Top 5 Italian language schools in Florence

Want to learn Italian and spend a fantastic summer holiday in Florence, Tuscany? Read Katie’s advice and choose your language school in Florence:

I have attended a couple of Italian language schools in Florence in my attempt to drink in this language. I have researched the other schools very thoroughly so to give you a basic view of each one. I am looking for schools with a 2-hour class daily for a month. I think it is more useful and less overwhelming. I took a 4-hour class at CLIDA for a month and I feel it was an overload of Italian. I felt bombarded. Tiny baby steps, I felt that it was better for me. Accommodations can be included in the price of each course with each of these schools. You have the option of living with a family or renting an apartment in Florence with fellow students. I hope this helps my fellow Italophiles in finding a great Italian language school in Florence.

1. Centro Internationale Studenti Giorgio La Pira

Via de’ Pescioni 3 – Florence Palazzo Strozzi

I wanted to start out with the best language school I have ever attended. This was my school for 6 months this past year while I was an au pair. I felt I learned more grammar and vocabulary from my teachers. The teachers are very nice and helpful. You will feel comfortable and challenged everyday.

The great thing about this school is that the price is so worth it. For 2-hours a day, Monday to Thursday for a month is only 130 Euro. You will not find a cheaper month long class in Florence. These are educated teachers who care about helping you learn and want you to speak, to make mistakes. The classes are small and very diverse. It was great because I was able to meet people from all over the world as well.

2. Lorenzo de’ Medici

Via Faenza, 43 – Florence San Lorenzo

This school has campuses in Florence, Rome and Tuscania. It has many courses other than just language. The school caters to US universities giving college credit. I had a friend, Joan, who attended a month long course on art and said, “The school was great.”

I once visited the school with her and thought the school was very organized and full of energy. If you want a great experience in one of the many authentic, historical buildings then attend this prominent school.

As my theme previously stated, I am pushing the 2-hour a day class session instead of the 4-hour, however this school only has that option in the summers. For a month of 2-hour a day course in the summer is 300 Euro. During the normal school year, they have only 4-hour class session per month which is 580 Euro. Yes, the prices are quite expensive, but this is one the most famous schools in Florence. If you want the best, you must pay the price.

3. Scuola Leonardo da Vinci

Via Bufalini, 3 – Florence Santissima Annunziata

Everyday so far we come home saying how much we love our school, the staff, teachers, and the people we’re meeting there. We’re really having a wonderful and productive time. There are 2 main classes we attend each morning – grammar and conversation. Each instructor is so animated and patient so even while they’re teaching Italian in Italian, it works.

This is a quote from my friend Erin, who is currently attending this school with her husband.

This school has campuses in Milan, Rome, and Siena as well as Florence. The standard course is again, 4-hours a day and for a month it costs 300 Euro. This school also gives college credit a chosen few of US universities. Class size is minimum of 12 students of all different nationalities. Which is plus so you are not forced to digress and use your native tongue. The levels of each course are as follows; Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced, Proficient, and Diploma. I feel this is a school for students who put their heart and soul into learning this beautiful language.

4. ABC Centro Di Lingua & Cultura Italiana

Via de’ Rustici, 7 – Florence Uffizi

I looked into attending this school and really liked it. The classes consist of just 7 to 10 students, unlike the other schools. The courses are divided into six levels and two programs: Formation Program and Specialization Program. The Formation program is divided into three levels elementary, middle, and superior. At the conclusion of the program students are able to express themselves correctly in Italian, written and spoken forms. The Specialization Programs is also divided into three levels, Advanced 1, Advanced 2, and Advanced 3. The students at the end of this process will have a confident feel of the language to express themselves both in written and spoken forms. The cost of this language experience for 4-hours a day per month would be 600 Euro.

5. Centro Linguistico Italian Dante Alighieri

Piazza della Repubblica, 5 – Florence Duomo

I went to this school for a month in 2005. It was my first encounter with the Italian language schools and how they work. I took the 4-hour class for a month. It was the basic learning style, grammar for 2-hours in the morning and conversation and vocabulary the last 2-hours. The teacher I had was very sweet but I felt I lacked a bit in confidence in speaking her class. My fellow students begged to differ. But overall I enjoyed the people, the structure, and the school. I knew if I were to attend another school, it couldn’t be a pressing 4-hour a day class.

The standard group course per month for 4-hours a day is 400 Euro. You have the option of attending for just two weeks instead of the whole 4 weeks. This school is located right in the center of Florence, in Piazza della Repubblica, and housed in a 19th-century building facing the famous piazza.

I have not kept to my idea of recommending 2-hour a day classes, but all these schools have exceptional programs by their own standards that can benefit all different learning curves.

Photo of library in Florence originally posted by limbte

Topic:  Top five Monday | 5 Comments
Tags:  culture, Florence

About the author

Katie has a true obsession with Italy and she has lived in Florence on and off for the past 5 years. She has been a tourist, vacationer, student, and an au pair. All of these experiences have made her into the person she is today. This is a place she documents her life with her own thoughts and audacious lifestyle: http://www.katerinafiore.com