Florence Pre-College: Transformative Journey

Course Description: Florence Pre-College: Transformative Journey

Italy Pre-College Program for Teens – Florence (21 Days + Venice Weekend) 🇮🇹🎓

Program Overview 🌟

Spend three unforgettable weeks studying abroad in Florence, one of Europe’s most beautiful and historically rich cities. Surrounded by Renaissance art, excellent food and classic Italian scenery, students experience both academic enrichment and personal growth in a city that has inspired learners for centuries.

This Italy Pre-College Program is designed to help high school students prepare for the academic and personal challenges of the transition to college, while discovering Italy in a safe, structured, and supportive environment. Learning happens in lecture rooms, on walking tours, in museums, and across Florence’s streets and piazzas.

This 21-day version of the program includes a weekend trip to Venice. The 28-day version adds a grand finale week touring Rome and the Amalfi Coast.

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Program Highlights ✨

• Choose from a variety of engaging morning courses

• Enjoy exciting day trips to Cinque Terre, Pisa, Viareggio, Fiesole, and more

• Cool off in the outdoor rooftop pool or work out in the on-site gym 💪

• Spend a weekend getaway in Venice, including classic sights and experiences

• Explore Florence highlights during Student’s Choice time

• Live in the modern, chic Social Hub Florence Belfiore Residence

• Climb to the top of the Duomo for incredible city views

• Cruise along the Arno River by traditional boat

• Meet and make new friends while studying abroad in a tight-knit group setting

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Typical Weekday Schedule (Florence) 📅

Students choose one morning course and enjoy afternoon highlights.

8:30 AM – Wake Up

9:00 AM – Breakfast

10:30 AM – Morning Course

1:00 PM – Lunch

3:00 PM – Afternoon Highlights

5:30 PM – Student’s Choice

(Sports, Gym, Staff-Planned Activity, City Exploration)

8:30 PM – Dinner

10:15 PM – Evening Activities

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Morning Courses 📘

History of Art 🖼️

Students explore the cultural revolution of the Renaissance, focusing on Florence. Through on-site visits, they become familiar with Romanesque and Gothic styles and see how early Renaissance artists diverged from these traditions. Key artists include Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

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Cooking: The Food and Culture of Italy 👩‍🍳

Interactive, hands-on cooking classes focusing on:

• Regional Italian food traditions

• Classic dishes that define Italian cuisine

• Techniques, methods and preparations used in Italian cooking

Students learn how to work with different ingredients to create authentic Italian dishes.

Supplementary fee: $220

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Florence Studio Arts: Drawing and Painting 🎨

Students navigate the artistic process under teacher mentorship, covering:

• Drawing and sketching

• Color theory

• Painting techniques

Florence’s architecture, streets and museums provide inspiration, alongside the work of the artists who helped make Florence a global art center.

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International Business & Leadership 🌍

This course provides an interactive environment for future business leaders. Topics include:

• Budgeting and finance

• Sustainability

• Public speaking

• Personal growth

Students analyze successful business models and develop their understanding of business strategy through:

• Projects and group collaboration

• Local company visits

• Guest lectures from leading businesses

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Digital Marketing 📱

Students learn how digital advertising and influencer marketing work in practice. The course features:

• Lessons, group work, and guest speaker presentations from companies

• Introduction to digital tools used in modern marketing

• Exploration of current digital marketing trends using real-life case studies, videos, apps, and online tools

By the end, students write a digital marketing plan for a company or brand of their choice.

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Architectural Design of Florence 🏛️

This course introduces:

• Analysis and interpretation of architecture and urban design

• Technical sketching methods

• Architectural observational drawing

Students also deepen their understanding of Florence’s architectural history and the visionaries who shaped its skyline.

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Digital Photography: Florence 📷

Using a smartphone or digital camera, students learn digital photography techniques such as:

• Imaging scanning and color digital printing

• Printing digital negatives

• Basic darkroom concepts

• Adobe Photoshop basics

The course blends creativity with practical skills and culminates in an individual final photography project.

A smartphone or traditional digital camera can be used for this course.

