Italian language school in Florence - beauty as your classroom
Welcome to Florence - the city that gave Italian its literary heart, and the city where our most beautiful campus has been waiting for you. Our Florence campus is set in a 17th-century building, the historic seat of the Piarist Fathers (Padri Scolopi) on Via Bolognese - a short ride from the Duomo, surrounded by olive trees and gardens that go on for more than 8,000 square metres. Inside: classrooms, language lab, in-house café (Unicafè) and student residence on the top floor. Bellissima.
Florence is the right choice if you want to live every morning in beauty, study Italian properly in a serious campus setting, and feel - from the very first day - that you belong here. Andiamo.
The Florence campus
Housed in a historic building dating back to the late 1600s - the former seat of the Piarist Fathers (Padri Scolopi), an order founded for the education of young people, and later home to the Istituto Pellegrini - the Florence campus is surrounded by greenery while remaining just minutes from the city center. Perched in a prime location on Via Bolognese, it offers a panoramic view of the city: a uniquely inspiring place to study, with three and a half centuries of educational continuity built into the walls.
Florence from above
The Padri Scolopi campus seen from above.
Over 8,000 m² of gardens with olive trees
An extraordinary green oasis: more than 8,000 square metres of land cultivated with olive trees, plus a soccer field. Equipped with seating and tables for breaks, outdoor breakfasts, and lunches - a space that makes daily full-time study sustainable.
Classrooms and language lab
Student-friendly classrooms, a computer and language lab with 36 workstations, and two-person booths originally built for simultaneous interpreting practice. The teaching infrastructure of a real university, available to language students.
Unicaffè - in-house café
A welcoming space for coffee breaks and lunch, with indoor seating and outdoor tables in the garden. Especially during warmer months, this is where conversation practice happens naturally - peers, ideas, notes, and time to actually unwind between lessons.
Student residence on campus
On the top floor of the building: mini-apartments equipped for comfortable living, available for students who want the simplest possible accommodation - five minutes from the classroom, no commute, no separate housing search.
Who Florence is right for
Long-term students (visa-eligible)
Stays of 3 to 12 months on a student visa. Clear weekly study commitment, attendance tracking, documentation in the format the consulate expects, practical support on residence permit, codice fiscale, and accommodation.
U.S. faculty-led groups
The visiting faculty member leads the academic vision. We deliver on-site Italian language instruction, student services, housing logistics, and approval-ready documentation for the home institution. Florence is our main hub for faculty-led programs.
Serious 4-24 week students
Students who want measurable progress in a focused environment - not classroom-by-day, tourist-by-night. Small groups, level testing, CILS-aligned content, and a campus setting that makes daily study sustainable.
Companies with staff in Florence
Corporate Italian for professionals based in or relocating to Florence: fashion, art market, hospitality, manufacturing. One-to-one or small-group, scheduled around real work commitments.
Accommodation in Florence
The Florence campus has an integrated on-campus residence housed in the historic Padri Scolopi building (Mantua is our other site with an in-house residence). Students can live just a few steps from the classrooms, the library, the café and the campus's expansive gardens. A range of off-campus options are also available, suited to different needs and lifestyles.
Residence inside the campus
Unicollege University Residence - inside the Padri Scolopi campus
Up to 55 students live on campus inside the 17th-century building of the Piarist Fathers, on Via Bolognese. Single, double, triple and quadruple rooms, plus studios with garden access and shared apartments. All fully furnished, air-conditioned, with personal refrigerators and Wi-Fi. Shared kitchen, dining room and laundry foster a real student community. Features: single / double / triple / quad rooms · studios with garden access · shared apartments · air conditioning · personal fridge · Wi-Fi · shared kitchen / dining · laundry on-site · 8.000 m² gardens · on-site café. Why students choose this: no commute, an international community from day one, a true university-campus experience that is rare in Italian language schools. Ideal for long-term students, faculty-led groups, and students on a study visa.
On request - based on room type and length of stay. Reservation fee: €40. Limited availability - confirm early.
Off-campus - full Italian immersion
Host family
Live with a Florentine family selected by the school. Private bedroom in a shared family home. The fastest way to practise Italian outside class. Within 30 minutes of campus by bus or tram.
€215/week, room only · €240/week, with breakfast · €335/week, half board
Off-campus - for sociable students
Shared apartment
Private bedroom in an apartment shared with 2-4 other international students. Equipped kitchen + shared bathroom. Sheets, kitchenware, TV included. Independence with company.
€215/week, room only
Off-campus - for privacy + couples
Studio & one-bedroom apartment
Self-contained studio with private bathroom and kitchen. Fully furnished. Located in residential Florence neighbourhoods (Oltrarno, Campo di Marte, Bolognese).
On request, all-inclusive
For short stays + faculty-led groups
Hotels & B&Bs (3-5 star)
We work with a selection of hotels and B&Bs (3-star to 5-star) near the campus. Pricing varies seasonally and is confirmed at the time of your request. Best for short stays (1-2 weeks), faculty-led groups or accompanying visitors.
How booking works: tell us your dates, preferred option and special needs (diet, allergies, pets, smoking) on the contact form. We confirm a specific option in 2 working days. The €40 reservation fee is a one-off and is deducted from your first week of the course.
Long-term + visa students
For long-term courses, the accommodation address you confirm before arrival is used directly for your Permesso di Soggiorno application. The on-campus residence simplifies this - the school provides the hospitality declaration directly. Student Area → residence permit kit walkthrough →
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Italian courses in Florence held?
At our Florence campus, inside the historic Padri Scolopi building. Group or one-to-one courses, six levels from A1 to C2, with weekly start dates.
Can I get an official Italian certificate in Florence?
Yes. We are a CELI exam center, so you can prepare and sit your official Italian certification with us.
How long are the courses?
From one week to a full academic year. Courses of 16 weeks or more are eligible for a study visa, and we prepare the documents.
Milan
A short walk from the Duomo, in the heart of the city that never stands still. Here you learn Italian and use it straight away, every day: between work, fashion and aperitivi.
Campus