Things to Do

The List
• See Vasari’s corridor (you need to reserve well in advance)
• See the Museo dell’Opificio delle Pietre Dure (Via degli Alfani, 78, free)
• See San Miniato al Monte
• Buy bread from Forno Becagli (Borgo Ognissanti, 13-r)
• Hang out in Boboli Gardens
• Hang out in Piazzale Michelangelo
• Hang out in the park in Le Cure
• Go to Cinque Terre
• Go to Bologna
• Go to Assisi
• Go back to San Gimignano
• Buy blood oranges
• Climb the walls at Porta Romana

Things to do

Concerts

  • Big performers from the U.S. had concerts in Milan, Bologna, Rome (some performers include KanyeWest and Coldplay).
  • Sintetikais a great club that hosts lots of indie, American bands like Deerhoof.
  • Teatro Saschall (which is on the outskirts) hosts some really awesome acts.
  • Do not miss the opera.

Film/Cinema

  • Odeon Cinehall (Piazza degliStrozzi,1) plays movies in their original language, but provides subtitles. Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, there are screenings of American movies in English.
  • The Office of Student Life sometimes has movie screenings.

Religious

  • Church – St. Annunizata or on Saturday evening, the Duomo actually holds a mass in English. But, you can go to mass at any church, just find out the times before hand. Not only is it a good way to immerse yourself in Italian culture but it can also help with your Italian.
  • Jewish Synagogue (via Farini) – Take a tour the old and beautiful building.

Gym

  • There is a tiny gym on campus. However, the Office of Student Life can provide a list of gyms for those who are interested. Note that gyms are generally more expensive in Florence than in New York.
  • If you are just looking to run, you can jog along the Arno or you can go for a run in Parco delleCascine.

General Shopping

When in Florence who does not want to shop? Florence has a variety of fresh markets, convenience stores, open markets, boutiques and high-end stores that we are all familiar with. But before you start shopping there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Shopping cannot always be done at your own convenience; most stores close at 1PM when many people leave work to go home for lunch, and then reopen again at 4PM. Many stores are also closed on Sunday.
• If you go into a small store or restaurant, its customary to greet whoever is behind the counter with a “buongiorno” (if it’s morning) or “buonasera” (if it’s afternoon).
• When grocery shopping, bring bags with you to pack your in groceries; if you ask for a plastic bag at a grocery store, you will be charged a few cents per bag. When picking fruit and vegetables, Italians wear plastic gloves provided by the supermarket…when in Florence, do as the Florentines do.

Shopping: Clothes

Negotiating is key when buying in the open market such as San Lorenzo and the Mercato Nuovo. Most vendors will offer you a high price and when they see you walking away they will cut it in half. Do not let them try to cheat you because they think you are a tourist. They all carry similar items – get an idea of prices from neighboring stores, it will give you a better bargaining chip and will keep you a smart shopper.

Moderately Priced
La Rinascente (Via Del Ponte A Iozzi, 45)
Some refer to it as the Italian version of Bloomingdales.
One of Florence’s largest department stores.
They carry everything, including quite a few American designers.

Coin (Via dei Calzaiuoli 56/r)
Chain store that carries everything from accessories to housewares.
Has a large make-up and perfume collection.

Zara (Piazza della Repubblica)
One of the best places to go shopping.
The styles are so much better than the Zara in NY!

The Mall in Leccio (Via Europa 8, Leccio Reggello)
30 mins from Florence.
Incredible collections, everything from Gucci and Pucci, to Ferragamo.
You will find last years fashions at up to 60% off.
There is a daily shuttle from Florence – call ahead to book. For cheaper transportation take a public bus from the SITA bus station. http://www.outlet-firenze.com

Outlet in Barberino (Via Meucci snc)
30 mins from Florence
You will find 100 different trademarks from Armani to Versace at up to a 70% discount.
Only open certain months of the year. infobarberino@mcarthurglen.com

First Saturday of every month there is a fantastic vintage/thrift market in Piazza Santo Spirito in the Oltrarno.

Good Deals
San Lorenzo (Borgo S. Lorenzo and Via dell Canto de Nelli)
A little bit of everything including leather goods, crafts, souvenirs, etc.
Mercato Nuovo (near Piazza della Republica)
Primarily a leather market, but other souvenir-type items too.

Designer Shopping
Via Tornabuoni
This is designer alley!
All of the most famous Italian and international designers have stores on Florence’s most elegant street. Among the many stores, you will find Armani, Bulgari, Celine, Gianni Versace, Gucci, and Prada.

Via della Vigna Nuova
Houses many top designers such as Dolce and Gabbana.

Ponte Vecchio
Known as the “golden bridge”, the Ponte Vecchio is home to dozens of Florence’s best goldsmiths and jewelry stores.

