- Sports d'Italia courses in Soccer & Basketball
- Weekend road trips to Rome, Pisa, Siena, beaches and more
- Venice Celebration weekend
- The Princeton Review SAT Preparation
- *June 25 departure from the U.S, with June 26 arrival in Italy
- Italian Cultural Immersion
- College Credit Available
The warmest people, the most delicious food, the most fashionable fashion, the most magnificent art - are all found in Italy. From the Roman ruins and Venetian canals to Florence’s treasures bathed in the Tuscan sun, Italy is a delight from dawn to dusk, and well into the night. Italy is both steeped in history and one of Europe’s most contemporary and hip countries. In Florence, you can sit in a trendy café in the Piazza Santa Croce with the ancient Duomo as a backdrop.
4 Week Credit and Enrichment Courses for Students Completing 10,11,12
Florence, is a mecca for students and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a rare combination of a Renaissance city of grand palazzos and artistic treasures, plus a bustling modern city with terrific entertainment. Located in the heart of Tuscany and connected by beautiful bridges across the Arno River, Florence and its environs offer our students a wealth of cultural, recreational and social activities. Living and studying in this remarkable place, students will be immersed in Italian language, academics, culture, the arts, travel and recreation.
Florence has long-been synonymous with superb craftsmanship including fine leather, jewelry, silk and cool fashion. Florence is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Long ruled by the powerful Medici family whose patronage allowed the arts to flourish, Florence is renowned for its art and architecture. It is said that of the 1000 most important European artists of the second millennium, 350 lived or worked in Florence including Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
Lorenzo de’Medici is situated in the heart of Florence in the city’s historical centre. The main building, situated on Via Faenza, dates back to the 13th century. Rich in medieval frescoes and sculpture, it has been beautifully restored and updated. In addition, Summer Discovery students will have the opportunity to study in some of Florence’s other historical buildings. All classrooms/studios are air-conditioned. Students have access to computers with high speed internet access at Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici.
All Summer Discovery students live together in one hotel - a special feature of our programs. This enables Summer Discovery students and staff to develop a close-knit community feeling of living under one roof. Although our students enjoy their independence in the greater Florence community, they have a distinct, centrally located “home” in the city, which provides immeasurable social, educational and safety benefits.
We are proud to stay at the beautiful 3-star first-class, fully airconditioned Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, an amazing hotel in an amazing location - directly on the Arno River. The hotel is very close to the most important city center sights, including Piazza Santa Croce, Piazzale Michelangelo, the Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio. Within walking distance from the hotel you’ll find the coolest shopping areas, such as Via Tornabuoni, Via Roma, and Via Calzaiuoli. Only Summer Discovery features a residence with huge meeting rooms, the largest lobby in Florence (ideal for group gatherings/socialization), our private TV/movie lounge, 3 excellent restaurants, room service, high-speed internet points, a concierge and much more. Please visit the hotel website www.hotelmediterraneo.com for photos, location, facilities and more. Rooms are mostly doubles, with very limited triples. Room amenities include private bathrooms, satellite television with several English language channels, in-room phones, air-conditioning, and daily housekeeping service.
Mangia, Mangia, Mangia! The foods of Florence are fantastic and rank among the world’s best! And Summer Discovery students can enjoy it all! Breakfast and dinner are provided daily. A daily breakfast buffet is served in the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, including choice of juices, meats, breads, cereals and fruit. For dinner, students will savor all the specialties of authentic Tuscan and other cuisines through our excellent Cucina Choice dining program, where students have the privilege of dining in various selected restaurants (a choice of 4-5 per night) throughout Florence. Dinner at La Taverna, an authentic Tuscan restaurant with mouthwatering food and a new menu everyday, is offered every Cucina Choice evening. Don’t forget to leave room for gelato! There are several pizzerias, ristorantes, cafes and even American-style and Chinese restaurants to choose from. Students enjoy the opportunity to purchase lunch on their own in a variety of cafés, sandwich shops, and pizzerias galore.
- The health, safety and security of each student is our primary concern.
- The Grand Hotel Mediterraneo has bilingual doctors on call 24 hours a day.
- For 24 hour emergency care, students are taken to Hospital Santa Maria Nuova, one of Florence’s finest hospitals.
- Summer Discovery staff make all medical appointments, transport and accompany students to medical facilities, obtain prescription medications and notify parents after medical visits.
- Resident counselors live in the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo with Summer Discovery students.
- For additional safety, there are daily/nightly sign-ins and room checks.
- In keeping with a collegiate atmosphere, students are permitted to walk in our “home area” of Florence, but are required to be in small groups.
For additional safety, all students are provided with a free international cell phone with a local Italian number, featuring free incoming calls, voicemail and text messaging, for the duration of the program. This cell phone will be delivered to the student’s home prior to the program. There is no charge for the phone rental, however, students are responsible for call charges. This service is required by all participants.
- Students may walk to all of our classrooms and athletic facilities within the Florence city centre. Private air-conditioned chartered buses will be provided to transport students from the hotel to their morning courses. For large group excursions chartered buses with professional drivers, and public transportation are used.
- Summer Discovery provides escorted transfers to/from Pisa for $50 each way. Staff meets all incoming flights after customs and assists with all departures. Travel arrangements must be made through Musiker Travel, our own travel agency. Our group flight departs the USA from New York’s JFK airport on the evening of June 25 and arrives in Pisa at approximately 10am on June 26. All students from the US are required to take this group flight. From Pisa, students are transferred by private motor coach with Summer Discovery staff to Florence.
