Florence | USC Education Abroad

Where My Study Abroad Journey Begins

Ciao, Gamecocks! I’ve officially arrived in my new home, Florence, Italy, and have spent the past 48 hours adjusting to an entirely new lifestyle. Florence is incredibly bustling, especially considering how narrow the streets are. For comparison, I’d describe it as similar to Charleston: a beautiful, historic city with the commotion of a much larger city, like Chicago. Street vendors in Florence The biggest shock so far has been how accustomed Italians are to living among suc

Europe

Hannah Fleming

Jan 262 min read

Favorite Florence Study Spots!

1. 25Hours Hotel This was hands down my favorite study spot and the place where I was consistently the most productive. Located inside a luxurious and modern hotel themed around Dante’s Divine Comedy, its rooms are inspired by Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. In the lobby, you'll find a stylish mix of a café, restaurant, lounge, and courtyard. What made this space stand out was that, unlike most cafés in Florence, you weren’t expected to purchase anything to stay and study. The d

Brooke Barba

Nov 21, 20253 min read

SAI Viva Experiences!

The study abroad program I chose was called SAI, and it was a third-party program that partnered with my school. I am so glad I chose this program, as I found everyone to be super helpful, and I got to meet students from schools all over the U.S. One of my favorite parts of SAI was that they offered Viva activities throughout the semester that were included in our tuition. Every Wednesday, the next week’s activities would be announced, and you could sign up. Now I will go thr

Brooke Barba

Nov 21, 20253 min read