florence life
STUDYING DESIGN IN FLORENCE, ITALY
CITY CENTER
Florence offers international students the opportunity to live and study within one of Italy's most important cultural cities. Its historic center brings together art, architecture, design, fashion and contemporary culture within a relatively compact urban environment. Students encounter historic buildings, museums, galleries, workshops, shops and public spaces as part of everyday life, creating a setting in which the city itself becomes an extension of their design education.
LOCATION
FIDI is located in the historic center of Florence, within walking distance of many of the city's principal cultural and architectural sites. Students can easily reach museums, galleries, churches and public spaces including the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, the Duomo and the Medici Chapels. Florence's art, architecture and urban environment provide an important context for design study. Museum visits, exhibitions, architectural analysis and other activities outside the classroom are incorporated into courses where relevant, allowing students to connect academic study with direct observation and experience of the city.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXPERIENCE
FIDI welcomes students from different countries and educational backgrounds. English is the language of instruction, allowing international students to study together while living within an Italian cultural environment. Optional introductory Italian classes help students develop practical language skills for everyday life in Florence.
DAILY LIFE
FIDI's central location allows students to experience Florence largely on foot. Cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, local markets, pharmacies, shops and everyday services are readily accessible throughout the historic center. Living in Florence also gives international students the opportunity to experience Italian daily life beyond the classroom, from neighborhood cafés and markets to the city's piazzas, cultural events and exhibitions. See our Florence guide to Health and Safety for more information.
FLORENCE BY NIGHT
Florence offers students a varied social and cultural life outside class, with cafés, restaurants, cinemas, exhibitions, concerts and events throughout the year. The historic center provides many opportunities for students to meet socially while remaining close to the museums, galleries and cultural institutions that characterize the city.
GETTING AROUND
Florence's historic center is compact and pedestrian-friendly, and students can reach many everyday destinations on foot. FIDI is centrally located on Borgo Ognissantiwithin walking distance of the Duomo, Santa Maria Novella station and many of the city's principal cultural sites. Public transportation and taxis provide additional options for travel within Florence and the surrounding area. Upon arival, see here for transporation options.
STUDENT HOUSING
Students can choose from a range of accommodation options in Florence, including rooms in shared apartments, private apartments and student residences. FIDI does not directly operate student housing, but students receive information and assistance with identifying accommodation options. We generally recommend living within or close to the historic center where practical, as this allows students to reach the school and many everyday services on foot. Housing costs vary according to location, room type, apartment quality and length of stay.See our Student Housing. page for current guidance and recommended resources.
ITALIAN DESIGN: TRADITION AND CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE
Studying in Italy provides students with exposure to a design culture that connects historical craftsmanship and artistic traditions with contemporary architecture, furniture, interiors, graphic communication and industrial production. FIDI courses use this broader Italian context through design references, exhibitions, site visits and professional examples appropriate to each area of study.