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Fashion: Florence Retail Management 👗

Students discover what it takes to manage a fashion retail operation, from boutique to large store. The course includes:

• Hands-on experiences with industry professionals

• Drafting sketches and designs

• Developing creative fashion ideas and business solutions

Students contribute to merchandising decisions, brainstorm with professionals, and visit Italian luxury brands in Florence such as Ferragamo, Gucci and Cavalli (brands may vary), with special guest lectures from local emerging designers.

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AI & Film: A Creative Project Workshop 🎬🤖

This course explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) shapes and influences society through cinema. Each session combines:

• Study of AI topics and real-world implications

• Film scenes illustrating ethical and social questions

• Discussions and creative activities

Students progressively develop a short film project, examining AI’s role in creativity, communication, social media, urban design, healthcare, cybersecurity and ethical governance.

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Italian Language 🇮🇹

Students build:

• Conversational skills

• Reading and writing skills

• Grammar and vocabulary

Vocabulary is chosen to support simple, useful everyday interactions, enhancing the overall Italian experience.

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Travel Writing & Journalism ✍️

Students focus on the genre of travel writing, using Florence as their subject. The course includes:

• Reading classical travel writing and modern travel journalism (print and online)

• Developing an individual writing voice

• Drafting and revising work for different audiences and formats

Students also have an opportunity to interact with the journalism activities of Blending, the magazine and newsletter of Florence University of the Arts’ campus press, Ingorda.

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College Life in Florence 🏙️

The Social Hub Belfiore, Florence 🏨

Students stay at The Social Hub Belfiore Florence, located close to the city centre and surrounded by cafés, boutiques and parks.

Rooms are single occupancy and include:

• Air conditioning

• Flat-screen TV

• Wi-Fi

• Private bathroom

• Personal work station

The residence also offers:

• Laundry facilities

• Game room

• 24/7 security

• Coffee shop, restaurant and rotating “pop-up” food booths

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Stay Active: Gym & Rooftop Pool 💪🏊‍♂️

Students receive complimentary access to:

• A state-of-the-art gym at The Social Hub Florence

• An outdoor rooftop pool with expansive views over the city

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Prestigious Academic Partners 🎓

University-level courses are taught at:

• Leonardo da Vinci School of Art and Culture

• Florence University of The Arts (FUA)

• The European School of Economics

Cooking is taught at In Tavola Cooking School, a culinary school just steps from the Ponte Vecchio.

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Social Experience & Academic Recognition 📄

This program is structured to reflect aspects of college life:

• Students live together in a residence

• Choose from a range of classes

• Enjoy a balance of structured activities and free time

Students also:

• Receive a certificate of completion for their courses

• May request letters of recommendation

• Attend classes that are private to program participants

• Learn from experienced university-level faculty, instructors and local professionals

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Meals 🍽️

• Breakfast: Eaten in the residence and at hotels

• Dinner:

• Some evenings as a full group at the same restaurant

• Other evenings in smaller groups at authentic restaurants with a variety of cuisines

• Lunch:

• Taken in smaller groups at local cafés and restaurants

Food is varied and plentiful, with opportunities to enjoy:

• Fresh pasta

• Pizza

• Gelato

• Seasonal fruits and vegetables

• Other Italian specialties

North American–style options are also available.

Most dietary needs can be accommodated:

• Vegetarian

• Food allergies

• Lactose intolerance

• Celiac disease

• Kosher-style diets

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Transportation & Program Specifics ✈️

Flight to Florence, Italy

Participants may:

• Join a chaperoned evening group flight from the New York area to Florence (staff present from check-in onward), or

• Connect from other cities into New York to join the group flight, or

• Meet the group directly in Florence, with support for flight planning and airport greeting after immigration and customs

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Return Flight from Florence, Italy (21-Day Program)

For the 21-day return:

• Leaders assist students with check-in and remain at the airport until flights (within designated times) have departed

• Staff then remain in Italy for the continuation of the 28-day program and chaperone that later flight home

• Depending on the number of students departing after 21 days, one staff member may chaperone that flight as well

