Cultural Integration and Extracurriculars

Finding Florence
 

The Program offers a distinctive 1-unit experiential practicum, Finding Florence: A Journey through Art, Cuisine, and History, designed to guide students through a culturally enriching quarter beyond the classroom. Students complete twelve (or more) experiences across the city, including Program-sponsored activities such as cooking classes and lectures in the Smelick Family Distinguished Speakers Series, as well as activities of their own choosing. Students are provided with a list of suggested options and receive a small stipend for museum tickets, art supplies, books, etc. This activity course encourages students to engage Florence as a living laboratory—deepening cultural understanding, strengthening independence, and fostering meaningful connections to the city as their home for the quarter.

Bing Cultural Enrichment Program
 

The Bing Cultural Enrichment Program offers a series of co-curricular experiences that complement and extend the students’ academic journey in Florence. Designed to deepen engagement with Italy beyond the classroom, these opportunities invite students to encounter the country in dynamic and meaningful ways—through travel, shared cultural experiences, and moments of discovery that foster intellectual curiosity, cultural fluency, and a strong sense of community.

Offerings vary from year to year, with past destinations including Venice, Milan, Cinque Terre, Sicily, Puglia, Amalfi Coast and Rome. In addition to travel, students participate in performances, concerts, communal meals, hands-on leather, ceramics or paper workshops, and sporting events that illuminate the rhythms and textures of Italian life while strengthening connections within the cohort.

All these events are made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Bing and are offered to students at no cost. Dates are announced well in advance, and students are encouraged to watch for them and mark their calendars accordingly.

Meeting Locals and Expanding the Italian Experience
 

The Program continuously works to create opportunities for students to engage with the Florentine community, seek out authentic experiences, and discover the many layers of contemporary Italy. The best way to immediately meet local students is to participate in the Friends a Firenze (FaF) Program, a gateway to the daily life and perspectives of Florentine university students.

It is up to each student to take the initiative to shape their experience as that of a temporary resident rather than a tourist. Beyond organized activities, students are encouraged to be intentional about how they spend their time.  In particular, they should:

• Not leave the country every weekend: Although travel can be enriching, students are encouraged to spend at least half of their weekends in Florence and Italy.
• Slow down: Find a favorite place and become a regular, use free time to pick up an old hobby or find a new one, carve out an hour a day of exploration.
• Use social media wisely: Seek out local content creators who talk about their own city rather than relying solely on tourism-focused travel blogs.
• Branch out, build relationships, and try new things: Make a new friend and try something they suggest—then take turns. Doing so creates not only an opportunity for exploration, but also a chance to build a future network and discover new interests!
• Use Italian as much as possible:  Even limited but consistent use of Italian in shops, public transport, and housing contexts signals respect and openness and significantly accelerates social inclusion.
• Engage with neighborhoods, not only landmarks: Spend time in residential areas, local markets, and community spaces. This offers insight into contemporary urban life and social diversity beyond the historic center.
• Follow local cultural norms: Punctuality for appointments, appropriate volume in public spaces, and awareness of shared spaces in residences and public transport are essential to navigating everyday social expectations.
• Adopt a slower, observational approach to the city: Allow time for informal exploration, walking, and unstructured encounters. Cultural integration in Florence develops through attention, repetition, and everyday presence within the urban fabric.

Following these suggestions bodes well for a meaningful, enjoyable and transformative quarter!