Florence Excursions

One of the benefits of studying abroad is the ability to venture outside your host city and explore the surrounding area. Excursions are offered for all semester, year, and summer programs. Semester students are typically offered two to three excursions and summer students are typically offered one to two excursions. You will receive a calendar of the specific CEA excursions offered for your program during orientation. To give you an idea of the possibilities, we have collected typical experiences from some of the day trips and weekend tours offered to our students in the past.

Rome

The Eternal City: Rome certainly lives up to its name! The city is a fascinating mix of ancient, baroque and modern architecture, tradition and cutting-edge, big city and small town. CEA guides will take you to the must-see sites, such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon, St. Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel. On this overnight excursion you’ll have a chance to relax and listen to the sounds of the fountains decorating many of Rome’s main squares. Rome has something to offer everyone, and must be seen!

Assisi

Assisi is a little hillside town that overlooks the beautiful green fields of Umbria. This is the birthplace of St. Francis, who would later become the patron saint of Italy. Our visit to Assisi will give you an insider’s look at an Italian medieval town, which happens to remain a very active site for pilgrims. We will tour the town and the massive Basilica di San Francesco, with its innovative architecture and fresco decoration. Paintings in the Basilica by Giotto and his followers were inspiration for generations of Italian and non-Italian artists. In the afternoon students will be given free time to explore and appreciate Assisi on their own.

Venice

In the magical city of Venice, sparkling light flickers upon buildings from the sun-kissed waters of the canals. An island floating throughout time, gondolas and serenades whisper of a mysterious past and will draw you in. A visit to the ethereal Church of San Marco, and to a gondolier shop will help you piece together what Venice is all about. Here, it’s impossible not to get lost, but you can’t do anything but embrace it, as Venice will offer you something new and magical at every turn.

Lucca

Enjoy a visit to the nearby Tuscan town of Lucca. The historical center is still enclosed by its circle of Renaissance walls, now transformed into a raised city park. CEA will rent bikes for you to explore the town on – first with a guide, then on your own. Breathe in the fresh air and the calming pace of life in one of the greenest Tuscan towns.. we guarantee you’ll decide you want to retire in Lucca!