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Semester in Florence: Fine Arts
Host Country and City Italy is located in Southern Europe and comprises the boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, and a number of islands, including the two largest in the Mediterranean Sea - Sicily and Sardinia. The Apennines Mountains form the peninsula's backbone, and the Alps form its northern boundary. San Marino and Vatican City are city-states within the Italian territory.
Italy has had a very long and rich history. From the glorious Roman Empire to the Medieval Maritime Republics, the country has been the epicenter of European affairs. Humanism and the Renaissance cultural movements both spun out from the peninsula, and then spread to the rest of Europe only to shape modern European thought. From north to south, the country is marked with monuments and cultural landmarks that trace its glorious past.
Modern Italy is a democratic republic. Ti has been ranked as the world's 24th most-developed country, and enjoys a high standard of living. It is a founding member of what is now the European Union, and part of the Eurozone.
Florence Located on the banks of river Arno, Florence is famous for its history - especially its importance in the Middle Ages and during the Renaissance - its art, architecture, and more generally, for its cultural heritage. A center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called the 'Athens' of the Middle Ages. A turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the recently established Kingdom of Italy.
The historic center of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year, and it was declared a World Heritage Site of UNESCO in 1982. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, it is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city further contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, among others, while it still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture, and politics. The city is also important for Italian fashion, being ranked within the top fifty fashion capitals of the world.
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