Shopping: Food

Esselunga supermarket
(Via Masaccio or Via Pisana)
7 blocks away from campus (Via Masaccio)
Most similar to American supermarkets
You can find pretty much anything here, including Vapeto to keep the pesky mosquitoes away.

Conad (Via L Alamanni 2/10r)
Small supermarket, great prices, better quality and often cheaper than Il Centro.
Located around the city.

Il Centro (Via Ricasoli, 109/R)
Chain supermarket throughout the city for all of your basic needs. Great place to buy toilet paper and toiletries during your first week.

Mercato Centrale (Piazza del Mercato Central)
Great atmosphere. Lots of individual vendors selling everything from meat to cheese to fruits and vegetables, and more!

Renee – Every Saturday morning, I used to go to Mercato Centrale with 3 of my roommates. It is a huge food market. The bottom floor is all fresh meats and cheeses, while upstairs was an array of fruits and vegetables. It is a good place to practice your Italian, and to listen to it. I went to the same olive man every week, while my roommates visited the same dried fruits guy. We also went to the same fruit and vegetable man. He would always slip us a small orange after we paid. By going there every week, we learned which vendors to avoid, and which to frequent. It was a fun experience, and it was nice being able to have this routine.

Amanda – Mercato Centrale is definitely an experience, I went there every week to get my groceries and always came back with the best produce and meats and they were cheaper than the other grocery stores. While it was a little bit of a culture shock to see the various counters of meat it was always worth it. The fresh pasta shops on the first floor were incredible, they even sold their own sauces. The dried fruit man upstairs has every dry fruit & vegetable know to man, you should definitely check it out!

Bookshops

Feltrinelli (Via Cavour, 12)
Major bookstore.
Carries many English-language books, as well as a lot of the textbooks you will need for class.

Paperback Exchange (Via Delle Oche, 4/r)
Smaller English-language bookstore, carries textbooks.
Buys back books at the end of the semester.

Events geared toward women

Libreria delle donne (via Fiesolana 2B, Tel. 055.240384)
This is a bookstore just for women. It carries a variety of works from women around the world. (Those who work there may know where to find women-related events in Florence, and around Italy).

Corri La Vita
This is a race to find a cure for breast cancer. It was an excellent event for the Florentine women to show their power and embrace their femininity.

Feste Delle Donne
This is a celebration of women on March 8, which is the anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that killed 148 women in NYC in 1911.

Must Read Authors

Italo Calvino – If on a winter’s night a traveler (Se una notte d’inverno un viaggiatore) – In this postmodern novel, the reader is complicit in every moment of the text. This is the ultimate book about books, as Calvino takes us on the journey of reading, writing an entire novel to remind readers to enjoy the process of the read, and not seek the ending for a fulfillment of pleasure.

Umberto Eco – The Name of the Rose (Il nome della rosa) – This murder mystery is set in an Italian monastery, and is a highly intellectual story. Eco employs semiotics along with deductive reasoning in a medieval church setting to explain the curious murders of several members of the monastery, believed to be works of the devil. Although written in high academic style, the mystery is a thrilling one that doesn’t fail to electrify.

Football

Football (or soccer) is the sport of Italy and Italians take their soccer more seriously than Americans take football and baseball combined.

The six most popular teams and their nicknames according to their team colors are: Napoli (Gli Azzurri), Roma (I Giallorossi), Juventus (I Bianconeri), Internazionale Milano (I Nerazzurri), Milan (I Rossoneri), and Fiorentina (i Viola). These are the top teams that are almost always in Serie A. At the end of each season, the three teams with the lowest number of points are relegated to Serie B, while their positions are then replaced by the the top three Serie B teams.

Getting There – Florence’s team is ACF Fiorentina, or simly just “Fiorentina.” Home games are played at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, a 47,000 seat stadium located at Viale Manfredo Fanti 14. The stadium is a 20 minute walk from the city center or can be reached via the #7, 17, and 20 buses.

Tickets – Check online or go to the stadium directly for tickets to a match. Tickets go quickly—the Italian “tiffosi” are dedicated! The great thing about studying through NYU, however, is that the Office of Student Life plans events to matches throughout the semester. If you cannot make an event, the OSL can help you find (cheaper) tickets.

At the Matches – Matches are held rain or shine, whether you’re sweating or shivering. Calcio is about loyalty to one’s team and don’t be surprised if you witness a fight or two— either verbal or physical—based on team conflicts. Serious business, this calcio! When going to a soccer game, remember to have fun! Cheer, boo the opposing team, wear your team’s jersey or scarf (or at least, color) and maybe even learn a chant or two—just be mindful that you will pick up plenty of off color vernacular.

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