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Local Transportation

• Private motor coach

• Public transportation in and around Florence and for excursions

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Laundry 🧺

Students generally need about one week’s worth of clothing. Laundry can be done by:

• Using local wash-and-fold services and picking up clothing clean and folded

• Using laundry facilities in the residence

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What’s Included ✅

• All lodging (The Social Hub Florence Belfiore Residence and modern hotels as needed)

• Breakfast and dinner daily

• Listed recreation and entertainment

• Day and weekend excursions

• Hotel gym and rooftop pool access

• Wi-Fi in residence

• Campus identification fee

• Classes (supplementary fees apply for some courses, such as Cooking)

• Airport transfers at designated times

• Bus transfers and public transportation costs

• Gratuities and taxes

Not Included ❌

• Transportation to and from the program (international flights)

• Lunches

• Snacks

• Personal spending money and souvenirs

• Laundry costs

• Application fee

• Optional travel insurance

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Florence Afternoon Highlights & Cultural Experiences 🎭

Students enjoy a series of curated afternoon activities, including:

• Workshop: Basic Italian Phrases – Learn useful expressions for everyday interactions

• The Italian Gastronomy Experience – Visit historic cafés and food vendors with tastings of local products such as extra virgin olive oil and prosciutto

• Climb the Duomo Tower – Climb 463 steps to Brunelleschi’s dome for panoramic views of Florence and close-up views of Vasari’s The Last Judgment fresco

• Boat Ride on the Arno River – Cruise along the Arno in a traditional barchetto, seeing Florence from the water

• Make Your Own Pasta Italian Dinner – Hands-on pasta-making workshop followed by a group meal of the dishes prepared

• Uffizi Museum Visit – Discover masterpieces by Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and others in one of the world’s most renowned galleries

• Florence Leather Demonstration and Market Visit – Watch leather goods being made, learn about quality and browse the leather markets

• Explore the Boboli Gardens – Visit Florence’s “open-air museum,” filled with historic trees, sculptures and fountains beside the Pitti Palace

• Galleria dell’Accademia Guided Tour – See the original David by Michelangelo and other important Florentine paintings from the 13th–16th centuries

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Guided City Tour Highlights 🚶‍♀️

• Piazza della Repubblica – A lively square with street artists, shows and historic cafés

• Piazza della Signoria – Historic political center of Florence, home to notable sculptures and a replica of Michelangelo’s David

• Ponte Vecchio – Medieval stone bridge over the Arno, famous for its shops and iconic silhouette

• Medici Riccardi Palace – First Renaissance palace in Florence and early home of the Medici family, where a young Michelangelo once lived under the mentorship of Lorenzo de Medici

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Day Trips 🚆🌊

Cinque Terre

Explore the “five lands,” a string of colorful fishing villages built into the cliffs overlooking the sea. Enjoy coastal views, taste local pesto, or hike the UNESCO National Park that links the villages.

Pisa

Visit the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and surrounding monuments, with time for sightseeing and photos.

Viareggio

Spend the afternoon at the beach in this seaside town and enjoy dinner at an outdoor local café with sea views and a traditional Tuscan meal.

Fiesole

Travel just outside Florence to the hilltop village of Fiesole and take in breathtaking views of Florence from above. See if you can spot the top of the Duomo from the Fiesolean hills.

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Venice Weekend Getaway 🚤🏰

During the 21-day program, students enjoy a weekend in Venice, including:

• Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) – The main public square of Venice, home to Basilica San Marco and the Doges’ Palace

• Doges’ Palace – Former seat of the Venetian Republic, home to the largest oil painting in the world, historic government halls and impressive Gothic architecture

• Rialto Bridge – The most famous bridge over the Grand Canal, lined with shops selling jewelry, linens, Murano glass and souvenirs

• Murano Glass Blowing – Watch traditional glass-blowing on the island of Murano, a craft passed down through families for centuries

• Gondola Ride – Experience Venice’s canals by gondola, one of the city’s most iconic forms of transport

Accommodation in Venice:

Students stay at Staycity Mestre during the Venice weekend.