Florence, Italy

Florence offers a wide array of resources for students, including world-renowned libraries and museums, culinary traditions, and fashion hubs

Penn in Florence allows students to start learning Italian or improve/consolidate their language skills while enjoying an immersive experience in Italian history and culture. Florence offers a wide array of resources for students, including world-renowned libraries and museums, culinary traditions, and fashion hubs. It is also a very livable city, with accommodations and places of interest all in walking distance.

Summer 2024 applications are now closed.

Application Open

November 15, 2023

Early Application Deadline

January 31, 2024

Final Application Deadline

March 1, 2024

Please join us for an information session to learn more about the Penn Summer Abroad Florence program. We will be holding information sessions on the following dates:

  • TBD
Monday, June 3, 2024 Recommended arrival in Florence
Monday, June 3, 2024 Program housing check-in date
Monday, June 3, 2024 Classes start
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 On-site orientation
Saturday, June 29, 2024 Classes end
Sunday, June 30, 2024 Program housing last checkout date

All students register for a total of two course units (c.u.)*. Course offerings are subject to change. Course registration is completed by the Penn Summer Abroad office for students who confirm their intent to enroll and submit the required pre-departure documents.

Intensive Italian, Culture, and Conversation

ITAL 2210

The course aims to improve students' fluency, vocabulary, and accuracy in speaking. Pertinent video clips, literary texts, articles, as well as material in other media will complement the analysis of the selected topics and allow in-depth discussion. Students will have the opportunity to practice language in context and in real situations that both the school and Florence offer.

Florence Myth and History

ITAL 1871

The course explores the historical, social, and cultural history of Florence across the centuries. Florence, which has been one of the largest and powerful city-states since the Middle Ages, has undergone different changes that have significantly shaped both the character and the urban texture of the city. Readings by authors, philosophers, architects, and artists will be complemented by field trips, excursions, and tours of Florence’s most iconic sites and monuments.

Students will live in residence with shared rooms and a bathroom and kitchen.

Tuition and fees are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and may change without notice. Tuition and fees below reflect rates for 2023 or estimated rates for 2024. Rates for summer 2024 programs will be available in spring 2024.

  • Tuition for summer 2023: $5,012/c.u. General Fee: $432. Total: $10,456
  • Program fee for summer 2024: $3,100
    • Penn Summer Abroad deposits ($500) will be credited to students’ accounts when final program costs are posted
    • Includes administrative costs, accommodation including kitchen, and all group activities and excursions
    • Program fee does not include airfare

Download: Estimated Cost Sheet (PDF)

Penn Summer Abroad disclaimer

The running of all 2024 Penn Summer Abroad programs is dependent on approval from the Committee on Travel Risk Assessment (CTRA). Please be advised, CTRA approval may also be rescinded at any time prior to the running of the program. Programs may also be canceled independently of the CTRA process. Any of these scenarios would result in your summer 2024 Penn Summer Abroad Program not moving forward. All PSA students are strongly encouraged to consider the consequences if their summer 2024 program is canceled for any reason. Cancellations carry financial risks as well as academic risks, including the potential impact on academic progress.

Contact Information

For details about the program, courses, or location including academic advising, travel dates, housing, and orientation:

Rossella Di Rosa

Program Director
Rossella Di Rosa
Italian Language Program Director
Department of Francophone, Italian, and Germanic Studies (FIGS)
dirosa@sas.upenn.edu

Eva Del Soldato

Program Director
Eva Del Soldato
Associate Professor, Italian Studies
Department of Francophone, Italian, and Germanic Studies (FIGS)
evadel@sas.upenn.edu

For assistance with the application, financial questions, pre-departure, or other general information:

Penn Summer Abroad Office

Penn Summer Abroad Office
College of Liberal and Professional Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Fisher-Bennett Hall, Room 101
3340 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19104-3335
Tel: (215) 573-7016
summerabroad@sas.upenn.edu


*Academic credit is defined by the University of Pennsylvania as a course unit (c.u.). A course unit (c.u.) is a general measure of academic work over a period of time, typically a term (semester or summer). A c.u. (or a fraction of a c.u.) represents different types of academic work across different types of academic programs and is the basic unit of progress toward a degree. One c.u. is usually converted to a four-semester-hour course.