Florence, the "jewel of the Renaissance," is situated on the banks of the Arno River among the Tuscan hills. An historic city of uncommon beauty, it is of unparalleled importance in the history of Western literature, history and the fine arts.
A relatively small city, comprising a population of half-a-million, Florence is surrounded by a network of medieval and Renaissance centers of political power and is within convenient traveling distance of other leading historic cities of Italy such as Rome, Bologna, Arezzo, Assisi, Venice and Milan.
STUDYING IN FLORENCE
With a substantial student population comprised of both international and Italian students, Florence is a hub of activity. A few steps from the Smith Center, Via dei Calzaiuoli is at the center of a lively shopping district where students may find everything from outdoor fruit and vegetable markets to the upscale shops on Via Tomabuoni. Historical Florence, home to a selection of the richest examples of Renaissance art and architecture in Europe, offers an abundance of museums, including the world-class collection of medieval to eighteen-century art of the Uffizi Gallery, and the Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David.
