Summer Study Abroad Programs in Florence, Italy

Studying abroad was without a doubt the most transformative experience of my life. World Strides made the process so much easier with their quick and detailed communication. I felt like I had so much support and resources to be successful while abroad. They also provided multiple excursions that were already included with my trip. If you get the opportunity to study abroad with world strides I highly recommend!!

It has been about 3 months since I came home from Study Abroad, and I still haven't found the right words to describe this experience! When I left for study abroad, I was stepping into the unknown - moving to a new city, far away from everything and everyone I had ever known. Some moments challenged me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and forced me to grow in ways I never expected. Along the way, Ifound a new sense of independence, confidence, and trust in myself! What I will cherish the most are the people. The friendships I made, my roommates and forever friends who turned into family. They were there for every laugh, every tear, and served as a shoulder to lean on when I needed it most! I was lucky enough to do something most people only dream of. I got to experience cultures, traditions, and places that opened my eyes to how beautiful our world is! I left study abroad with more than just pictures and postcards, but lessons, stories, friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime!

I went abroad with this company, and it couldn't have gone any better. In any situation that was rough, they were always there to chat or help resolve the issue. Great company; would love to go again!

Studying abroad through SAI was the best choice I have made in my academic, personal, and career life yet. Not only are the staff and program well structured, but they truly allow you to be supported, make friends, and experience places/things you never would have expected. As a participant of the 2-city program, I experienced life in two cities of Italy, each unique but special. While La Spezia helped me settle into Italian culture and appreciate the slower pace of life, the hustle and bustle of Florence showed me why Italy is such a destination for people to experience. My 4 months flew by faster than I could imagine, and staying so busy and immersed (in the best way) now allows me to share about my time- and how I have absolutely no regrets. Being involved in the moment, taking time to talk to locals and do "non-touristy" trips/things, and keeping an open mind can shape your life and is truly what makes the experience. It's the little things. People watching. A scrumptious cappuccino. An immersive class experience. Studying abroad is, yes, about education and pursuing a career, but so much of the learning and growing for it are done outside of the classroom, often through unexpected moments. I always felt the support of SAI staff, and their focus on the student experience at a personal level created a sense of belonging and home away from home. If you are on the fence, just go! You won't regret it!

I genuinely had the best study abroad experience through SAI in Florence. I was able to live with 3 of my best friends and we loved our apartment so much! Although we weren't right in the city center by thew duomo, we found that we loved being across the river as we were more immersed in the culture by being in a neighborhood filled with locals. Outside of our housing and classes, we had so many opportunities to do different activities whether it was a cooking class or a gold leafing class. I could not recommend this experience enough!

I went to study abroad knowing nobody, completely throwing myself into a different culture across the world, and it was the best choice I made in my life. I met the most amazing people in the most amazing place, and I would choose to do it all over again if I could. Study abroad if you have the opportunity!

I absolutely loved my time in Florence with World Strides! I had never been out of the country and didn't know anyone else going, so I was terrified, but the experience was amazing. World strides was really easy to work with and offered a lot of free activities in Florence, such as a cooking class and a weekend trip to Lake Garda. The staff were all really kind and welcoming, and I made very good friends in the program. I could not recommend this program enough!

This is my second trip with this program I did the Japan last year and Italy this year also intend to go again next year and I loved the different classes there were I took cuisines and art history we made many different kinds of Italian food and went to different places almost every day there were also many different day trips on the weekends that were amazing to go on and ending in Rome and seeing the colosseum and learning about it was a great way to end the trip and the staff was really amazing and accommodating with the need of the students

I learned so much on this trip through the art history course and photography course. I wasn’t that interested in many of the art made in periods such as renaissance, but I learned so much about them and got quite good at identifying them. I similarly wasn’t that knowledgeable about Christianity and especially Catholicism (at least more than the average American) but I learned so much about it as well and really came to respect the ideas related to it. Finally I also knew literally nothing about photography but through this I learned a lot about different styles and the essentials of photography to the point that I think I’ll be taking better pictures for the rest of my life. This is all without saying the fun and incredible sights and art I got to see, yes we went to churches and art museums to learn about it but we also went to appreciate it and through that I got to see some beautiful art that might be some of my highlight pictures from the trip. Also the day trips to other prominent cities are so much fun and so different Florence is a great base to operate out of and through that base different cities especially Venice and Siena contrast very well, Venice being very tight and of course featuring water, and Siena being very hilly.

World class program is great because it’s more than just a summer program it is an absolute immersion into Ancient Rome; the renaissance in Florence, and amazing medieval art were extravagant and eye popping. Going into the different museums and churches was, like dunking yourself into a beautiful shining spring in Ancient Rome taking you back in time to the minds of Roman’s and what they were thinking while walking into grandiose church. The different day trips were amazing in total there were four day trips one to Lucca where we rode bikes around the city walls, and explored the city, one to cinque terre where we hiked across a mountain with a view of the Mediterranean and ended on the beach. One to siena where we explored the city on the mountain and saw the amazing views. My favorite day trip was the one to Venice where we saw Murano the glass making city and we took boats around to different locations. The pros of the program was the amount of stuff that we had easy access to because of the great connections and the staff. Another pro is the community all the people were easy to connect with and make good friends without any problems. The amount of free time to explore and shop in Florence was great you were able to get what ever lunch you wanted or go to what ever shop in all of old Florence. The cons weren’t many. The program was genuinely so amazing. The only one I can think of is the heat in Italy, but it wasn’t the programs fault it is Italy’s faults for not having good american a/c. The only other con I can think of is not being able to go longer.

