Italian Language and Culture
Accommodations
In Florence, students will be housed in apartments located in the center of town. Each apartment accommodates four to six students. Apartments are air-conditioned and include fully equipped kitchens.
The courses will be held on the premises of the Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri, one of the most renowned private schools in Italy. All courses are held in air-conditioned classrooms in the Piazza della Repubblica, Florence's main square.
UCLA Travel Study reserves the right to change housing location. Should this be necessary, we will arrange comparable accommodations elsewhere.
Meals
The program provides a few group dinners. Students can prepare meals in their apartment.
At group meals, vegetarian options are available. However, if you have strict dietary requirements the restaurants may not be able to accommodate your needs.
Please let us know when you apply for this program if you have any special dietary needs as well as any physical or medical conditions. We will advise you accordingly.
Excursions
This program includes several excursions as part of its curriculum. A schedule of excursions will be available at a later date.
This program provides three-day weekends, which allow numerous opportunities for extra-curricular activities in Florence and throughout Italy. If you plan on traveling extensively, we recommend that you budget additional spending money.
Location
A short walk along the Arno can lead you to some of Florence's greatest treasures. One of the main symbols of Florence is the Ponte Vecchio situated over the river. Originally built to cross the water, it now serves as a street, a market, a meeting place and of course, with 43 shops, an extraordinary shopping experience. Not far from the Ponte Vecchio is the Uffizi Gallery which houses some of Italy’s most important masterpieces in its 45 rooms. Works include those of Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafaello Sanzio and Tiziano Vecellio. In addition to the regular collections, the Uffizi continues to make acquisitions and host special exhibits.
One of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Italy can be found in Piazza Santa Croce. Although construction began at the end of the 13th century it was not consecrated until 1443. The church houses the tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, and other renowned Italian artists and intellectuals. It also houses its own Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce which has major works of Florentine art including those of Cimabue, Orcagna, and Donatello.
Across the Arno, the Palazzo Pitti and its famous Boboli Gardens, which reflect the high Renaissance period, can be found. Inside the Palace are works of Caravaggio, Botticelli, Filippi Lippi as well as van Dyck and Rubens. There is also a collection of 19th and 20th century paintings, including works by the Macchiaioli. Also located in the palace are the Museo degli Argenti which displays objects of silver, gold, crystalware china, and the Galleria del Costume which rotates exhibits of clothing from various periods.
The Duomo of Florence, dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the largest and most beautiful cathedrals in the world. It is typical of Italian Gotchi architecture. The two architects who designed the Duomo were Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi. Its cupola is the most characteristic feature of the Florentine skyline which is best seen from Piazzale Michelangelo. The cathedral bell tower, the Campanile di Giotto is considered to be one of the greatest testimonies to Gothic architecture of the 1300s. The octagonal Battistero is known for its three bronze doors: the south door designed by Andrea Pisano, the north door designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti, and the east door designed by Michelangelo.
The Galleria dell'Accademia, one of Florence's most popular museums, was established in 1784 by the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo to provide a place of study and work for art students. Among its most famous sculptures are the David and the Palestrina Pietà by Michelangelo. The David originally stood in front of the Palazzo Vecchio at the beginning of the 16th century and was considered the symbol of freedom of the Florentine Republic.
The Palazzo Vecchio, also known as Palazzo della Signoria, is found in one of the most beautiful piazzas of Florence, Piazza della Signoria. The Palace now contains many sculptures and works of Florentine artists of the late 16th century. The Palazzo Vecchio was so called to distinguish it from the Palazzo Pitti to which the Medici family moved in the 16th century. Today it is the seat of the municipal government and only partially open to the public. To be seen are the sculptures under the loggia which are the marble Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna and the bronze Perseus by Cellini.
Although a testimony to Renaissance Italy, Florence also reflects today's world. Students can find the Internet Train, a net of e-mail shops and internet cafes, as well as student services throughout the city, entertainment, and numerous restaurants featuring Tuscan cuisine.
Web Sites About Florence:
http://www.vps.it/florence/fm-ora.htm (piazzale michelangelo)