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CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Florence, Italy

Name: CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Florence, Italy
Brand: CEA CAPA Education Abroad
SKU: 15324
Rating: 4.91 (163 reviews)

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CEA CAPA Education Abroad

4.91 (163 reviews)

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CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Florence, Italy

CEA CAPA Education Abroad

4.91 · 163 reviews

Community Choice Award Winner

Location

Italy
- Florence

Term

Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter

Subject Areas

Advertising Anthropology Art History Arts Business Communications Cultural Studies Design English Fashion Design Film Gender Studies Graphic Design History Humanities Journalism Liberal Arts Linguistics Literature Marketing Performing Arts Philosophy Photography Psychology Social Sciences Sociology Visual Arts +17

Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, Work study, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

High School Diploma Associates Bachelors

Housing

Apartment Host Family

Language

English

Pricing

Price Details

Included: Personalized Pre-departure Advising; Tuition & Registration; Travel Medical Insurance; On-site Orientation; Housing; Volunteer Opportunities; On-site Staff Support; Excursions and Cultural Engagement; Host Institution Services & Amenities and more. Scholarships available.

What's Included

Some Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes

Last Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Last Reviewed: May 26, 2026

Wish List

116 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and known as “the Cradle of the Renaissance,” Florence has long been a source of inspiration for visionaries such as Galileo Galilei, Leonardo da Vinci, and Niccolò Machiavelli. It is known for the Cathedral on the Pizza del Duomo, a domed edifice engineered by Fillipo Brunelleschi, which includes an iconic bell tower rising high above the city. This once-Roman city, established by Julius Ceasar in 59 BC and steeped in history, is the present home to some the worlds top fashion designers and major wine labels.

The CEA CAPA Florence Center offers a variety of learning opportunities in English and Italian where you get to explore the city with your professors as guides.

Interested? Click the “Visit Site” button to learn what’s waiting for you!

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Students praise the program for its supportive staff, immersive cultural experiences, and engaging classes that connect learning with Florence’s rich history.

AI-generated summary from verified community reviews Read reviews →

Video and Photos

CEA Study Abroad Students in Florence, Italy

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Diversity & Inclusion 💙

BIPOC Support

CEA CAPA provides, in conjunction with Diversity Abroad, Destination Guides which provide resources and tips for Black/African-American students, Latinx students, Asian American students, and all other students of color.

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LGBTQIA+ Support

Through our personalized advising, CEA CAPA takes steps to understand the needs of a diversity of student identities like the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to diversity and identity training, CEA CAPA leadership engage in continuous department level project work to identify and revise policies and practices using the appropriate Justice, Equity, Diversity or Inclusion lens as a frame to reduce bias and barriers that impact students, faculty, and staff. CEA CAPA is intentional in elevating diverse student voices and providing a platform for a broad array of identities to share their experiences abroad. The CEA CAPA World Blog promotes stories and personal experiences from the perspectives of diverse student bloggers and vloggers.

Neurodivergent Support

CEA CAPA is willing and able to assist students with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. Students are requested to disclose disabilities through the application health forms as part of their application and in discussion with their application advisor or program manager. The earlier CEA CAPA is made aware of learning or physical disabilities the better we can work with the student, institution, and overseas team to tailor an Individualized Education Program if necessary to support the student.

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Impact 🌎

Sustainability

CEA CAPA makes a conscious effort to create study abroad experiences that leave a positive impact on host communities. Each location implements a variety of strategies to support the local community and promote sustainability. Examples include:

Use of recycling bins in Study Center locations and in CEA CAPA housing

Signage in CEA CAPA housing urging students to limit water and electricity usage

Students are often given reusable bags and water bottles upon arrival to limit single plastic use

Students are provided with instructions for acquiring transportation passes to promote use of public transportation rather than taxis

Program Highlights

Hands-on learning experiences that transform the world abroad into a classroom
Personalized Pre-Departure Advising, including visa and immigration support
Courses offered in English that fulfill major and general graduation requirements
Comprehensive on-site support, including 24/7 emergency phone
Career workshops, Internships Abroad, and Alumni Ambassador positions

Program Reviews

4.91 Rating

based on 163 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

5 rating 94.48%
4 rating 4.29%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 1.23%

Academics 4.2
Support 4.8
Fun 4.85
Housing 4.6
Safety 4.7

Good for Students, Foodies, Photographers

Showing 1 - 8 of 163 reviews

Florence is a very walkable, historic city that I found hardly anyone could dislike. Florence has a little bit for everyone, and CAPA's location were in beautiful parts of the city. They helped me get food, book trips, and were my home away from home. Florence is a very easy city for anyone to have a good time in! Being Italian American, getting to be in touch with my father's side of the family was amazing, It helped me answer questions about myself as well as help me grow as an artist in the most artistic place in the world!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

I ate squid ink pasta, it was black! I also ate bear and reindeer.

