Study Abroad
in Florence, Italy

Participants will live in a shared apartment with 2-3 individuals per room and 4-8 individuals per apartment. Apartments are scattered through the city center as Vertoans are living amongst the Florentines. Accommodations are within walking distance to the study center.

Accommodations include:

• Shared room (double, triple, or quad)
• Shared bathroom
• Shared kitchen
• Living only with other Vertoans in each flat. Other Florentines will live in the building – your neighbors could be young professionals, retired, other students, etc. Be prepared to immerse yourself within the community!
• Fully furnished
• Wireless internet
• All utilities- Note that air conditioning is not common.
• Biweekly cleaning service
• Kitchenware
• Washing machine & drying racks
• Bed Linens—participants should bring or buy a towel upon arrival

For spring 2025, there is no meal plan in Italy. Participants have the option to cook in their apartment or enjoy the wonderful culinary scene of Italy.

During Orientation, staff will ensure participants know how to operate all cooking equipment in the apartment and will develop opportunities to help Vertoans cook simple, nutritious meals.

Starting in fall 2025, students will be provided a pre-charged electronic meal card to purchase meals and groceries daily.

Participants are responsible for airfare to/from Florence and any internal airfare.

Florence is highly walkable though there are city buses and affordable taxis which can take participants to neighborhoods outside of the city center if they choose to do so.

Examples of Possible Verto Excursions:

Participants are given all the support they need to explore Florence on their own and will have the opportunity to opt-in to Verto’s extracurricular activities and day trips.

Sample Verto Sponsored Excursions* may include:

• Day Trips to locations such as Cinque Terre, Tuscan Countryside, Rome, Lucca, or Bologna
• An Overnight trip to locations such as Verona & Lake Garda or Venice
• Opera night at Saint Mark’s
• Local Urban Farms
• Hiking in Fiesole 
• Art Exhibits in Palazzo Strozzi

*Excursions are subject to change on each abroad experience based on availability.

Why choose just one location? Sharpen your comparative lens by learning in two amazing Verto abroad locations. Spend your first semester in Italy and your second semester elsewhere in the world! If your heart is set on spending two semesters in the same city, we won’t blame you! Let us know and we’ll advise you to ensure this is the best option for you. Participants are limited to earning 30 credits in one location.

Recommend €500-800 Euros/month

Food (spring 2025), travel, & other personal expenses. This could be more or less depending on personal habits and independent travel plans.

Included With the Cost of Your Experience:

• All accommodation while overseas
• Pre-paid meal card starting fall 2025
• All scheduled events
• Books and other course materials
• Medical insurance
• Airport pick-up on the designated arrival date

Not Included With the Cost of Your Experience:

• International Airfare
• Meals and snacks (spring 2025)
• Souvenirs and gifts
• Visa fees
• Optional activities and associated equipment
• Food, travel, and accommodation when traveling to, from, or between programs
• Airline change fees or new tickets for flights to and from programs
• Return transportation to the airport at the end of the program

Participants must be 18 years old by June 1st for fall semesters and by October 1st for spring semesters.

Individuals must have a valid passport in order to participate in Verto’s abroad experiences. All passports should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the abroad experience. If this is not the case, individuals should renew or acquire their passport as soon as possible.

Follow our step-by-step Passport Guide.

Participants will need a visa to study in Italy.

Participants will be responsible for obtaining their Italian student visa through their local Italian consulate. Explicit instructions on how to obtain the Italian student visa will be sent to participants approximately 3-4 months prior to departure.

Verto Education is not responsible for any individual’s inability to obtain the correct visa for any given abroad location, and cancellation fees will apply if an individual is denied the proper visa. Verto Education cannot overturn any decision made by any Consular or Embassy official.

Verto’s Florence abroad experience is a great fit for young adults who are excited by…

City Life with a Small Town Feel

Florence is a global city that is rich with visible history in every piazza. Whether you’re crossing the Ponte Vecchio or walking past the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, otherwise known as “the Duomo” every day, it is an easily navigable and highly-walkable city. It’s great for individuals who love the pace of city life with the feeling of a small town. In fact, you’ll find that it’s easier to walk than take the bus, and you’ll quickly learn why Italians don’t spend much time in the gym! There are tons of international students studying in Florence, so you will be able to befriend people from all over the world when you run into them in-line at the sandwich shop, or while soaking up the Florence-vibe at a coffee bar. 

Apartment Housing

You will live in apartment housing, like other local students. Apartments are scattered through the historical center of Florence and Vertoans will live amongst Florentines. To clarify, participants will only ever share an apartment with other Vertoans but they may be in the same building as locals. You can expect to share a bedroom with other participants. 

Free Time and More Independence

You should expect a fairly typical college schedule. There will be out of class experiential learning activities for courses plus weekend excursions, though you will have plenty of free time to explore the city independently. 

Since you will be living in apartments and managing your own schedules outside of class and excursions, Florence is a great fit for individuals who are looking to develop life skills such as grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and independent living. 

Art & Art History

Florence is one of the most famous destinations in the world for art, architecture, and art history and is absolutely full of artistic treasures to discover. Art lovers will enjoy visiting Florence’s many museums such as the Uffizi and galleries like the Accademia, home to Michaelangelo’s David, both in their Verto abroad experience and in their free time. 

Foodie Experiences

Meals are not included in the Florence abroad experience. As such, you can cook in your apartment and/or dive into Florence’s epic culinary scene! You’ll get to develop those personal finance skills as you balance grocery shopping with dining at all of the tasty eateries in the city. 

The health and safety of our participants is always our top priority. We’ve developed stages of planning to address the specific concern of COVID-19.

Review Verto’s COVID-19 Safety Plan

Verto’s application is quick, free, and non-binding!

Fill out Verto’s 10 minute application: vertoeducation.org/apply

After your application is submitted, you will be matched with a counselor who can answer any and all of your questions. Learn more about Verto’s decision process here: vertoeducation.org/admissions

P.S. Did you know that Verto participants can use their Verto app to apply to many of our 60+ partner colleges for free?! Learn more here.