CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Florence, Italy

I studied abroad in Florence through CEA CAPA in the Fall of 2024. The classes, opportunities, support, and memories were unforgettable. The staff always greeted us with a smile and answered all the questions I had. There were program trips to other cities in Tuscany as well as smaller field trips around Florence that I would recommend participating in. Two of the classes I took were some of my favorites in all of my undergraduate education so far. Florence in particular was an amazing area to be in, with it being so walkable and pretty affordable. My apartment was close to the train station and the Duomo which I feel was the best spot in the city, and even the walk to Piazzale Michelangelo did not feel long. I feel so lucky to have called this city my home: I miss it every day and I think CEA CAPA was incredibly helpful throughout this unique process.

I just came back from a semester abroad in fall 2024 in Florence. When I say it was one of the best decisions I've made, I mean it. I learned so much about myself, Italy, and what it means to be a global citizen. At the beginning of the program, I told someone I would never be comfortable going on a solo trip... flash forward two months later and I was in Brussels by myself for the weekend (and it was SUCH a rewarding experience)! The community and support I found in Florence through CEA CAPA made my experience unforgettable. I met some of my best friends in my Italian I class that I never would have crossed paths with before, and the front desk staff made me feel so welcomed (and now we're still in contact on Instagram)!

Florence has so much to offer and you will not regret going with CEA CAPA. If I could do it all over again I'd do it the exact same.

CEA CAPA provided me with an amazing abroad experience. My housing was in a great location with short walks to class, coffee shops, and outstanding restaurants. CEA CAPA also made sure I was taking the right classes for my credits to transfer which was so helpful. All the staff was friendly and helpful with the adjustment to a new culture. My professors were so knowledgeable and made class interesting with lots of hands on experiences. I recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad in Florence!

This was the best experience of my life. CEA CAPA made it so easy to adjust and there were always new activities that were free. We did a cooking class that was so fun. I also did a gelato tour which gave me so many good new places to take my family to when they visited. They also were able to set me up with a "host family" who I would see every week and do activities with/go to their house for dinner. Interacting with locals was made easy through this. Also our housing was right next to the Duomo. Our house was beautiful and spacious. I loved every second and would go back in a heartbeat. Could not recommend anything more!

Studying abroad in Florence would be a magical experience regardless of which program I chose, however, I am so glad I studied abroad with CEA CAPA because their classes infuse the spirit and contemporary culture of Florence into their curriculum. The "core class" that I took along with my other CEA CAPA classes was "Exploring and Analyzing the City of Florence". It not only educated me on the origins of Florence and its history but showed me the importance of urban analysis to create my own, personal image of contemporary Florence. I felt that I was truly able to explore the city and start to actually feel at home through this class. My other classes educated me on the feminist art history of Florence and also the contemporary cinema of Italy as a whole, which helped me to understand the differences in regions throughout Italy and how cinema plays a role in Italian culture. The program also provides lots of social opportunities and some cooking classes as well, and they really encourage students to engage in these activities. The housing is also really great, our apartment had old frescoes on the ceiling and was quite spacious, and maintenance was quick to make repairs or help us when issues arose. They also have a very helpful orientation to help alleviate culture shock and have many resources to help students acclimate to the new area they've thrown themselves into. Overall I really enjoyed my time in Florence with CEA CAPA and I don't think there is much I would change about my experience.

At first when I decided I would like to go abroad I was very overwhelmed by not only the options but also the steps I would have to take in order to make going abroad possible. From buying flights, getting a Visa, deadlines and dates, arrival procedures, all of it! I am 100% real when I say that CEACAPA was one of the most organised study abroad organisations I have seen. Not only did they have a to-do list with dates and reminders and guidance for everything that you had to complete but they also had themes amazing staff that would awnser any questions you had and were always willing to help even if it were as simple as printing something for you before you arrive to class since you are a little bit late. There was two campuses, both in the middle of the city which gave me the opportunity to explore the heart of the city so much. Levi center campus was in Piazza della Repubblica, literally the heart of the center of Florence. The other Galli Tassi was a few blocks away in a beautiful old building with a lot of history which made studying there soooo beautiful. All front desks ladies were super nice and helpful and my professor extremely knowledgable and fun! I loved this program and the free activities it oferred as well as the experience professors and their methods of teaching they provided. I would absolutely recommend.

I couldn't have better things to say about the CEA CAPA staff and my experience thanks to them. I loved my time abroad and miss it already. I wouldn't choose to go with any other program other than CEA CAPA. From the second I signed up with CEA CAPA to the moment I left I felt supported by the staff off and on campus. I always knew there was someone I could turn to if I needed anything at all. The staff, being everyone from those working at the front desk to your professors, really want you to have an amazing time and care about your well being which makes such a difference.

This past summer, I had an amazing opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy for 4 weeks. I took a class called Women, Art, and Culture in Italy where I had the chance to learn more about women during the Italian Renaissance and be able to go and see art in museums and churches with my class. I am studying Art Education and so I wanted to do something that would help me with my career later on! This trip was definitely an eye opening experience for me since I had never traveled alone before or even out of the country. Traveling without the comfort of another person or my parents was nerve wracking, but I did it even if my travels didn't always go as planned. When I arrived in Rome, I discovered that my luggage was delayed and that was surely an obstacle I had to navigate that I had never been through before. I also experienced countless mishaps with the train while in Italy, but here I am and everything was fine! Something I learned was to never be afraid to ask for help. There were a couple times that I ran into a language barrier, but it always was fine in the end! Overall, this trip was amazing and I dream about going back everyday.