community groups that students can reach out to, and on-site staff can provide more information upon request.
Gender
Generally speaking, Italian culture often reinforces traditional gender norms and roles. The local society is patriarchal, and the objectification of women by men is not an uncommon occurrence. This is sometimes apparent and reinforced by pop culture and advertising. The use of more gender inclusive pronouns and language is becoming more common in everyday communication.
Italy is not yet fully accepting of gender diversity on the national scale, but gender diverse individuals are usually more accepted and comfortable in bigger cities like Florence. Additionally, the use of more gender inclusive pronouns and language is is increasingly common in everyday communication. However—even in larger, more international cities—trans people are sometimes misrepresented and misunderstood in terms of harmful stereotypes.
Religion
Though Catholicism is the predominant religion in Italy, prejudice against other religions is often less prevalent than in the United States. Students that wish to practice their faiths abroad should have no issue in doing so. A list of religious services is made available to students during orientation.
Cost of Living
Relative to the US, Florence’s cost of living is generally lower for many things (e.g., groceries, healthcare, etc.). Compared to the rest of Europe, the city’s cost of living can be considered average. Past students have mentioned that establishing and adhering to a budget at the beginning of the term was a strategy that helped manage any financial stress. Check out a budget sheet to get an idea of what life in CET Florence might look like financially.
Accommodations Abroad
CET makes every effort to offer accommodations comparable to those of your home institution. Disclosing early helps us to make proper preparations and work with you to determine if a program will be a good fit. We recommend that you use the following details to inform your decisions and conversations with your Student Services Coordinator.
ACCESS in ACADEMICS
Day-to-Day
Students typically attend classes Monday through Thursday, between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Some class days may have fuller schedules with 4.5 to 6 hours of class, while other days may just have one class if any. Classes vary in size and can have fewer than 10 students, while others go up to a max of 25. Classes in the spring semester are typically on the larger end.
Services available for students with documented need: Low-distraction test environment; extra time on exams; modified deadlines and seating; note-taker; exam reader; audio recordings of lectures; a computer to take exams; syllabi/readings/assignments in advance; sighted companion; permission for service dogs in the classroom.
Classrooms
Classes are held at our CET Centers, conveniently located within the historical city center. Our primary CET Center on Via Renai has two floors—the first of which is completely accessible for those with mobility issues. This includes ample classroom space, an accessible bathroom, and a ramped entrance. Our secondary CET Center on Via dei Benci (typically used during busier spring semesters) has just one floor and is accessible via elevator. However the street entrance has a heavy push/pull door that could be difficult for a student using a wheelchair to access on their own.
Out-of-Class Activities
CET occasionally plans mandatory academic activities and optional trips to nearby sites and other cities after class and on weekends. Excursions may involve urban walking, rural hiking, use of public transportation, and/or going up and down stairs.
Itinerary modifications and accommodations can be made for students with documented need. Transportation can be arranged as necessary, and excused absences are provided for mandatory excursions that are inaccessible due to a disability.
ACCESS IN HOUSING
Your Home Abroad
Apartments are conveniently located in historic buildings in the city center, so they are simple, differ in layout and location, and feature older amenities. This can be an adjustment for students accustomed to standardized dorms and newer apartment builds in the US. Due to their prime locations in lively neighborhoods, students can expect some street noise. Many apartments require walking up several flights of stairs with no elevator. All apartments and most homestay locations are within a 30-minute walk through the heart of Florence to the CET Center, where classes are held. Housing can be wheelchair accessible if requested in advance. However this is evaluated on a case-by-case basis as the city center itself is not well set up for wheelchair navigation.
Utilities are highly regulated in Italy. For example, a law states that the heat should be set to 19°C/66.2°F (+/- 1°C). Students should plan accordingly and bring clothing that will keep them warm while inside.
Housing Assignments
Students are typically assigned to apartments according to their housing preference form. Apartment configurations vary but can include mix-gender and same-gender setups. Rooms within the apartment are same-gender. The form also includes questions to help accommodate the needs of gender diverse students.
Rooms are typically shared, but a single room in a shared apartment may be available for students with documented need if requested in advance. Homestay students are provided a single or double bedroom (shared with a CET peer) and share common spaces with their local host family.
