The Industry & History
of Florence
Florence, an idyllic city of romance, art, culture, and incredible cuisine, is often considered to be the birthplace of the Renaissance. As one of the most beloved cities in Italy, Florence boasts an array of historic sites and major landmarks dating back to the 14th century. Students that choose to work and study at NYFA Florence get a once-in-a-lifetime experience, building professional relationships with people from all over the world and exploring local opportunities and events in the thriving tourism, fashion, art, and film industries.
Florence is a major tourist destination, welcoming visitors from all over the world. While tourism is the primary industry in the city, Florence is also a significant hub for the fine arts, as well as fashion, with the presence of Italian designer brands including Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo, and Fendi.
Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is a city that has inspired and nurtured artists for centuries. The first republic in Europe and the home of the Medici dynasty, Florence at its zenith was the cultural capital of the world drawing artists from around the globe.
In 2008, the Government of Tuscany and the Tuscan Film Commission invited NYFA to offer our world-renowned programs in the historic center of Florence. NYFA Florence is near the Piazza Santa Croce, which is home to the Basilica of Santa Croce. The Basilica features sixteen beautifully decorated chapels and tombs of many illustrious Italian figures, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo, and Enrico Fermi.
This Italian hub is considered one of the world’s most outstanding cities to learn and practice the visual and creative arts, as the landscape bursts with beauty and stories abound in every palazzo and building. Florence and Tuscany have been the set for many influential movies and television shows, such as Paisan (1946), I Vitelloni (1953), Amici Miei (1975), Obsession (1976), The English Patient (1996), Hannibal (2001), Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), Inferno (2013), I Medici (2016) with Dustin Hoffman, Michael Bay’s 6 Underground (2019), and many others.
During their time at NYFA Florence, students will meet and connect with people from all over the world, establishing their own global network. In their free time, students may attend the many local events and establishments that enrich their experience.