Photos taken by Avanee Dalmia (Brown University), Student Correspondent for CET Florence, Summer 2025
Villa Demidoff and Lunch in the Hills
After settling in and orientation, CET organized a day trip to Pratolino, where our group went on a tour of the Villa Demidoff Garden. The villa and gardens were built by Francesco de’ Medici in the late 1560s, where he enjoyed spending time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We had the cutest companion, Artu’, guiding us along the way. After the tour, we had lunch at Ristorante Zocchi with a beautiful view and amazing authentic Tuscan food.
Pilates in a Church and Post-Workout Bowls
We started the next day at a pilates class in a church (@ginasworkoutsflorence)! As Gina recommended, we had some post-workout acai bowls at RAW right around the corner.
Vintage Photo Fun
We had been seeing these vintage photo booths, or Foto Automatica machines, all around the city and decided to stop by one. They use retro cameras and an old image development technology, consequently taking 4½ minutes for the photos to develop. The pictures were definitely worth the wait!
Sunset Strolls and Street Music
Spent the evening before classes started by getting gelato and walking along Ponte Vecchio, watching the sunset. We crossed multiple street performers with the most wonderful live music–ranging from simple instrumental, to classic old songs, and even a live opera performance by the iconic Porcellino statue.
Calcio Storico: Florence’s Football
Last weekend, the semi-finals for Calcio Storico (an old form of Florentine football) were taking place at Piazza Santa Croce. A team from each part of the city is represented in the games and the streets were filled with people in different colored t-shirts, and parades in different neighborhoods supporting their local teams.
Festa di San Giovanni
On 24th June, Florence celebrates Festa di San Giovanni–a day full of festivities for the city’s patron saint. A parade ran across the city featuring medieval costumes, drummers, and flag-throwers marching through the historic center. We watched the fireworks that night from a spot by the Arno. It felt as if the whole city had come together to celebrate
Museums Around Florence
In art history class, we visited the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, where we studied one of Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures. The museum houses original works from the Duomo complex, including pieces by Donatello and Ghiberti’s famous doors.
Another highlight was visiting the Orsanmichele Museum, a former grain market turned church, known for its gothic architecture and sculptures representing the different workers unions in the city. The museum’s top floor offers lesser-known but stunning views of Florence’s skyline.
Lunch at Pino’s: A Local Favorite
Grabbed a sandwich for lunch at Pino’s, a small panini shop tucked away near Santa Croce. It’s less crowded than the spots around Piazza della Signoria, and the menu is huge, with tons of fresh ingredients and generous portions. Definitely a go-to for a quick, delicious lunch.
Sunset Views from Ponte Vecchio
We watched the sunset from Ponte Vecchio, one of Florence’s oldest and most famous bridges. Built in the 14th century, it’s lined with jeweler and goldsmith shops and offers some of the best views over the Arno – especially at dusk. It’s always incredibly lively, with street performers and people dancing almost every day.
Movie Night at Giunti Odeon
Later in the week, we went to see the new F1 movie at Giunti Odeon, a unique space that combines a historic bookstore with a cinema. Originally opened in 1922, the Odeon is one of Italy’s first purpose-built cinemas and still retains its original Art Deco interiors. Besides the cinema aspect, it is a great place to sit and study, open for long hours, and even has a café.