Written by Ava Marcus (Cornell University), Student Correspondent for CET Florence, Spring 2026
Arriving in a new country can be overwhelming, as you have a long list of places to visit and activities to try, but you may be unsure of the best way to accomplish everything. Or the opposite can be true—you might have no idea what your new home has to offer. Don’t worry because CET has got your back.
Through this program, they offer free activities every week that every student can sign up for, where they’ll take you to the best places around Florence and beyond. I have signed up for almost every event, and I have made new friends, talked to locals, and experienced authentic Italian culture. Come view my highlight reel of the best activities so far!
Vineyard and Views
During our Orientation Week, CET made it extra special by taking us to Badia a Coltibuono in Gaiole in Chianti. We began by taking in the stunning scenery, then received a tour of the wine cellar to see the large barrels and decades-old bottles, while learning about the aging process for wine. Fun fact: mold growing on the bottles is a positive indicator of a proper high-humidity environment for aging. Then, we got to taste some red wine and were served a delicious lunch of lasagna, meats, cheeses, and apple cake. This was an amazing way to indulge in Italian culture by visiting a new Tuscan area, learning about traditions, and tasting authentic foods!
Forza Florentina!
My days during the school week are always filled with a fun new adventure, and one day CET got us tickets to a Florentina soccer match! I had never been to a soccer game before, so I was blown away by how much passion the fans had for the team and the sport. It was very exciting to speak with some of the local fans as they taught us chants to cheer on Florentina and the rules of the sport that is so prevalent in Italy.
New Foods and Friends
Who could say no to a delicious dinner and new friends? I attended a CET sponsored dinner with Italian friends at Ristorante Accademia, where I not only indulged in Tuscan foods but also got to speak with friends of program staff members. I loved practicing my Italian and learning about their culture with local Italians around my age. We were served a delicious antipasto, bruschetta, rounds of unique pizzas on thick schiacciata bread, and chocolate apple cake. My stomach and heart felt very full by the end.
Cooking Class
Have you ever wanted to learn to make fresh pasta? Well, with CET you can! I participated in a cooking class to learn how to prepare a traditional Italian three-course meal, starting with an aperitivo of potato soufflé, followed by dinner of fettuccine with pomodoro (tomato) sauce and ragù bolognese sauce, and concluding with dessert of panna cotta.
The instructor demonstrated the proper method to chop vegetables, mix egg and flour to form pasta dough, and use the machine that clamped to the table to flatten the dough and cut noodles. I learned so much from this hands-on experience, and as someone who loves to cook, I will be recreating these tasty recipes again.
Florence’s Dark Side
Walking around Florence, I often catch a glimpse of an unusual statue or engraving and wonder the meaning behind it. The Dark Side of Florence Tour was the perfect opportunity to hear about the ghost stories and true horror events that took place years ago in the same spots we were standing in The nighttime atmosphere was the perfect spooky setting, and I learned that there is meaning behind the permanently-open that I previously did not notice, but now will look for every time I pass it. The rich history of this city never fails to capture me, whether it’s the artistic, political, or dark side.
Creativity and Culture
For a calming mid-week excursion, I signed up for a Watercolor and Culture Chat with the talented artist Sheean. She displayed some techniques for sketching and painting with watercolor, and otherwise, we had free rein to take our reference photos and create a painting true to our own style. We had an important conversation about adjusting to life in a new city and how we have each made efforts to make Florence feel like a home. This space felt so welcoming for everyone to be themselves and share their cultural shocks, and at the end, no two paintings looked alike because everyone’s reflected their own personalities.
I absolutely recommend taking advantage of all the program activities CET has to offer. I especially encourage you to sign up for some of them by yourself, as it’s an amazing way to talk to new people you would have missed, learn about Italian culture, and discover talents you did not even know you possessed. Studying abroad is all about finding a new sense of independence, and I have definitely embraced that by putting myself out there and saying “Sì!” to every opportunity that comes my way!