CAPA WORLD

The end of a semester abroad brings a waterfall of memories and daily experiences you'll miss. Alexis looks back with fondness on the 5 things that shaped her life abroad in Florence.

Florence is home to many things: art, history, architecture, and — like most parts of Italy — good food. In this list, Alexis shares 5 places to serve your curious tastebuds for local cuisine filled with pasta and steak, cravings for pizza and a fill of American food while homesick, and daily Italian sandwich lunches. Bookmark this student guide to trying out new restaurants in Florence.

Meet Avalon Aloia (she/her/hers), an official CAPA vlogger in Florence, Italy for Spring 2022:

University: University of Colorado Boulder
Major: Strategic Communications
Minor: Journalism
Study Abroad Location: Florence, Italy

What are you most excited for during your study abroad semester?
I am most excited to finally get to travel through Europe. I have never been and I am so excited to not only visit, but live there for a few months. I am excited about the people I am going to meet and the things I am going to discover. I love art and can’t wait to visit some museums and see all the beautiful architecture!

Meet Karenna Traylor (she/her), an official CAPA vlogger in Florence, Italy for Spring 2022:

University: University of Colorado Boulder
Major: Marketing and Data Analytics
Study Abroad Location: Florence, Italy

What are you most excited for during your study abroad semester?
My semester abroad has been something I’ve been looking forward to since I was a freshman in college. I cannot wait to immerse myself in a new, international culture while taking classes that will help me further my understanding of the culture. I am also looking forward to meeting all the other students that are coming from around the world to study in Florence!

Meet Chris Reidy (he/him), an official CAPA blogger in Florence, Italy for Spring 2022:

University: University of Miami
Major: Economics
Study Abroad Location: Florence, Italy

What are you most excited for during your study abroad semester?
I think I am ultimately most excited to explore Florence and the surrounding parts of the country. I have never been to northern Italy despite constantly hearing about its beautiful scenery and culture, and getting to truly learn the city and this region of the world will be my main goal while abroad.

Spending a day at a parmesan cheese factory in Italy sounds like a grate idea! Alexis and her friends take a tour in Reggio Emilia and get a firsthand look at the steps in the cheese-making process—from learning about the cows to molding cheese wheels.

Want to see what a day looks like for someone studying abroad in Florence, Italy? Alexis has documented a day in her life and writes about her classes, getting firsthand views at world renowned art, learning Italian, savoring the city, and more.

Highlighting the achievements of our dedicated faculty and staff from CAPA Florence who had a major hand in the Italian translation of acclaimed novels.

Are you a dessert connoisseur with a taste for gelatos? Then this guide is for you! Alexis shares the top places around Florence to get finest and freshest gelatos. If you've ever been curious on how to select the best gelato and sample various natural flavors, then check out this post for tips.

Alexis and her CAPA classmates attended a free cooking class in Florence, Italy and got to make a sweet potato souffle, fresh pasta and sauces, and tiramisu all from scratch. Read all about her culinary experience here!