Florence shines as the capital and largest city in Tuscany, Italy, and home to some of the most renowned Renaissance art. As a global epicenter for both fashion and art, the city is blanketed in beauty. While nearly one-third of college students participate in an internship of some sort, a Florentine experience is sure to take you to the next level by interning in Italy’s powerhouse of business, finance, and fashion. Learn real world skills while dining on homemade Italian pastas and gazing upon some the world’s most renowned art and architecture with an internship in Florence.
Popular Fields for Internships
Internships in Florence, Italy, provide incredible opportunities to globalize yourself in many industries. The metropolitan area has a population of around 1.5 million. With such a vibrant city surrounded by an even more vibrant countryside, it’s possible to dive into nearly anything and find the perfect internship.
Short Term vs. Summer vs. Long Term Internships. You can find Florence internships that can last anywhere to a couple of weeks to a full semester to a full year. You’ll need to consider your budget and field experience needs to help you determine an appropriate internship duration. Additionally, some programs allow participants to choose to add an additional three to six weeks of intensive language training to their internship programs.
Popular Fields of Work. The fashion industry is booming in Florence, and you could be interning in Florence with top designer names like Gucci, but it’s a competitive field. Florence is also a great location for internships in marketing or architecture. Italy is one of the most industrialized nations in the world with a strong business influence. It’s a modern city with bountiful opportunities to advance in the financial fields and communications fields.
Paid vs. Unpaid Internships in Florence. The majority of internships in Florence, Italy, will be unpaid, but many will offer compensation in the form of a small weekly or monthly stipend to cover the cost of food and housing. Italy is an expensive country, so you’ll need to budget wisely and avoid tourist traps when you’re there. The international experience you gain will definitely be valuable, even if your internship in Florence is unpaid.
Life for Interns in Florence
Florence is located in north central Italy at the foot of the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the European boot. The Tuscan countryside offers some of the most stunning and romantic scenery on the planet. The rolling countryside is filled with medieval villages, castles, olive groves, and vineyards.
Like many Mediterranean areas, Florentine cuisine has grown from ancient tradition. Fresh and natural ingredients serve up simple, tasteful, and quality dishes. A wide variety of tomatoes, meats, beans, vegetables, and aromatic herbs are common ingredients. Food in Florence is born of countryside tradition. Quality ingredients is extremely important to the people in Florence. Expect only the best when it comes to thick cuts of steak accompanied by savory breads. Other favorites include creamy gelato and fresh bruschetta.
Florence enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with bright sunny days for much of the year. Winters are cool and damp with average temperatures reaching the low 30s. July and August are the hottest months with temps in the mid to high 80s. Extreme weather happens but is short lived.
GoAbroad Insider Tips
Internships in Florence, Italy, are always a great way to immerse oneself in the language. Interns will be consistently engaged in everyday conversations, which is ideal for learning a language. When you intern abroad in Florence, you’ll be able to put your skills to practical use then use them on the streets to sample gelato. Italian is the mother language, but English is widely spoken especially with the large number of travelers in the area. Most people in Florence will speak enough English to communicate basic things such as ordering food or buying something in the supermarket. Italian is a romance language that is relatively similar to Spanish, so a background in that will help.
Italians are known for being easy-going and leisurely in their day to day life. It’s said locals are easy to pick out just by their pace walking down the street. They are typically friendly and curious and want to learn as much about your culture as you do theirs.
From scenes on the street corner to famous statues and plazas, the “Jewel of the Renaissance” provides culture at every opportunity. A morning jog down the Arno River feels as if you’re in the scene of a historical novel. Daily commutes pass the largest standing brick dome, Florence’s Cathedral Il Duomo, offer a magnificent sight. The endless history, museums, and culture in general create a swarm of events year-round that need hordes of people like you to turn them into a reality as an intern in Florence.
