CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Florence, Italy

Studying abroad in Florence, Italy with CEA CAPA was truly one of the most transformative experiences of my life, and I cannot recommend it enough. From the moment I arrived, the program provided everything I needed to not only thrive academically but also immerse myself in the rich culture of Italy and form lasting connections with some of the most amazing people.

The staff at CEA CAPA were incredibly supportive, approachable, and attentive. They genuinely wanted you to succeed both in your studies and in your personal experience abroad. The program was well-organized, yet flexible enough to allow for personal exploration. There were always resources available, whether it was academic support or simply advice on where to get the best espresso in town. If you ever had any questions or concerns, the team was just an email or phone call away, and they were always quick to assist.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the program was the lifelong friendships I made. I was placed in a shared apartment with a group of strangers who quickly became my closest friends. These roommates, who initially felt like complete strangers, ended up being the people I spent my days with, exploring Florence, studying together, and traveling around Europe. We shared so many experiences that I know will bond us for years to come. The program’s emphasis on group excursions and activities fostered an environment of camaraderie, and I genuinely felt like I was a part of a close-knit community during my time there.One of the most unexpected and rewarding aspects of the program was the lifelong friendships I made. I was placed in a shared apartment with a group of strangers who quickly became my closest friends. These roommates, who initially felt like complete strangers, ended up being the people I spent my days with, exploring Florence, studying together, and traveling around Europe.

I interned for a small organic sustainable shop. Here, I was able to make a big impact on the company, and in return it made a huge impact on me. I learned about various business operations, more about marketing, running a business, and analysis. It also challenged my organization and communication skills. CEA CAPA was so supportive throughout the whole experience and I could not reccommend them enough. Importantly, this experience has allowed me to land a lot of great interviews for the upcoming summer.

My time abroad in Florence, Italy was some of the best times of my life. It's truly one of the best decisions I've ever made. I come from a big Italian family, so this is something that I dreamed of when I was younger. That was another reason why this trip was so special. I got to do everything I wanted and more. I met some new great friends, tried new foods, traveled all around to new places, and overall just an all-new perspective on life. I am still thinking about the trip almost every day! I'm very thankful and am so lucky to have been able to do this program.

Studying abroad in Florence was AMAZING! I'd never been abroad before, but once I landed in Florence I felt right at home. The city is beautiful and there's so much to do without even having to travel. The people and the community are absolutely incredible too. So welcoming and kind even though I was a tourist. Definitely try Pino's Sandwiches if you go! They have some of the best sandwiches in the world. I also highly recommend visiting all of the museums and tourist attractions (most can be for free as students), because Florence has some of the most unique architecture and art!

This summer I studied abroad with CEA Capa for 4 weeks in Florence, Italy and it was an adventure of a lifetime. I went into the program not knowing anyone and I can say I came out with my best friends. From the start CEA made it such a smooth welcoming process for me, applying and getting ready abroad was surprisingly easy and there were so many individuals that were there to help. Once I made it to Florence everything ran just as smooth, all the onsite staff were beyond informative and welcoming, they planned amazing excursions and activities for the students to participate in. One of my favorite memories was the big welcome dinner, being able to meet everyone that was equally as excited as me to explore Florence was amazing. The city itself has so much to offer from amazing food, nightlife, beautiful scenery, I was truly never bored. As well as there are amazing day and weekend trips easily accessible by trains/bus/flights.

As someone who had never been to Europe prior to my abroad experience, I had no idea where I wanted to go, if I wanted a big city or a small town. I took a shot in the dark and decided on Florence, Italy with CEA CAPA. I am so beyond grateful that I did. To have this experience of the city, the people, the culture, and of course, the food is truly a privilege. Florence is such an iconic city known around the world, but it didn't have that overwhelming feeling that most big cities have. You can experience some of the best nightlife Europe has to offer, any night of the week or you can spend your Friday evening at some of the most world-renowned museums. Either way, I could also be talked into a Gyro panini afterwards, from numerous street vendors!

When I look back on my experience studying abroad, I like to think of all the life lessons I learned, the friendships I made and the valuable classes I enrolled in. Without a doubt, learning abroad through CEA CAPA has taught me to step outside my comfort zone, to be confident in who I am, and to take advantage of every opportunity. There are countless things that I have taken away from my time abroad that will most certainly be used in my daily life.
As for the friendships I have made, I was pleasantly surprised how well random roommates would work out for me. Committing to study abroad with no one I knew from my hometown nor my university took a big leap of faith, but it’s something I’m so thankful I did. I went into this knowing I would be meeting so many new faces, but did not expect my roommates to become lifelong friends. Messaging each other through the roommate portal was our first interaction. Before we knew it, we made it to Italy and we were planning our future trips together. With that said, meeting unfamiliar faces is something I would highly recommend. After all, you only get so many chances to study abroad. My roommates, who are now my friends, have played a significant role in my experience studying abroad. The friends that you will make while you’re abroad will be the people that you travel to other countries with. They’ll be the people you explore the history of your city with. The ones you try new food with, and influence you to buy all the leather you don’t need with. You will bond over silly things like missing a train or two, creating an oil painting and not being able to tell what it is, and embarrassing yourself while trying to do karaoke at Red Garter. While they’ve only been in my life for a short period of time, they are still part of a chapter in my life and college career.

My experience in Florence was amazing from start to finish. Upon arriving, we began with orientation, and right from the first day I knew I loved the city and the community among CEA CAPA. The staff was so friendly, cracking jokes, and overall helping us to feel comfortable as we were all in a brand new environment with brand new people. I was lucky enough to travel with one of my best friends from my home university, but I still made great friends in and outside of my classes, people who I would consider lifelong friends. My apartment floor was also about 10 CAPA students (2-4 per apartment), and we all became fast friends, spending down time exploring the city, day or night. The social scene, both Italian and American, was very friendly, and the night scene was a great mix of both, where I was able to feel at home with fellow Americans, while also meeting people who came from a very different world than I did. The academic scene also provided a new perspective, with teachers from Florence, who were able to give me invaluable insight to Italian culture. I am a Gender Studies major, and taking a class about gender roles in Italy was fascinating, because I had only ever learned about it from the perspective of American gender roles. Alongside that, the workload kept me engaged, without being too challenging, and taking away from my time enjoying the city. The only thing I regret about my abroad experience is leaving! CEA CAPA provided a wonderful cushion to put me at ease, while also giving me the tools to succeed on my own, and to truly make the best of the experience.