Summer Business, Arts, Humanities, Italian Language and Culture in Florence
What's Included
We invite you to spend your summer in magnificent Florence with API. You can choose from a wide array of arts, business and humanities courses taught in English, or study Italian language, all while living in one of the world's most beloved cities. You can earn valuable academic credit toward your degree, and you'll have the opportunity to experience the warm and friendly Italian culture, see world-famous works of art and stunning architecture, and explore the incredible beauty of Florence and its surroundings!
This program offers additional features, including exciting workshops that incorporate fieldwork and professional development opportunities.
Students who wish to take two courses will incur an additional fee of $1,350 per course, per session.
*Summer Restoration Workshop: $7,900
Mar 15, 2024
No Extension
Apr 14, 2024
Summer 1 and 2 Combined
May 27, 2024 - Aug 1, 2024
Pricing Additional Information
$11,500 ⓘ
Students who wish to take two courses will incur an additional fee of $1,350 per course, per session.
Mar 15, 2024
No Extension
Apr 14, 2024
Summer 2
Jul 1, 2024 - Aug 1, 2024
Pricing Additional Information
$6,500 ⓘ
Students who wish to take two courses will incur an additional fee of $1,350 per course, per session.
*Summer Restoration Workshop: $7,900
Mar 15, 2024
No Extension
Apr 14, 2024
The prices listed below are for 1 course per session. Students who are interested in taking 2 courses per session will incur an additional fee of $1,350 per course, per session.
Excursions
API students participate in excursions designed to help familiarize them with the culture and surrounding areas of their host city and country. The following is a listing of potential excursions for API Florence programs. API may need to modify the excursions offered in a given term due to travel restrictions or health and safety concerns.
Rome
With an almost uninterrupted history as an important center of power for more than two millennia, Rome is as close to eternal as it gets. The “Eternal City” was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, it remains the seat of the Italian government and the world’s biggest open air museum.
Venice & Verona
Venice is one of the most well-known and romantic cities in the world. Famous for the canals and beautiful Piazza San Marco, the city welcomes visitors and scholars to explore its winding streets, walk the numerous bridges connecting section to section, and to soak up the magic of this city on the water. From the 13th to the 17th centuries, Venice was one of the most important cities in Europe. Its strategic location made Venice an important center of trade between the East and the West, and art and culture blossomed as well, leaving a legacy of amazing artistic and architectural treasures to discover throughout the winding streets and canals.
Verona was home to most famous lovers in history: Romeo and Juliet (visitors can still find their famous balcony here). Today’s Verona has much more to offer than just references to Shakespeare, including the Roman Amphitheater (which is still used today for operas), the market at Piazza delle Erbe (once the Roman forum), and the medieval streets by the Adige river. Lake Garda is the biggest of the pre-Alpine lakes and the largest in Italy. The beauty of the countryside, the Mediterranean vegetation (vineyards, olive groves and citrus orchards), and its mild climate make Lake Garda one of the most thriving health and tourist centers in the country. One can find remnants of many different historical periods in the cities and villages around the lake, such as Roman ruins, medieval churches and beautiful liberty villas.
Rome
With an almost uninterrupted history as an important center of power for more than two millennia, Rome is as close to eternal as it gets. The “Eternal City” was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, it remains the seat of the Italian government and the world’s biggest open air museum.
Amalfi Coast: Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri
Pompeii is one of the most significant proofs of Roman civilization and provides outstanding information on the art, customs, trades and everyday life of the past. The city was badly damaged by an earthquake in 63 AD and was completely demolished in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Life came to a permanent standstill in what had been one of the most active and splendid Roman centers. Although this tragic event ended the lives of 20,000 Pompeian residents, the ash that buried the town served as a sort of mummification for the entire city. The eruption thus captured a moment in time.
Sorrento is a resort town set atop rocky, picturesque cliffs along the Amalfi Coast. South of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is dotted with numerous beach towns that offer great shopping and dining, as well as breathtaking views of the sea.
