Florence, Italy
Studying Abroad at New York University in Florence, Italy as a First Year Away Student was a once in a lifetime adventure that I will forever be grateful for! Here are a few things I figured I'd share about my experience!
Who should go and what to expect:
Anyone interested in art history, the Renaissance, architecture, Italian or romance languages, The EU, fashion! The most amazing abroad "campus" imaginable… think, Italian villas on the Tuscan countryside with a view of the Duomo and private museum…
What I learned:
As a first-year student, you are not too young or immature to learn and enjoy your year away.
Site-specific opportunities:
Community outreach program (for example, I was able to volunteer at the Scuola San Francesco with third-grade students.
What is the best way to access the city?
The 25 bus is a pain in the ass and it's not very reliable, but that’s probably your best bet if you are a first-year student living on campus and don’t want to sweat your ass off walking up the ginormous hill that is campus is located on! Sometimes it can be nice to walk down the hill into the city, but more likely than not, you'll want to take the bus back up. Watch out for cabs, they can be expensive (17 or 18 euro from the Duomo to campus at night -- which is precisely when you don’t have the option of taking the bus back up). Most first-year-away students don’t like in homestays or apartments, so you don't really have to worry about that!
What are some of the best restaurants, cafes, or food you would recommend?
Avoid eating in the main piazza's… two words: tourist trap. Definitely explore the side streets, they tend to have better options anyway! Also… GO ACROSS THE ARNO, you WILL be pleasantly surprised.
What is nightlife like?
People don't typically go to Florence for the nightlife and most of the bars and clubs cater to foreign (American) students studying abroad, offering drink specials and requiring entrance fees… most people get tired of it by the time they leave, but beware of people scamming you!
What are some unique classes there that students would not be able take at NYU New York?
I was a First Year Away student so I didn’t take any electives, but I know upperclassmen have the opportunity to take economics, politics, business, and fashion classes, as well as many others! Log onto NYU Albert and type "Florence" (or any other site) to explore your options -- although some classes do change from semester to semester or year to year, doing that will give you a good idea of what classes are offered!
What kind of programs do local universities offer to NYU students?
Many if not all of the Italian classes pair up with local universities and have language exchange sections where half of the time is spent speaking in Italian and half the time if spent speaking in English. While there are some people who participate that are not students, the majority of them are and you should try to connect with them in your free time, going for coffee, adding them on Facebook, because it's cool to see what they are up to once you're back in the states, etc!
What are the travel options and to where would you most recommend?
Ryanair (through Pisa) you can take a 5 euro bus to Pisa and be there in about an hour… also the train!! I love the fast train (Trenitalia) and I took it to Rome, Milan, and Naples, and never had a problem! Be on the platform at least 30 minutes before the train leaves to ensure that you don’t miss it… may or may not be speaking from experience…
We all know that studying abroad isn't just for studying... you have to have some fun too! below I've listed a few places my friends and I frequented at night!
Bars and Pubs:
Lions Fountain (Santa Croce)
Fiddlers Elbow (Santa Maria)
Uncle Jimmy's (Bargello)
Brew Dog (Mercato Centrale)
Old Stove (Piazza della Repubblica)
James Joyce
Enoteca Sant' Ambrogio Cafe
Moyo (Lounge/Hookah) (Santa Croce)
Colle Bereto (Lounge Upstairs) (Piazza degli Strozzi)
