API: Experience Florence, Italy (Scholarships Available)

Studying abroad was the best experience of my life. I learned how to navigate life in a different country and discover myself while traveling the world. It was truly life changing and I encourage everyone to go while they are able and in college. I never had been outside of the United States before going abroad, and now I have been to 11 different countries. You are able to travel the world and see things you only dreamt of seeing. Studying abroad is so much more than just visiting a country, you have little to no obligations other than school so you are free to do whatever you want with your time. Whether you go alone or with friends... go. I never thought I would be able to experience something like this but truly this opportunity was the best decision I have made in my life. If I had one piece of advice to give, it would be to say yes to everything.

Florence was absolutely incredible. From beautiful art to exciting lively parades, there is a range of different activities for every kind of person. The academics were also very interesting. I took a Museuology course and an Archaeology course while I was there and it was some of the most fun I've had in classes. I got to go to museums and learn about them and got to handle real Etruscan artifacts and try to construct them back together. The courses are relatively smaller but for me I was able to build a tighter-knit relationship with my peers and professors so I greatly appreciated that opportunity. API is also a wonderful program host to go through as they not only set you up with different options of where to stay but they also are ready to support you every step of the way leading up to and during your study abroad experience. I had a moment abroad where I had to deal with feeling very ill and I was in need of some help. API connected me with an excellent doctor abroad and were very supportive in my search for help. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome - especially being abroad. On top of this, they also organize different excursions for students to go on. We got to go to Venice and Rome through API and it was incredible. They organized tours, time for us to go explore, and our transport and stay. It was absolutely wonderful to not have to stress the details of traveling while already being abroad. API was absolutely the program for me.

Studying abroad in Florence was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. From walking past the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio on my way to class, to exploring masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Gallery, every day felt like living in a museum. I spent afternoons wandering the narrow streets, tasting authentic gelato, and hiking up to Piazzale Michelangelo for breathtaking views of the city. On weekends, I traveled to different parts of Tuscany and beyond, experiencing the diversity of Italian culture firsthand. Living in such a vibrant city taught me independence, adaptability, and a deeper appreciation for global perspectives, and I’ll carry the memories and lessons from Florence with me forever.

Florence was an amazing city to study in! With a central location in Italy and ease of public transportation, I was able to visit major cities all over the country, while studying in the beautiful city center of Florence. From surrounding myself in local customs through food and live music to visiting centuries old sites I had the opportunity to live immersed in a new culture. I studied over summer for a shorter, 4-week term. As a psychology student, I decided to take the Psychology of Art and Creativity which gives me credit towards my major. My class took field trips throughout the city and completed a workshop with a local Florentine artist. One of my favorite parts of my experience was the walkability Florence offered. My class was two streets away from the Duomo and less than ten minutes from my apartment. Most afternoons I enjoyed exploring the city, all within walking distance. Florence has so much to offer and was definitely the best host city for me!

Studying abroad in Florence, Italy with API was the best decision I made during college. I arrived not knowing many people and left with lifelong friendships that have shaped who I am today. Immersing myself in Florence’s rich culture and history through all API had to offer…. wandering through the Uffizi, going to cooking classes, and discovering hidden piazzas was a dream come true. Beyond the breathtaking art and architecture, I learned so much about myself. Navigating a new city, embracing a different culture, and stepping out of my comfort zone helped me grow personally and academically. This experience wasn’t just a highlight of my college years and I will treasure forever.

My experience as an art student abroad with this program was amazing! Every excursion around Italy that we went on showed off new art, and the tours around Florence showed us it's Renaissance beauty! The classes offered there also took you in and around Florence museums, palaces, and buildings, offering you an in depth view of the city. I highly recommend this program for all of the art lovers out there!

A few sentences about my time studying abroad with API absolutely cannot encapsulate what a life changing experience it was for me. Studying abroad (specifically in Italy) was also a dream of mine! I chose API specifically due to their scholarship opportunities and course offerings. I was able to live the life of my dreams while also earned academic credit that counted towards my major requirements. From the moment I landed in Italy, API ensured that I was welcomed and informed. I met other students who were in my program, and they have become lifelong friends. From a pasta making classes to a guided tour to orientation, my first few days were informative and exhilarating. My transition into school life was seamless, and API encouraged us to get involved in school activities. They even offered a soccer league!! Unfortunately, my time aboard was cut significantly short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. API ensured that we stayed informed during a scary and unprecedented time. Although my time was cut short, I would’ve have traded my experience for anything. I stepped outside of my comfort zone, and I loved every minute of it!

