WHY THIS PROGRAM?
FLORENCE (SRISA) WOW FACTORS
• INTERNSHIPS: Apply your learning to the real world
• VOLUNTEER: Give back to the world
• EXHIBIT: SRISA has its own art gallery!
THE ATHENA TOUCH
What makes this Athena?
• FAMILY: Smaller staff and faculty get to know you like family
• SIZE: Small student-to-teacher ratio
• MISSION: Charitable vibe perfect match
ACADEMICS
ACADEMICS in FLORENCE
WHY WE PARTNER WITH SANTA REPARATA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ART (SRISA):
SRISA feels like family, and that’s what we strive to give our students. This
very personal, high-quality art and design school matches perfectly with our mission at Athena.
HISTORY:
Founded in 1970, SRISA has become one of the top art and design schools in Italy. SRISA focuses on personalized instruction & experiential learning – two vital parts of quality study abroad.
EXPERIENCE:
The program, which is at the smaller of the two Athena Florence campuses, is enhanced with extra-curricular activities, art exhibits, field trips, cultural seminars, beyond-the-classroom learning, museum visits, student art shows, and fashion shows.
HIGHLIGHT: Exhibit Your Work
SRISA has its own art gallery open to the public where students can exhibit their work for all to see!
COURSES
Courses have the following % breakdown:
| COURSES | General % Offered |
|---|---|
ARTS | 45% |
HUMANITIES | 45% |
BUSINESS | 5% |
SOCIAL SCIENCES | 5% |
STUDENT LIFE
FIELD TRIPS & EXCURSIONS
We know you’ll love Florence, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want to check out other amazing areas around Italy. We’ll help with that, too! Athena includes an extensive activity package, typically with one or two excursions included in the program fee (additional trips may be purchased). Possible field trips could include:
• Venice
• Tuscany
• Turin
• Bologna
• Rome
• Cinque Terre
• Milan
• Naples, Sorrento, and Pompeii
HIGHLIGHT: Early Childhood & Art Education
Education students may pursue an exciting, competitive and one-of-a-kind experiential learning program that combines a Teaching Assistant internship with study abroad. The program exposes education majors to three different methodologies including the world-renowned Reggia Emilia approach, Montessori, and Classical Italian Educational system!
HOUSING
• The program package includes housing in double-occupancy rooms in a shared apartment; single rooms are available upon request for an additional fee (limited availability and cannot be guaranteed).
• Apartments are fully furnished and equipped, complete with a living area, 2 to 3 bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen. Kitchen and bathroom are typically shared by all roommates.
• Apartments are conveniently located, and in close proximity to the school and the city center, within a mere 5-30 minute walk or bus ride. So, you’ll be close to everything!
FAQS
Will I be able to travel?
Yes! We do include field trips and excursions for both the summer and semester programs. If you are looking for independent travel, you will also be able to travel during your free time if you choose.
How many students are on the program?
A typical semester program will have anywhere from 30-60 students and the typical summer program will have 50-100 students. This makes for an incredibly personal and high-quality study abroad experience, things we at Athena pride ourselves on.
What is the food like?
Amazing! Florence will have many traditional Italian dishes, such as pastas, pizzas and fresh vegetables. Also, desserts are very important, so you will make sure you become familiar with gelato or pastries!
Vegetarians: Athena’s resident vegetarian gives Florence an 8 out of 10 for being vegetarian friendly!
Can I room with my friend?
Yes! You can certainly request who you would like to have as your roommate. This is done after you are accepted into the program; you will note this in your housing request forms.
How do I get to Florence?
You will fly into Florence, Italy. The airport is not far from the school and housing.
Do you provide flights?
We have partnered with STA Travel, an incredible student-focused travel agency. The good people there will be able to help all Athena students arrange flights overseas.
BLOGS
Past students have shared their experiences through blogs. Check them out to get first-hand accounts of what life is really like!
SEE THE BLOGSTHE CITY
CITY HIGHLIGHTS
What’s Florence Like?
You’re in for a treat. Florence is one of the most popular places to study abroad for a reason. The art, the culture, the incredible historic city streets – it becomes part of you while you are there. Florence was the heart of the Italian Renaissance, where artists such as Michaelangelo and DaVinci roamed the streets. Before that, Florence was a Medieval powerhouse. These two eras’ distinct vibes live on through the priceless works of art and incredible architecture that you will take in, as you stroll the cobblestone streets.
WEATHER
- HOT SUMMERS: It has hot, humid summers with little rainfall. Surrounded by hills in a river valley, Florence can be hot and humid from June to August. As Florence lacks a prevailing wind, summer temperatures are higher than along the coast.
- COOL WINTERS: Winters are cool and damp. Rainfall dominates in the winter, with some snow
- WARMEST MONTH: The warmest month is July, with an average temperature range 63–88 °F.
- COLDEST MONTH: The coldest month is January, with an average temperature range of 35–50 °F.
MAP
DID YOU KNOW?
Nearly 1/3 of the world’s art treasures reside in Florence, according to UNESCO.
DID YOU KNOW?
During World War II the Germans destroyed all of the bridges in Florence except the Ponte Vecchio as it is alleged Hitler declared it too beautiful to demolish.
MORE INFO
Contact Information:
For more info, please contact:
Enrollment questions
Laelle Busch – registrar@santareparata.org