Around Florence
Due to the architecture of the city itself, Florence is not easily navigable by individuals with disabilities. All public offices, restaurants, museums, and schools are required by law to be accessible to those with disabilities, but in practice, many private businesses are not. Curb cuts are common but not consistent throughout the city, and many streets and sidewalks are often uneven, causing inconvenience to students with mobility issues. Public transportation has designated areas for those with disabilities, and most buses have equipment for those that need assistance entering or exiting the vehicle. Though certainly not impossible, students with mobility issues should be prepared to face challenges in navigating the city.
"The CET staff were super helpful and kind and did a great job making everyone feel safe and included. They also hosted several events throughout the program, so we were able to experience as much of Florence as possible...Taking weekend trips was also super easy, and the CET staff were more than happy to assist with travel plans and give recommendations."
Emmanuel College | Summer student
Health & Diet
As a part of your program fee, you are enrolled in GeoBlue health insurance for the entire duration of your program. Learn more about GeoBlue and how we operate programs with health and safety in mind.
Health & Medicine
Students are provided with a full list of health resources and services to which students have access in Florence. During orientation, on-site staff provide students with basic information and recommendations for seeing a doctor and buying medicine. On-site staff are also available to help advise students seeking health services throughout their time abroad.
Students should request enough prescription medication to last for the duration of their stay in Italy. This also includes eyeglasses and contact lenses, as well as birth control—certain brands are not available in Italy. Shipping medication to Italy (or even sourcing it locally) can sometimes prove difficult and time consuming with delivery times of up to weeks or months.
Keeping Fit in Florence
There are many private gyms that students can join for varying fees (usually around 55 to 100 EUR per month). Those interested in running or soccer can take part in clubs that are organized by staff. During orientation, students are given a full list of sports facilities.
Students can also exercise around the city (e.g., running along the Arno River or in Cascine Park), and/or get involved in soccer, basketball, and badminton tournaments with other study abroad or Italian students in town.
Managing Mental Health
Students are provided a list of English-speaking mental health professionals in our virtual CET Center (within our Canvas platform). Those included on the list accept GeoBlue, the health insurance every CET student has for the entirety of their program duration. On-site staff are available to advise students seeking mental health services to the best of their abilities.
Dietary Restrictions
Specific dietary needs are easily accommodated in in Florence, and staff help students translate and explain any food allergies. Most restaurants in Florence offer at least a few vegetarian options and gluten-free dishes. Students can find a number of restaurants that accommodate Kosher diets in the Sant’Ambriogio district—an area famous for its large Jewish community.
Resources from Alumni
Perspective pieces
These are alumni-written essays that reflect upon how their own identity affected their time abroad (both good and bad) and what it was like to navigate another culture in their position. We encourage you to read these to better understand what studying abroad in Italy could be like for you or your future peers.
- Unconventional Study Abroad in Florence: by Deniz Akdogan, CET Florence | Summer 2018
BLOG Posts
This is a curated list of blog posts chosen specifically to provide context for life abroad. Posts here may cover culture shock, diversity, daily life and workload, etc. To see all posts from students in Florence, head to the Student Voices blog.
- The Tuscan Grand Tour: Art, Culture, and Nature
By Asher Savel, Bowdoin College | Fall 2024 - My Florence Favorites
By Presley Privitera, Colby College | Spring 2024 - Photo Essay: Brandeis Midyear in Florence
By Eliana Mendoza, Brandeis University | Fall 2023 - Advice for a Study Abroad Student in Florence
By Eden Comer, University of Wisconsin-Madison | Spring 2023 - The “Study” in Study Abroad
By Isabella Verga, George Washington University | Fall 2022 - My First Trip to the Grocery Store in Florence
By Ada Rose Wagar, Brandeis University | Fall 2021
ITALY Alumni Insight
In final evaluations, we ask students how their identities affected their experience abroad. The following are a few select quotes from recent program evaluations to help you understand what life in Italy may be like for you or your future peers.
TALK TO ALUMNI
Chat with alumni about their experiences abroad. Once you start an application, your CET Compass account will give you access to the following resources:
- Alumni Support List: A directory of students who have volunteered to chat about their experiences abroad in Italy.
- Identity Abroad Support Network: A group of students who have volunteered to discuss their identity-related experiences in Italy. This is a volunteer-based program that started in 2019. Volunteers can also opt to have their contact information kept privately by CET staff and only shared when certain lived experiences are asked about.
Don’t see anyone listed for the Identity Abroad Support Network? Call CET for more information and resources. Consider joining after your program to support other minority students abroad.