When I left to study abroad in Florence, I was expecting good food and a totally new way of living. I can honestly say that those expectations were met and then some. Every day, I woke up with the potential for something special to happen. While much of the excitement was stoked by my situation, the true treasure of the experience were the people I was exposed to. I truly feel that I left my experience abroad with some life-long friends and I am truly grateful. Not only did I get a chance to meet other American students but I also met people from other countries. These experiences expanded my perspective on the world and made me a more intelligent person. Aside from a greater appreciation for European culture and Italian gastronomy, my greatest souvenir upon return to America was almost certainly a broader perspective.

I did the API Florence program for Spring 2022 and overall, my time in Florence was amazing. It is such a beautiful city. API Florence gave a lot of opportunities to do excursions outside of the program city, such as Rome, Venice and the Tuscany countryside. For this reason, there were several ways to experience what the whole of Italy had to offer. As far as academics, the school had lots of courses that counted towards my advertising major. The professors I had were very accommodating and classes were manageable and smooth . This made it easy to complete the week's work and still have time to go on any weekend trips and outings with friends. Being a black woman, I had lots of concerns about my safety and sense of belonging going into the experience of studying abroad in a European country. While I experienced no problems and generally felt safe in Florence for the entirety of the 3 months, I cannot say this will be the case or experience for every black person moving to this country. In conclusion, I really enjoyed my time here. The memories and friendships I made will last a lifetime and it is truly one of the best things I have done for my personal growth and exploration. It was such a great way to learn more about myself than I ever have before.

I always knew I wanted to go abroad so expectations were high. My college roommate and I spent a lot of time searching for a program that satisfied her pre-med requirements and my political science courses until we found the Florence Program through API. For a while everything was up in the air due to covid but being able to finally make my dreams come true was a feeling I cannot put into words. I seriously cannot recommend studying abroad enough! If someone asked me now, I would tell them in a heartbeat that Florence, Italy is my favorite place to call home. I fell in love with the panini place on Via Dei Benci, the gelato spot under my apartment, going to Piazzale Michelangelo with my friends, and most of all I fell in love with the person I became while abroad. Going through my program API made it even more worth it because they always made sure we had a community that made sure we were okay and they took us on 3 different weekend trips that were already included in the cost. We spent three days in Rome where we toured so much of the city. On our Tuscan countryside trip, we had a wine tasting in a Castle (literally so amazing). And on our Venice trip we had so much fun just hanging out with others in the program on the ferries. Studying abroad during a global pandemic was a risk, especially since I had never had it before. I happened to test positive for covid-19 during my time in Florence. API took such good care of me when I was sick by picking up my medicine from the pharmacy and checking up on me almost daily to make sure I was okay. Whenever I would talk with students at my italian institution that did not come through a program, they would tell me how much they wish they did after hearing how well API took care of us and took us to events such as the Opera and a soccer game. If you have the opportunity - study abroad, it WILL change the way you see the world!!

Studying abroad was something I had always wanted to do, but especially after the pandemic, I was worried I wouldn’t find a program that worked for me. API Florence ended up being perfect. I was super nervous when I left the US, unsure if I would make friends, like being abroad, or adjust well to the new culture. By the third day in Italy, I never wanted to leave. My roommates and apartment were amazing, we became best friends and meeting new people was honestly the most rewarding part of this experience. I fell in love with Florence, the history and art of the city are unbelievable. The food was obviously incredible too. API did a really great job of making us feel supported throughout, we could always go to them for help and they gave us so much information and a multitude of resources about everything from healthcare to social life around the city. Independent travel, as well as travel with API was also really great. The classes, while challenging, generally don’t take up the majority of your time, so you have a lot of room for exploring and leisure time. I loved every day that I was there and I miss it dearly. If you have the opportunity to go, please please do it. It will change your life!

