Fashions of Florence Program – 13 Days
Spend an unforgettable summer in Italy and study at one of the most prestigious fashion schools in the world, Polimoda.
Program Summary
June 30th to July 12th, 2024
This two-week pre-college program will immerse students in the world of fashion through coursework and visits to artisan workshops, fashion ateliers, and manufacturing facilities. Students will receive 40 hours of college level fashion courses taught by industry leaders at the prestigious Polimoda fashion school in Florence, and be able to visit various fashion-related museums and companies. Through this immersive program, students will be able to see real world applications for fashion degrees and gain valuable insight into the day-to-day role of various fashion industry professionals.
Program Highlights & Inclusions
- Resident Advisor in house for the duration of the program with 24/7 support
- Program Director in Florence for the duration of the program
- Transportation from the Florence Airport to Hotel on arrival and departure days
- Twelve nights hotel accommodation in Florence (The Student Hotel)
- One night accommodation in Milan
- Program Orientation
- Public transportation tickets in Florence and Milan
- Round trip train ticket to Milan
- Breakfast & dinner each night at local restaurant or at the hotel restaurant
- Visit to Piazza della Signoria
- Admission to Salvatore Ferragamo Museum
- Admission to Palazzo Pitti Costume Museum
- Class field visits (Luisa Via Roma and Gucci Garden Museum)
- Visit to the Florence Duomo
- Admission to the Uffizi Gallery
- Visit to Piazzale Michelangelo
- Florence Artisan Tour
- Milan Fashion Tour
- Visit to Como Silk Company
- Visit to Lake Como
- Trip delay and medical insurance coverage up to $50,000 per person
Daily Itinerary
The program’s immersive experience has an intense schedule, packed with fashion, culture and art.
Most days, the group will be out together from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Students will wake and have breakfast at the hotel, then gather with classmates and the resident advisor to walk or take the tram to campus together.
A typical class will last 3 or 4 hours with a break halfway through to grab water or a snack at the cafes near campus. Some days there will be class in the morning and afternoon, some days there will be class in the morning and a museum visit or activity in the afternoon.
After some down time at the hotel, students will have dinner either at the hotel where dinner is served between 7:30pm and 10:00pm, or gather to go together to dine at a local restaurant.
Students should arrive at the Florence airport (FLR) before 2:00pm on arrival day.
You will meet your resident advisor.
You’ll arrive at your accommodations, The Student Hotel.
You’ll visit the Duomo, the Florentine cathedral known for it’s distinctive Renaissance dome.This magnificent gothic structure built in the 1300’s includes art work by Giotto and engineering by Brunelleschi.
You’ll visit Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s main square and was the original location for Michelangelo’s David which has been replaced by a replica in the exact location that the original David stood. The Piazza gets it’s name from the Palazzo della Signoria also known as Palazzo Vecchio or Old Palace which is the city’s town hall.
You’ll meet in the common room of your accommodation to meet your fellow program participants. You’ll have an orientation to the class program and the city. After your orientation you’ll take an guided walk through Florence.
You’ll have a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll have a program orientation at your school and then have your first class.
You’ll usually walk between destinations in Florence, which is a very walkable city, however you will be provided with transportation tickets for public transportation when indicated.
You’ll visit Piazza Michelangelo which offers breathtaking views of Florence.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll have class.
You’ll visit Uffizi Gallery. Although not originally intended to be a museum, the Uffizi is one of the oldest and most popular art museums in Europe. The Uffizi Gallery is home to some of the most famous works of art and features the great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll have class.
You’ll visit Palazzo Pitti, the renaissance palace of the Medici Family. You’ll visit the Galleria Palatina where you’ll see masterpieces on the walls of the apartments as they were originally displayed. You’ll see works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens and Tiziano among others. You’ll also have entrance to the palace’s Museum of Modern Art.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll have an interactive class at Gucci Garden and Museum.
You’ll have class.
You’ll have breakfast.
You will take the train to Milan and board a private coach to Como.
Your bus will pick you up and you’ll continue your trip.
You’ll visit a Como Silk factory and learn about the silk printing process, history and designs of major brands produced and see production in action.
You’ll arrive at your accommodation and store your luggage. If your rooms are ready, you’ll check in.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll take a fashion tour of Milan, visiting the flagship stores of Italy’s top designers, most fashionable shops and learn why Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world. After your tour, you will take the train back to Florence.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll have a special class visit.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll visit the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum highlighting the important role the designer played in the history of shoe design and international fashion. Full of photographs, patents, sketches, books, magazines and wooden lasts of many famous feet, the museum also has a collection 10,000 sketches designed by Ferragamo throughout his illustrious career.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll visit a leather artisan or participate in a leather workshop.
You’ll have class.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll have class.
You’ll have a fashion lab class.
You’ll have breakfast.
You’ll have your final project presentation.
You’ll have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
You’ll have breakfast.