One of the beautiful islands off the coast of Sorrento in the Gulf of Naples, Capri is a top tourist destination. Famous for its limestone crags and the Blue Grotto, students will enjoy the laid-back, serene nature of this exotic retreat.
Venice & Verona
Venice is one of the most well-known and romantic cities in the world. Famous for the canals and beautiful Piazza San Marco, the city welcomes visitors and scholars to explore its winding streets, walk the numerous bridges connecting section to section, and to soak up the magic of this city on the water. From the 13th to the 17th centuries, Venice was one of the most important cities in Europe. Its strategic location made Venice an important center of trade between the East and the West, and art and culture blossomed as well, leaving a legacy of amazing artistic and architectural treasures to discover throughout the winding streets and canals.
Verona was home to most famous lovers in history: Romeo and Juliet (visitors can still find their famous balcony here). Today’s Verona has much more to offer than just references to Shakespeare, including the Roman Amphitheater (which is still used today for operas), the market at Piazza delle Erbe (once the Roman forum), and the medieval streets by the Adige river. Lake Garda is the biggest of the pre-Alpine lakes and the largest in Italy. The beauty of the countryside, the Mediterranean vegetation (vineyards, olive groves and citrus orchards), and its mild climate make Lake Garda one of the most thriving health and tourist centers in the country. One can find remnants of many different historical periods in the cities and villages around the lake, such as Roman ruins, medieval churches and beautiful liberty villas.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Experience the best that the Tuscan region has to offer! Have the chance to explore Siena and more cities in the surrounding area, enjoy thermal baths, and top off your experience with a wine tasting in the famous Chianti region.
Amalfi Coast: Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri
Pompeii is one of the most significant proofs of Roman civilization and provides outstanding information on the art, customs, trades and everyday life of the past. The city was badly damaged by an earthquake in 63 AD and was completely demolished in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Life came to a permanent standstill in what had been one of the most active and splendid Roman centers. Although this tragic event ended the lives of 20,000 Pompeian residents, the ash that buried the town served as a sort of mummification for the entire city. The eruption thus captured a moment in time.
Sorrento is a resort town set atop rocky, picturesque cliffs along the Amalfi Coast. South of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is dotted with numerous beach towns that offer great shopping and dining, as well as breathtaking views of the sea.
One of the beautiful islands off the coast of Sorrento in the Gulf of Naples, Capri is a top tourist destination. Famous for its limestone crags and the Blue Grotto, students will enjoy the laid-back, serene nature of this exotic retreat.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Experience the best that the Tuscan region has to offer! Have the chance to explore Siena and more cities in the surrounding area, enjoy thermal baths, and top off your experience with a wine tasting in the famous Chianti region.
Program Details
What You’ll Study
TOTAL CREDITS - 3-6 U.S. semester credits per session (up to 12 total)
Students who choose to study abroad in Florence with API at Lorenzo de’ Medici – The Italian International Institute (LdM) – Florence may elect to take 1 or 2 courses per four-week term; alternatively, they may elect to pursue a 6-credit workshop course.
SUMMER WORKSHOPS
LdM offers a variety of studio workshops during the summer. These workshops provide students with the opportunity to work on-location and involve field work as well as theoretical lectures. The workshops are 4 weeks in duration and are worth 6 U.S. semester credits. Each workshop, based in Florence, focuses on a particular discipline and includes one week of field study. Workshop participants may not be able to attend all API excursions due to required course travel. Students are not reimbursed for any missed API excursions. Workshops are listed in the summer course offerings section along with the other course information.
LDM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The LdM Professional Opportunities Program offers students a non-credit experiential learning experience. It is similar to an internship, but it requires less time and is based on the completion of one single project. Students are given the opportunity to collaborate with both the LdM Institute and local Florentine businesses, organizations, and associations, and upon successful completion of the project, students receive a certificate of participation. The Professional Opportunities Project gives students the opportunity to add international work experience to their resume/curriculum vitae. The Professional Opportunities offered for each semester are generally announced at the beginning of the term after the students have arrived, and the professional opportunities offered differ from term to term.