Spent the spring of 2022 with API in Florence. Not sure if COVID had anything to do with it but this program was highly unorganized and unprepared to accommodate any of its guests with the service that their luxury price point entails. The program in total cost us about $15,000 with housing insurance and everything else included. To begin, if you're looking for a program that will set you up in a decent apartment (in comparison to the photos on their website) this is NOT the way to go. They placed the 4 of us in a tiny apartment that had issues all over the place because of how old it was. It got to a point where I had to contact the administration and they spent about 2-3 weeks fixing things around the house that I had brought to their attention. Thank god they helped, but again, for 15 thousand dollars this should have been something that they took care of before we all moved in. My whole housing situation had been a nightmare since the day I got there and it was clear they tried to find the cheapest place possible to put us in. All in all, the representatives were never really helpful unless it was for something they needed, and would frequently reply with meaningless responses that would not help the situation at hand. To top it all off, they kicked me out of my apartment the morning after my last final (May 13th), and even though I had booked a flight for the next day (May 14th), they insisted I would have to be out of the apartment by 10AM May 13th, forcing me to have to get a hotel with my own money. The only thing they offered to do was help me look for hotels (thanks...). Overall, if you're looking for a program to study abroad in Florence with, DO NOT choose API, and see if you can just do it through your school and rent an AirBnb for the semester, it'll save you a lot of money, and a lot of unexpected surprises throughout your time in Italy. There are so many other programs to choose from here in Florence, and I am sad to say that although I loved the city, I HATED my program. Thank you for reading, Unhappy customer

I cannot give enough praise to this program, and it has been 6 years since I studied abroad. The API program in Florence is extremely well organized and runs flawlessly. The extra cultural activities that were planned were some of the best memories I have of that semester from the Balsamic vinegar tastings in Modena to the overnight trips in Rome & Venice. API really went the extra mile to provide support in this new city and I always felt like I was able to ask for help. The housing we were given was in a perfect location close to our school, the Duomo and a grocery store. The classes I took were PHENOMENAL and engaging. I loved the professors, their teaching styles, and the variety of classes you could take. I often talk about my experience in Florence, and encourage everyone to study abroad (or teach abroad) through API.

Do not think that study abroad is just for the traditional student. Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity for the non-traditional student, as well. I took advantage of going to Florence, Italy for a few reasons: as a psychology major, API offered a course that I needed to complete my degree requirements, my grandparents were from Italy and had never been to Italy. API offered many excursions during my Summer 2019 abroad such as weekends in Rome, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii and various day trips to Siena, dance festivals, Santa Maria Novella ancient pharmacy, walking tour through Florence to familiarize us with the markets, cooking classes and gelato workshops. There were free weekends where students had the opportunity to travel and explore other cities and countries. Attending class, Social Psychology, at Lorenzo de'Medici was another wonderful experience. My professor made class very interesting and relatable to our everyday lives. Other students from my group mentioned how they really enjoyed their professors, as well. The University offered day trips and workshops, many were free and some a small fee. One, in particular, that I loved was attending the opera, Madame Butterfly. I also took advantage of as many cooking classes I could. These classes inspired me to cook and bake more Italian dishes when I returned home. This helps to keep me connected to the amazing time I had in Florence. This study abroad experience will forever remain in my heart and mind. Since my return, I have become an advocate to inspire others to take advantage of going abroad.

My experience with API Florence was absolutely phenomenal. I could not be more thankful that this is the program I ended up choosing. I loved my courses. The content of them was so unique, and I am not used to having such small class sizes (which I enjoyed). I was able to form great relationships with my professors and program directors. I lived in an apartment with 5 other girls who became my absolute best friends. It was right outside of Santa Croce church, and all the other apartments were also near important Florence landmarks. Also, since I decided to live in an apartment rather than a host family, I filled that void by joining a program that API offers called spaghetti exchange. I was able to get the best of both worlds, and go to an Italian home for dinner once a week. As for traveling, we had plenty of time to travel on the weekends, and there were at least four weekend trips which were included in our program fee (optional-but worth it). The trips gave us the perfect balance of scheduled tours and free time to explore on our own. This experience was life changing. I went abroad not knowing a single person, and I had no problem adjusting because everyone was so welcoming and kind. I felt that I was able to get a great grasp on the culture through activities that API and LDM (the university) provided for us. If you are planning on studying in Florence I 100% recommend API.

I had an incredible study abroad semester in Florence with API. The city of Florence is absolutely beautiful with no shortage of things to do. The API staff in Florence was always available and served as a fantastic resource for navigating the city and culture. The staff also did an excellent job of planning and coordinating social events and weekend trips - like a Florentine soccer game or a tour of Tuscany including a vineyard in Chianti and a relaxing day at the hot springs spa. The whole process from start to end with API was easy and straightforward. Would highly recommend to anyone else!

