Study Abroad in Florence: Housing and Meals

Students live in apartments or with Italian families and receive seven breakfast and five lunch or dinner vouchers per week (except during trips) for meals in selected local restaurants. Students can use the breakfast vouchers in cafés, or to purchase groceries. In general, housing is in the center of the city, not more than 40 minutes on foot or by public transportation from the Study Center. Students using public transportation should budget approximately 35 euros for a monthly bus pass to travel from their housing to classes.

Paying guest in an Italian home

Students have a double or single room in an apartment with a key so they can come and go as they wish. There is privacy for study and yet there is also a certain amount of contact with the Italian hosts. A large number of Italian apartments are occupied by a single person, so students are likely to be housed with a single woman or professional couple. Only a few housing arrangements are possible with families with young children. In many homes, students have use of the bedroom, bathroom and limited use of the kitchen. Italian hosts do not usually allow free use of the entire apartment. It is important to understand the differences between American hospitality to foreign students and renting a room from a host in Florence. Most Europeans provide housing to foreign students for commercial reasons. Students should not assume they will be included in the daily life of their Italian hosts. Students with food allergies or special food requests must specify their needs on the application form. The fee is based on a twin bedded room shared with another AIFS student.

Apartments

Typically, between two and eight AIFS students share one apartment (two people share a bedroom) plus a common, fully-equipped kitchen and bathroom (four people share the bathroom). Each bed comes with two sets of linens and blankets. All apartments have a washing machine or access to one, but not a clothes dryer. Apartments do not have air conditioning.

Phones and Internet connection are not provided in apartments. Students can purchase a cell phone to share with roommates for approximately 70 euros or rent one locally for a reasonable cost.

AIFS always arranges the best accommodation available for students. Changes in housing will be considered only in the event of health and safety issues.