{"id":189926,"date":"2026-03-02T09:05:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T08:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.studiainitalia.com\/?p=189926"},"modified":"2026-03-02T09:39:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T08:39:32","slug":"italian-course-florence-tips-study-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.studiainitalia.com\/en\/blog\/italian-course-florence-tips-study-holiday\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Course in Florence: 6 Tips to Live the City Beyond the Guidebooks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Florence isn\u2019t just a backdrop for art history; it\u2019s arguably the best classroom in the world<\/strong>. If you’re serious about learning Italian\u2014whether for a quick week-long reset or a deep-dive immersion\u2014there are a few things you should know before you pack your bags<\/strong> for Tuscany to enjoy an Italian course in Florence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This article was published on May 9, 2021, and last updated on March 2, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why learn Italian in Florence?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The city is stunning<\/strong>, sure, but it\u2019s also incredibly lived in. Because the historical center is relativelycompact<\/strong>, you don\u2019t need a car or a complicated map; you can just wander<\/strong>. You\u2019ll find yourself ducking into narrow medieval alleys and stumbling upon “hidden treasures”\u2014from tiny leather workshops to hole-in-the-wall wine windows\u2014just by getting lost on your way to class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s also the perfect “home base.”<\/strong> Since the city is so well-connected, your weekends are basically sorted. You can hop on a quick train to explore the walls of Lucca, the towers of Siena, or the leaning tower in Pisa. If you\u2019re more into scenery, the Chianti vineyards are right on your doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know that Florentine Italian inspired Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio<\/strong>? Because of their literary influence, the Florentine dialect essentially became the blueprint for Standard Italian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top 6 tips for making the most of your Italian course in Florence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Understand the character of the Florentines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Florentines are very ironic: they tend to tease with a subtle kind of irony. This might be difficult for some foreigners to understand, and some might even feel offended by the way locals express themselves. Far from it: the most important rule is to not be offended but to roll along with the jokes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The \u201clocal\u201d Italian language<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite living in the cradle of the Italian language, locals have their own way of pronouncing some things. The most obvious example is the letter \u201cC\u201d, which sounds like an \u201cH\u201d. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t understand everything, it\u2019s normal. Another peculiarity is that, in Florence, the word for pap\u00e0<\/em> (dad) is babbo<\/em>. Locals cannot stand having their father being called pap\u00e0<\/em>\u2026 anyone who studies Italian in Florence must know this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Need a public bathroom?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There aren\u2019t any in Florence! Therefore, our tip is to buy something at a coffee bar so that you can use its restroom, or you can use the ones in the museums. The only decent pay toilet is in the Duomo, next to the pharmacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A cold cut that you can\u2019t find elsewhere<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When taking a break from your Italian course in Florence, you can enjoy a snack with the \u2018finocchiona<\/em>\u2019. It\u2019s a type of salami with a fennel essence! And you can\u2019t find it anywhere else in Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Only locals know about this museum<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Misericordia di Firenze<\/em>\u2019 Museum is a true hidden gem that only the Florentines visit. It tells the story of the city through the Misericordia, an association that was born 700 years ago and has become an example of boundless charity. The 600m\u00b2 museum winds through 14 rooms!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our insider tip<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you study Italian in Florence and want a quiet, inspiring corner where to read or where to simply soak in the authentic beauty of the city, go to Piazza del Limbo<\/em>. This is a small, ancient and charming square is in the city centre, yet very few tourists pass here. Among the buildings that overlook the square are the Church of Santi Apostoli, one of the Florentine churches that has maintained an early medieval aspect inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What to expect from an Italian course in Florence with Studiainitalia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n