Pros

Italian roommate, really integrated
surrounded by art as an art major
good, cheap food

Cons

italian roommate was very expensive and she didn't really take us anywhere

Studying abroad in Florence gives you a surreal experience that allows you to be engulfed into a whole new culture. The experience challenges you in all the right ways and expands your global knowledge significantly. The city is rich in history with so many intricate details scattered throughout. Florence maintains the art of family businesses and true craftsmanship. This experience makes you feel like you are actually a part of history. The amount of exploring you can do is endless, and you’ll find character in the city with amazing hospitality.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

If I were to do it all over again, one thing I would change is not being so fearful the first week. Instead, I would’ve probably leaned more into my fear and just explored by walking around. For me that first week, I was a little nervous and it was a new environment, which I think is okay, but it resulted in me not exploring as much until I got comfortable. As the second week occurred, I was more open to exploring on my own and with groups. I say face the fear early on because that’s what the space is meant for to challenge yourself and to explore something new every day.

Pros

Architecture
History
New experience

Cons

Smell of cigarettes
Low spatial awareness
Staring or judgmental looks

When I first got into my trip abroad I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. And if I were to share all the adventures, experiences, and people I met to my before abroad self i would not believe myself because it was crazy, fun, and a once in a lifetime experience like no other for me. This trip help make me a better person academically and personally with learning news skills such as photography and learning the rich history that Florence had to offer. And personally I believe this pint in my life made me more confident in my self and more daring to do more things and experience life. The staff, professors, locals, and students were all lovely and great people to rely and talk to and be with in your side while studying abroad. If you want to step into an adventure of a lifetime I strongly suggest studying abroad in this program.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

Almost missing my connecting flight to my abroad location of France and at first being unfamiliar at where I was. But as days went on Florence became another home for me and I was very familiar with all the tiny connecting streets and monuments.

Pros

Meet new people and discover new places
Step out of your comfort zone and become a more outgoing person
Get involved in a new culture

Cons

Homesickness
Feel out of place at first
Nervous of a big lifestyle change

I loved my time in Florence! From enjoying the city with my roommates and new friends I made to the delicious food or the unique classes, it was honestly one of the best months ever. The academic/life balance was perfect and I truly learned a lot. I took a fashion studies class and a studio art class. Both classes had the best professors and the coolest field trips that really immersed me in the history and culture of the city. I also had plenty of time to explore Florence with my friends. So worth it.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

I ate pear ravioli, which sounded kind of unique to me and it was one of the best things I had there, and felt very authentic to Italy. Pistachio gelato was another favorite.

Pros

beautiful city
art history and architecture
delicious food

Cons

small living space

at a fashion class field trip to a textiles trends market

CEA CAPA Florence was one of the best experiences of my life. The staff and people through the program were so friendly and tried to make my experience as fun and easy as possible. Florence was a beautiful city rich in culture with beautiful views and some many amazing places to visit. The way of life in Florence opened my eyes to slow down my way of life and to really start enjoying the little things. Overall, I would recommend CEA CAPA Florence to anyone interested in studying abroad that wants a smaller feel to an amazing city.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

Everywhere in Florence there was "Wild Boar" pasta. I was at first intimidated by the name but it became my go to meal by the end of the trip.

Pros

Friendly staff
Interesting classes offered
Amazing culture

Cons

Far housing from city center (Beyo)
Late classes

My time with CEA in Florence was incredible. The support from staff was consistent and very helpful, the classes were full of culture and learning opportunities, and there were plenty of program activities to participate in. The only downside of the program was the housing. I was put in a rather small apartment for 7 girls, the kitchen was difficult to fit food and had limited space when cooking. I was also far away from the city center in my classes, at first it was a problem to me and I wasn't used to walking 30 minutes everyday. However, when I spent a few weeks establishing a routine I was able to be comfortable where I live and created relationships with locals around me. The only thing I'd change is my living situation, other than that I had a wonderful time.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

I was so nervous to meet my roommates because I had little prior knowledge of them before going abroad. When I first met them it was great because all of us were in the same boat and didn't know each other.