Opportunities may include:
Blogging for LDM Marketing Office
Graphic Design for local businesses
Marketing and social media for local businesses
TRANSCRIPTS
Students receive transcripts from U.S.-accredited University of Massachusetts Amherst for courses taken at LdM. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a fully accredited, doctoral degree granting U.S. university in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Kelsi Maddock
Kelsi Maddock will be your Program Coordinator and will help prepare you for your API program.
(she/her/hers)
Federica Guerrieri
Federica Guerrieri is our Italy Regional Director and a resource for you on-site.
(she/her/hers)
Irene Bevilacqua
Irene Bevilacqua is one of the Florence Resident Directors and will be a resource for you while in Florence!
(she/her/hers)
Valentina Scalini
Valentina will be one of your Resident Directors in Florence and a resource for you while in Italy! (she/her/hers)
Students complete one or two courses and receive 3-6 credit hours per summer session, generally 3 credits per course. Courses are available at lower- and upper-division levels. In general, 100 level courses are elementary, 200–300 level courses are intermediate, and 400 level courses are advanced. Italian language courses are taught at all levels (beginning through advanced) while most other courses are taught in English. Students who choose above the Elementary level of Italian must complete a placement exam upon arrival to verify their level of proficiency.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
The program fee depends on whether a student elects to enroll in 3 or 6 semester credits. Program selection must be made at the time of application and cannot be changed on-site.
Not all courses are offered every session. The course selection may vary and no course is guaranteed. Students should make their course selections from the online listings when completing the program application as course times, descriptions, prerequisites and lab fees are subject to change. API recommends that students obtain pre-approval from their home university for courses that they plan on taking abroad.
Be sure to check for any course additions, cancellations, or closures, and remember to pay close attention to prerequisites and class times in order to avoid conflicts.
STUDIO ART COURSES
Class schedules indicate that many of the studio art courses include two time blocks; students enrolled in those courses must attend both time blocks.
Placement exams for studio arts courses are mandatory for any student wishing to register for higher level (e.g., non-beginning level) courses. Studio art placement tests are administered during the first week of classes. Students are provided with the exact meeting time during orientation.
COURSE MATERIALS & LAB FEES
Some courses may require additional fees for equipment, materials, books, etc. These fees are not included in the program cost, and vary depending on the type of course. While students may want to bring some basic, easily transportable materials (such as brushes or pastels) with them, most course materials should be purchased in Italy once classes start. By doing so, students can take the opportunity to speak directly with their instructors to make sure they buy exactly what is required for the course.
Many studio arts, cuisine and wine appreciation courses require a lab fee that is paid by students upon arrival. In addition, several courses from different departments (especially the summer workshops) require that students pay for visits and field trips as noted in the course descriptions for such courses.
Courses at Lorenzo de’Medici: The Italian International Institute (Florence Summer)
For the most up-to-date course availability on this program, explore our Class Finder. Sort courses by term, area of study, and more!
Classes taught in English and Italian with international students
Field-based workshops available
Professional development opportunities
Transcript from U.S. accredited institution (University of Massachusetts, Amherst)
Housing
API students in Florence will live in apartments or student dorms located within the historic district of Florence. Apartments and dorms are typically a 25-30 minute walk from the school. Some API housing includes as many as 25 students in shared spaces, but bedrooms are typically shared with only 1 or 2 students. Students can opt for a single room for an additional fee.
All apartments come equipped with a kitchen, 1-3 bathrooms, and common areas. Dorms allow students to share a bathroom with only their roommate, if they have one. Periodic cleaning services are included at no additional cost. Washing machines are available, and students are responsible for their own meals. Apartments and dorm rooms in Florence vary in size and layout.
Note: Students may not move into housing prior to the program start date or stay after the program is complete.
