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Study Italian in Italy

Florence has a way of making Italian feel inevitable. You hear it in the market, taste it in the food, read it carved into the stone of every piazza. SPRACHCAFFE Florence sits at Via della Mattonaia 17 — in the UNESCO-inscribed historic centre (inscribed 1982), a short walk from the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio.

 

Our Florence school has welcomed adult learners (18+) since 1987 — 37 years of continuous operation in the city that gave the world the Renaissance and standard Italian itself. Courses follow CEFR levels A1 to C1 in groups of up to 12 students, with exam preparation available for the four official Italian certifications: CILS, CELI, PLIDA, and IT.  

Adults

Truly International Mix

Students from over 40 countries join us in Florence. Your classmates become your world.

Heart of Florence

Our school sits in Florence's historic centre, steps from the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio.

Small, Focused Classes

A maximum of 12 students per class means you get real attention, real progress, real fast.

Start Any Monday

Flexible course start dates throughout the year - learn Italian in Italy

Choose your school in Italy

Three young women enjoying the panoramic view of Florence, Italy, with one reading a guidebook and the Duomo in the background.
Italy
Florence

Study Italian where every corner tells a story—through food, fashion and centuries of culture.

According to UN Tourism (UNWTO) - the United Nations specialised agency for tourism - Italy is the world's 5th most-visited country, welcoming approximately 57.2 million international visitors in 2024, behind France (100 million), Spain (93.8 million), the United States (72.4 million), and Turkey (60.6 million). Italy's tourism sector is one of the largest contributors to the national economy.

au pair Italia

Accent is key

In Italian, accent and intonation are not just stylistic choices — they are functional. Italian is a highly phonetic and rhythmic language, and mastering the musicality (the rise and fall of pitch, the doubling of consonants) is essential for clarity. A misplaced stress can change a word completely — papà (dad) and papa (pope) are distinguished only by accentuation.

Florence holds a unique place in Italian linguistic history: the Tuscan dialect spoken in Florence in the 14th century became the basis for modern standard Italian, thanks to the works of Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), Petrarch, and Boccaccio — all from Tuscany. The Accademia della Crusca — based in Florence since its founding in 1583 as the world's oldest language academy — continues to standardise Italian today. Learning Italian in Florence means learning it in the city where the standard form was born.

Why Florence

There is no classroom like Florence. Florence's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1982), recognised as "an unrivalled artistic and architectural example of Renaissance culture." Within walking distance of the school sit the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore) with Brunelleschi's Dome, the Baptistery, Giotto's Campanile, the Uffizi Gallery, the Galleria dell'Accademia (Michelangelo's David), the Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce, and the Pitti Palace - one of the densest concentrations of world-class cultural sites of any city in Europe.

Florence is also the institutional home of standard Italian. The Accademia della Crusca - founded in Florence in 1583 as the world's oldest language academy - is based at the Villa Medicea di Castello on the city's outskirts. The Tuscan dialect spoken in Florence became the basis for modern standard Italian in the 14th century through the works of Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio.

Practical advantages for language students:

  • Compact, walkable city centre - most of Florence's cultural sites are within 15 minutes' walk of each other
  • Smaller international community - more daily Italian practice, fewer English-language "shortcuts"
  • Strong transport links - direct trains to Rome (1h 35m), Venice (2h), Milan (2h), Naples (3h), and Bologna (40 min)
  • University city - the Università degli Studi di Firenze (founded 1321) attracts students from around the world

Italian Language Courses in Florence

Our Florence school has welcomed adult learners since 1987. We offer five course formats for adults aged 18 and over, all following CEFR levels A1 (beginner) to C1 (advanced):

CourseLessons per weekClass sizeNotes
Standard Course20 lessons (45 min each)Max. 12Balanced programme - speaking, listening, reading, writing
Intensive Course30 lessonsMax. 12Additional afternoon sessions for faster CEFR progression
One-to-One TuitionCustomised1Fully personalised pacing; available in Florence or online
Club 50+ Course20 lessons + cultural programmeSmall groupDedicated programme for adults 50 and over
Exam PreparationVariableDedicated groupCILS, CELI, PLIDA, IT (CEFR-aligned, A1-C2)

Every student takes a placement test on arrival and is grouped at the right CEFR level. Courses run year-round with weekly start dates (most courses begin Mondays). All lessons are taught by qualified Italian teachers using methodology aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Council of Europe).

Find out more

No prior knowledge of Italian is required. We welcome complete beginners as well as advanced speakers. Before your course begins, you will take a placement test to determine your level so we can place you in the most suitable group. Courses for all levels run year-round at our Florence school.

Our Italian language courses in Florence have a maximum of 12 students per class. This small group format ensures that every student gets genuine attention from the teacher and plenty of opportunity to speak, practise, and ask questions throughout each lesson.

The Standard Course offers 20 lessons per week - the ideal choice if you want structured daily learning with time to explore Florence independently. The Intensive Course increases this to 30 lessons per week for those who want faster progress and greater fluency. Both options are available in groups of up to 12 students.

Yes - a SPRACHCAFFE certificate is included in the course price, confirming the CEFR level you studied at and the total lessons completed. This can support professional applications and education abroad documentation.

For internationally recognised qualifications, SPRACHCAFFE Florence offers exam preparation for the four official Italian certifications:

  • CILS (Università per Stranieri di Siena)
  • CELI (Università per Stranieri di Perugia)
  • PLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri)
  • IT (Università Roma Tre)

All four are mutually recognised within the CLIQ - Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità framework, jointly coordinated by the issuing universities under agreement with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

In Florence we offer shared apartments in or very close to the city centre. Accommodation is within walking distance of the school or a short bus ride away. Weekly cleaning is included, and a half board supplement is available if you would like meals provided. Our team will help you arrange everything before you arrive.