Pros

Staff Communication
Class Learning
Professor Relationships

Cons

Housing

I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy, with CEA CAPA during the fall semester. It was a meaningful and challenging experience that allowed me to get out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. Being in the city for 4 months made me feel as though I was really immersed in the Italian culture instead of being a tourist. The classes were very interesting, and many of them related to the city in some way, which made the learning process very memorable. The staff was very supportive while still supporting independence, which was great for my personal growth. Overall, the program is great for students looking for cultural immersion, independence, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

I had the best time studying abroad in Florence, Italy with CEA CAPA. All of the staff and teachers were always helpful and extremely nice and supportive and made the transition abroad easy and fun. During the semester, they were always easy to contact and answered all the questions I had. CEA CAPA planned many activities for students to get to know one another and their host city. Overall, I totally recommend studying abroad in Florence, Italy with CEA CAPA. I want to relive it over and over again!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

The most surprising thing I did was travel to totally new places and countries. My most surprising trip was to Morocco, which was such a cool experience!

Pros

Engaging classes
Supportive Staff
So many activities provided

Cons

All the apartments are totally different and in different locations

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Alumni spotlight: Lexi

Why did you choose this program?

I chose CEA CAPA because of both the program’s benefits and my personal interests. My home institution’s study abroad office provided a questionnaire that helped me narrow down potential locations and program types that fit my major. Since my degree is elective-heavy, I had the flexibility to apply to two CEA CAPA programs. I ultimately selected five courses, which turned out to be some of the most engaging and interesting classes I have ever taken. Beyond academics, the program offered numerous benefits, including supportive on-site staff available 24/7 and a variety of activities such as day trips, cooking classes, museum visits, and more.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

My program provider was incredibly helpful during the process of obtaining my visa. Being away from home and trying to gather all the necessary paperwork and meet requirements was stressful; however, my CEA CAPA advisor was always willing to help and answered all of my questions along the way. CEA CAPA is very thorough in guiding students, providing step-by-step support and even a personalized “To-Do List” in the portal to keep everything on track. While CEA CAPA handled much of the guidance, I was responsible for selecting my courses abroad and securing credit approval from my home institution.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Travel! One of the biggest reasons I decided to study abroad was because I wasn’t sure when I’d have another opportunity to visit Europe after graduation. I went into my program with the goal of seeing the world and traveling to countries beyond my home base. With so many budget-friendly apps and resources available, exploring new places is both accessible and worthwhile. Before going abroad, I had already booked 1–2 trips, but I recommend planning as much as possible in advance. The semester goes by quickly, and you don’t want to miss out on experiences simply because you waited too long to organize a trip or didn’t manage your time effectively.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Through my program, my weekdays were a balance of classes, cooking Italian meals at home, going out to eat, and enjoying fun activities with my roommates while exploring the beautiful city of Florence. We made it a goal to travel every weekend, so once Friday arrived, you could usually find us bouncing around Europe! Our class schedule ran Monday through Thursday, which gave us the flexibility to leave Thursday nights or Friday mornings for trips. Some of my favorite activities in Florence included taking cooking classes, shopping, visiting museums, trying new foods, going on walks, and soaking in everything the city had to offer.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was that I would regret my decision to go abroad while I was there, and that it would be too late to turn back. Looking back, it seems silly to have thought that studying abroad could ever be a regret. Whenever I felt waves of homesickness or missed my life in America, I reminded myself where I was and how lucky I was to have this opportunity. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the only thing that can diminish it is a negative mindset. The best way to overcome fears or nerves is to stay busy — and trust me, you will be! Adapting during the first few days or even weeks may feel a little out of place, but after talking to multiple people I met abroad, I realized it’s completely normal. Make new friends, build bonds, and embrace the experience. This is a time in your life where you will learn so much about yourself and the world around you.

Write and answer your own question.

If there is one thing I could do differently while studying abroad, it would be to create a bucket list before arriving. I would take the time to sit down, think, and research all the things I wanted to do at my home base and while traveling around. This could include foods to try, cities to visit, or souvenirs to buy. Creating a bucket list helps you get to know the area, pushes you to put yourself out there, and ensures you have no regrets when it’s time to go home. Study abroad goes by quickly, so you don’t want to miss any of the amazing experiences the world has to offer.