My study abroad experience was truly unforgettable, largely because of the amazing and easy-going staff who made every day enjoyable. Their friendly nature and sense of humor created a welcoming atmosphere that helped me feel at home even when I was far away. I often found myself laughing with them, which made the whole experience not just educational but genuinely fun. Their support and kindness made a big difference, turning challenges into opportunities to grow. One of the most meaningful parts of my time abroad was the relationships I built. I connected with people from all over the world, and these friendships became an important part of my journey. Sharing experiences, learning about different cultures, and supporting each other made these bonds truly special. These relationships taught me the value of understanding and empathy, and I know they will continue to be important in my life long after the program ends. Beyond the social side, I learned so much academically and personally. The new environment pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and adapt in ways I hadn’t before. I gained knowledge in my field of study, but I also learned life skills like independence and problem-solving. This experience has not only enriched my education but also helped me grow into a more confident and open-minded person.

I really enjoyed my 7 weeks abroad with AIFs. I made lifelong friends, navigated being in a medical emergency in a foreign country, and learned some amazing things about Italian history and culture. I took the Wine Marketing in Italy and Museum Art History courses. During the Wine Marketing course we went to Pollenzo which was amazing. The program did a wonderful job of creating excursions for us to participate in. All the staff are very kind and helpful.

If I could go back and relive last summer I would do it every year. I’ve never had an experience that I have missed as much as I constantly miss study abroad. The friendships and memories I made will literally be with me forever.

Over the summer of 2025, I studied abroad in Florence for 4 weeks. It was truly a life-changing experience. I was blessed to have my parents visit for a few days, as well as my Fiancè. I shared an apartment with 8 other girls, all of which I got along with. I made a lifelong friend and saw beautiful sights. It was truly unforgettable.

If you are thinking about studying abroad with SAI, DO IT! They were so helpful with getting me prepared before I left, while I was there, and even once I returned home! By studying abroad I gained so much confidence that I knew I had in me but hadn't unlocked yet. I studied the Italian language, and am proud of how much I learned. I took a class on the Italian-American Experience where I learned about Italian history, the immigration process, did a research project on my family's immigration from Italy to the United States and found supporting documents along the way. Each member of the SAI on-site staff was wonderful and so helpful! All of the FUA professors were passionate about what they taught, new me by name and were so accommodating and kind! Florence is a wonderful and beautiful city that I would love to visit again. I am very thankful for my time there and highly recommend studying abroad with SAI.

To any student who’s even contemplating studying abroad: Go for it! SAI will change your life in amazing ways you never would have expected. Studying through SAI at Florence University of the Arts in Spring 2025 was the best and most memorable experience of my life! In just four and a half months, I stepped outside of my comfort zone and into a world filled with new languages, cultures, friendships, and adventures I never imagined possible. Whether I was exploring Italy on day trips provided by SAI, learning to cook regional dishes in class, or traveling over the weekends to European countries, every week brought something meaningful and exciting into my life and if I could have, I definitely would have stayed longer than just one semester in Florence, Italy. What made this experience even more special was the constant support that my roommates and I received from SAI throughout the entire year; they supported me with the initial application process up until the day I returned home…and even now, months later, other opportunities with this program await me. At first, I was overwhelmed and nervous before studying abroad, but the staff made everything feel manageable and exciting, and they were always just an email or phone message away whenever I had a question or needed guidance. The SAI staff would even show up at our door if we needed anything while living and learning abroad! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and SAI makes it not only possible, but also truly unforgettable so I without a doubt recommend this program to anyone interested in studying abroad!

When I decided I wanted to go abroad, I was nervous about a lot of things. First off, I was scared that when I went abroad I would have to settle for a location I did not want to be in because I needed my credits to transfer over. Luckily AIFS had a program in a wonderful city with a bunch of classes that would transfer back to my home university super well. When I chose this program, I was overjoyed but nervous about living in a homestay. When I got there I was happily surprised to find that my host family was amazing and provided me with an experience I would not have been able to have if I had been in a dorm/apt. The people that I met in the program were some of the coolest people I have ever known and am happy to call them my friends to this day. If you are looking for a great program in Paris where you have the freedom to meet new people, travel, and find yourself in a new place, I would 100% recommend this to you!

I had a wonderful time working with a veterinarian in Italy and making so many new friends from around the US and the world! We all became fast friends and took many trips around Italy and Florence during our free time. I was able to go to Sienna as they were setting up for the horse races, I was able to go to the Uffizi gallery, and pisa. I had the most amazing lasagna at trattoria Marione! I was able to learn so much about horses and what goes into their senior care. It was so amazing to work with sanctuaries that respected animals just as I do. It was an unforgettable experience. I wish I could go again!

The course itself was a wonderful mix of cultural immersion and learning about the history, art, historical figures who lived in Florence centuries ago. My one and only complaint can be summed up as, if you go on this trip, don’t expect everyone to be as into as you. I was deeply passionate about the history of Italy, and made a friend or two on the trip who was equally as passionate, but as a consumer of this tour, be aware that some are here to passively take in the sights, rather than eagerly devouring everything they can see.

I studied abroad this summer in Florence with WorldStrides and it was truly an amazing experience. I was able to immerse myself in a new culture, grow in unforeseen ways, make new friends and so many memories that I will forever cherish.