Preparation For Departure

Make sure your travel documents are in order

Bring warm winter clothes

Contrary to what most people think, while the South of Italy is warm for most of the year, central and northern Italy can get chilly by the second week of September, with warm days and colder nights.

Consider spending some money on your apartment

Apartments come fully furnished, but there might be something you’ll want to add! Bedding is provided, though you’ll need to purchase towels. You might also want to add a personal touch with some plants, string lights, or ornaments to make the apartment feel more like home!

Pack your essentials

If you have specific items that you can’t live without, you might want to bring them. (I brought my favorite spatula and found it very useful!) However, remember not to overpack, as you can buy most things in Florence or through Amazon.it

Electronics

Financial tips

Getting Around

I downloaded the CityMapper app, saved both ISI buildings to my favorites, and set my apartment as ‘home.’ This has helped me get around town, and I find it easier to use compared to Google Maps. I’ve also found Apple Maps a little glitchy in Florence.

Who You Live With

Your roommates, for better or worse, can be your lifeline here, especially in the beginning. In the first week, it’s important to get to know them properly and decide who you trust, get along with, and could be a travel buddy. I have nine roommates, and while this sounds daunting, I promise it only takes a couple of weeks to truly get used to it. TIP: get people’s numbers and make group chats! They really do come in handy. Even if you are usually uncomfortable traveling alone, venture out in the daytime, give yourself time to get lost (safely!), and try to find your way home. Find people to walk home with and get your friends to introduce you to other people they’ve met. Take full advantage of the ISI Orientation days and meet anyone who seems like your speed; trust me, it’s worth it.

Where You Live

Now, where you live. There are five or so main neighborhoods in Florence. I have only properly experienced two of them.
There is the Duomo neighborhood, which as you may have guessed, is the very touristy area surrounding the Duomo. This area will be more crowded, more expensive, and possibly have more pickpockets, but it has its advantages. It is pretty safe, even at night, because it is touristy (still watch out for those pickpockets!). You will be on the same side of the river as both ISI buildings, so that’s fractionally less walking for you. This area is lively and has many luxury stores, so it is fun to walk around here. There is great nightlife (the bars in this area are mostly frequented by American study abroad students, but it makes it feel more like home) and a good atmosphere (you will hear the same four songs well into the night).
Then there is the Santo Spirito neighborhood, where I live. It is across the river, and so quiet. Our apartment is off a side street, but we can see the Arno River from our window. It is a more authentic Italian neighborhood, although the closer you get to Ponte Vecchio, the more tourists there are. While less known by outside visitors, this side of the river has a unique beauty to it and a “locals only” feel. There is the lively square of Santo Spirito, less than a two-minute walk from the river. There are restaurants, bars, and a fountain where buskers often play acoustic versions of iconic American songs. One thing to keep in mind is that in any area where there are not as many tourists or students, you should exercise extra caution. This area does not get more awake at night like the others do, often shutting down and emptying out by one or two in the morning. But the feeling you get from this area is a sense of calm, quiet, and fresh air (despite the noise); it is serene with the quiet chirps of laughter and living, the wafting aromas of the nearby osterias, and the peaceful stream of music that really makes it feel like home.