Elizabeth Klingler

2017 Alum

Danielle Lukas

2014 Alum

Christine Brackenhoff

2014 Alum

Erin Largey

2014 Alum

Brooke Scanlon

2014 Alum

Patrick Scally

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Letizia Ialini

Program

CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Florence, Italy

Job Title

Student Services Advisor, CEA Florence

Letizia studied Economics at the University of Florence. During her university career, she temporarily moved to Bournemouth, England where she worked as a trainee in the financial department of an industrial company. This first experience abroad sparked her interest in traveling and learning, leading her to continue her studies for an academic year in Australia. Letizia greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn a new language, to travel, and to make friends around the world.

female headshot

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Letizia: I studied abroad in Australia and it was the best time of my life. In 2004 I was studying economics at the University of Florence and I knew that an experience abroad would have contributed to make my resume more interesting to the eye of a future employer.

I wanted to have “a plus”, something different from my pears that would graduate the same year as me. I thought that a study abroad experience could make me more flexible, capable to adapt quickly to a new environment and more open minded. All qualities that a future employer would look for when selecting a candidate.

I actually learned so much during my time abroad, much more than I could have ever imagined. Studying abroad has helped me not only on a professional point of view, but also on a personal point of view. I have invaluable memories of my time in Melbourne. I met people from all over the world and after 10 years I am still good friend with most of them.

What was your favorite traveling experience?

Letizia: I don’t like big cities, I never have. I have many traveling experience that are sweet memories in my heart: Tasmania in 2005, Portugal in 2008, and east Australia in 2009, but the one I cherish the most is New Zealand in 2009. My husband and I decided to rent a car and drove from Auckland to the Waipoua Forest which is one part of the largest remaining tract of native forest in the North Island.

Waipoua Forest

The drive to the forest is spectacular: the road winds through huge and spectacular kauri trees, the colors of the sky are indescribable. With a Maori guide we adventured into the forest at dusk and followed a trail that lead us to meet one of the most significant tree, the natives call it Te Matua Ngahere – 'Father of the Forest' – which is huge and estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,000 years old.

The forest at night was magical, many animals, that we would never have seen during the day, were coming out their shelters and we had the feeling of being lucky viewers of an intact world that was exiting a long time ago.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Letizia: Not every student has an easy start. Sometimes studying abroad can be challenging, especially during the first few weeks away from home. Some students start missing home and for different reasons they think that they cannot successfully complete their time abroad.

We always do our best to encourage and support these students and most of the time they decide to remain with us and positively complete their semester abroad. Seeing this students overcome their difficulties in one of the best part of my job. Through this experience they learn they can actually overcome every adverse situation.

They decide to challenge themselves and grow up in a way they usually do not even expect. Hearing from them once they go back home and understand how happy they are they have decided to stay is one of the biggest gratifications we could actually have knowing we, in some way, influenced that decision.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

new zealand view

Letizia: I feel very lucky to be part of the CEA team. CEA is a very dynamic organization and as a company it is always trying to improve. The good thing is that every semester is basically structured as the previous one but really nothing is actually the same. We always work with different students and we continuously try to provide them with the best experience they could possibly find in Florence.

CEA is constantly trying to make progress and get closer to what students really need. New ideas in order to reach a better result are always welcome and I find this attitude rewarding of my efforts. Our team in Florence is made of young people and we all get along very well. This is something that I am sure influence the students experience in many ways as the atmosphere is a very positive one.

Bruno Grazioli

Academic Director, CEA Florence

Emily Schiavone

Center Director, CEA Florence

Alexandra Mitchell

Director of International Programs

Vittoria Chesi

Senior Academic Coordinator, Florence

Location

Location:

Florence

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

61 F / 36 F

Apr-Jun

82 F / 45 F

Jul-Sep

90 F / 57 F

Oct-Dec

70 F / 37 F

Airports:

Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola

( FLR )

Gelato festival is April should be enough to get your attention, but this won't be the only thing that keeps you coming back for more. Florence sits in the Tuscany region and is regarded for its artistic history and worldly views.

About CEA CAPA Education Abroad

With 22 destinations across 13 countries, CEA CAPA Education Abroad offers an ideal balance of academics, internships, and adventure to more than 4,000 students each year. Click on “Visit Site” to explore our study and internship opportunities and find out just out how far international education can take you. Why study abroad or complete an...