Athena Study Abroad Program at Lorenzo de' Medici

I would recommend Athena Florence program in a heartbeat. Going to Florence through Athena was a life changing experience and one I will never forget. The staff in the office here in the U.S. was beyond helpful. They made sure all the legalities were handled properly and when issues arose with the visa process they responded effectively and in a timely manner to ensure the process didn't drag on.
I remember a few days before leaving the U.S. for Florence I received a phone call from my contact at Athena to make sure everything was set to go and to ensure I had all the contacts I needed for both the U.S. contacts as well as the Athena representative in Florence. Once I got to Florence, the staff were so helpful in making sure everything was they way it should be. In addition the advisors at LdM ensured that the transition was as easy as possible. In addition, while I was over in Florence I never once had an issue reaching my US Athena contact via email.
As far as the personal experience, it was a time and growth and change for me and Athena made it perfect! I would definitely use them again!!

This program was fantastic! They were with me every step of the way and they were very organized which made me feel comfortable and well taken care of. We had a great apartment and school and the city in general was very safe and walk-able. I gained such a perspective of other cultures as well as my own. I realized how fortunate I am to have had this opportunity and I hope that many others can share in the Florence study abroad experience or in their own journey similar to this. If you have the chance take it and learn something new such as a perspective, skill, or something about yourself, you won't regret it! Explore, experience wanderlust and give yourself the opportunity to say "I have lived."

I absolutely loved every second while being abroad. My program was extremely helpful the entire time and I felt was always there if I needed them. I ate incredible food, I traveled a ton, and met amazing people. Florence is such a beautiful city, and it is a city that is so easy to get lost in. I would go back in a heart beat if I could, and one day I will!

Living in Florence, Italy for 4 months was something I'll never forget. The city is beautiful, the food is obviously amazing, and I don't think the local people quite understand how incredible it is to live in a city built over 500 years ago. The experience was overwhelmingly brilliant, most of the time I forgot I was even at school! Athena Study Abroad was pivotal in my success in Florence, and they really helped me every step of the way to have a safe and effective semester!

I had the time of my life while I was studying abroad in Florence. I would do it again in a heartbeat! The school I attended called Lorenzo de Medici (LDM) had teachers that were willing to help out with any questions I had and were very enthusiastic about their subject areas. LDM also has advisors that are very helpful if there are any types of problems that arise while you are abroad.

I only had classes three days a week, so I was able to travel around Europe almost every weekend. I got to go to Venice, Pisa, Rome, London, Paris, Prague, Athens, Capri, and so many other wonderful places.

I got to meet so many different people. If you can try and talk to the locals, I think you will get so much more from your experience. It will be so much more culturally rewarding. They usually have wonderful stories to share too!

One thing I wish I knew before I arrived at the school was that even though the student visa was free, there is a fee of around 160 euros for the visa.

Now that I am back in the United States, all I can do is think about all the wonderful places I saw and how much more there is still to see. I am just waiting for an opportunity to get back over to Europe.

Florence is an incredible, lively city with a lot to offer students. With Athena, it's really easy for students to fit right in and feel at home because Athena takes care of all of the big stuff like housing, class registration, and cell phone rental, leaving students free to devote their time to experiencing and embracing a new culture. While I was in Florence I learned how to make homemade pasta, how to buy groceries from the Mercato speaking only in Italian, where to grab cappuccinos with the locals, what to expect when they say the "fifth floor" (that means I get to haul my booty up SIX floors, not five) and how to shed my own perceptions and embrace those of a different culture. I fell in love with Italy and the Florentine people in four months and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!