API made my study abroad experience worthwhile. Before going abroad I researched like crazy and tried to prepare for anything and everything under the moon, I get nervous easily. Once I got accepted to API things got easier. They took care of everything and gave me detailed information on how to prepare to go abroad. Once I got there they set up orientations and activities to help us adjust. What was nice was they had a lot of things planned but they weren't manditory. You could go to the soccer game, but you didn't have to go to the opera night. One of the best activities they had was the cooking class, it happens the first week you are in Florence. Not only did this help me to bond with my roommates but it also helped us meet other people in our program that we became friends with that I still talk to to this day. The one problem my roommates and I had was the school. They were very strict and the amount of work they had was somewhat challenging with all the traveling you do. Other than that I had a great apartment with a few issues which is normal because they are so old. API was very helpful with all the problems that came up. I truly enjoyed my experience abroad and have API to thank for that.

The highlight of my collegiate career was studying abroad through Academic Programs International to Florence, Italy. Throughout college I was unsure of what I wanted to do when I grew up, and studying abroad provided me the platform to not only find my future career, but also to find myself. Florence is a culturally rich city, full of art, history, delicious food, and amazing vibes. Prior to departing to Florence, API ensured that I was prepared for the road ahead and their support did not stop when I arrived in Italy. My phenomenal residence directors met me at the airport and assured me they would do anything and everything they could to make my trip unforgettable. They surely did not disappoint: I received advice on eateries and local monuments, help with planning independent excursions, and assistance with simple (yet unfamiliar) tasks such as mailing letters at the post office. In addition, LDM was an academically stimulating environment and I thoroughly enjoyed learning in a small classroom with an Italian professor. The courses offered were nothing like the options available to me at my home university; my favorite course at LDM was Sociology of the Mafia. Finally, API’s planned excursions and cultural activities were on point. These varying opportunities allowed me to become more knowledgeable and well-versed in Italian culture and see the most incredible sights. API’s ability to provide for students (pre-departure advising, on-site care, re-entry support) is second to none; I felt supported throughout my entire journey. I highly endorse this organization and I would recommend Florence as a destination that offers it all!

Studying abroad with API changed the outlook I had on my college experience. I was fortunate enough to be able to study abroad for a semester as an NCAA Division II student-athlete. That in its own right is a challenging and valuable experience. Yet, I wanted to add even more knowledge and skills during my undergraduate career and studying abroad with API proved to be just what I was looking for. In just the 4 months that I spent living abroad in the heart of Tuscany, I gained even more valuable experience to add to my college resume; all skills that contributed to my participation in athletics, but also skills that contributed to my overall growth as a person. I quickly became an even stronger, independent, and more intellectually immersed individual. The API Florence team is a phenomenal group of women who guide American students along this path of self-discovery. All of the excursions and cultural activities API Florence offers works to help students become more knowledgable and intellectually stimulated in a global environment. There is a lot of support and guidance from API to give students the most fulfilled opportunity possible. An online toolbox filled with information and reading materials can be accessed before, during, and after abroad to aid students in the preparation and post-abroad process. Additionally, API Florence has an office right in the city near the university for the students' use. Everything is organized and details are shared so you, the student, knows what to expect and if you have questions, you know where to go or what resources to access. This is what helped me get the most out of my time abroad. The API team who works in Florence really does want you to take advantage of all the opportunities the program and city has to offer. It is because of their diligence to work for the students and contribute to the individual's development that I feel my return to my college campus has been incredibly smooth.

My experience with API in Florence, Italy influenced my year abroad, as well as my future career. During my time spent in Florence, the on site staff were continually planning events and traveling trips throughout Italy. In a new country by myself, I always felt like I had someone to rely on while I was abroad. I also loved Scuola Lorenzo de'Medici. The international school offered so many different types of courses that couldn't be found anywhere else: art classes in the Uffizi museum, wine tasting trying various Italian wines, and cooking lessons with a true artist and chef, Professor Nappi. It was because of this overall amazing experience that I decided to work abroad in Japan (for three years!) upon graduation from college. Looking back at all my years abroad, I attribute my success to my starting point: API in Florence, Italy.