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International students guide by
Welcome Service | Servizi agli ospiti stranieri
na
tio
Coordinamento per le Relazioni Internazionali
Unità di Processo “Internazionalizzazione”
Comunicazione e public engagement
Unità Funzionale Prodotti e strumenti per la comunicazione
Istituzionale e per gli studenti

nal
progetto grafico

didacommunicationlab
Dipartimento di Architettura

students
Università degli Studi di Firenze
www.unifi.it | [email protected] guide
CONTENTS
Top 10 reasons for studying at the
University of Florence 4
1. A young University with ancient roots
2. Where cultural heritage meets innovation
3. Who we are: right here, right now!
4. International dimension
5. Studying
6. Feeling at home in our university community
7. Students experiences
8. Here for U
9. The city
10. Experience the most of “Italianness”

Your handbook 32
VISA and residence permit
Health care and insurance
The Tax Identification Number | Codice Fiscale
Open a bank account | Conto corrente
Other useful phone numbers active 24h
a day and free of charge
Maps of University sites
Italian Public Holidays

Vocabulary 38

Your notes 42
 1 A young University
with ancient roots
The University of Florence (UNIFI) is a relatively young Institution
with ancient roots going back to the Studium Florentinum set up
by the Florentine Republic in 1321. In 1364 the Studium became an
imperial university. When the Medici came to power in Tuscany in
1472 it was exiled to Pisa.
In 1859, the University re-emerged as Istituto di Studi Superiori
(Higher Institute of Vocational and Advanced Studies). In 1923 the
Istituto was officially granted the title of University. Between 1924
and 1938 the University structured itself into Faculties. In 2013
with the new reform introduced by Law 240/2010 all Faculties
have been abolished giving all responsibility to provide teaching
and services to the Schools. The image of Solomon, fair and wise
king, is the coat of arms of UNIFI since its origins. The current logo
shows Solomon holding in his right hand a scepter with the fleur-
de-lis.

TOP 10 REASONS
FOR STUDYING AT
THE UNIVERSITY
OF FLORENCE
2 Where cultural heritage
meets innovation
Prominent graduates and illustrious figures who taught at the
University of Florence include politicians, magistrates, business
people, scientists and more. Not all universities are as lucky to
have had such great people tread the campus. They occupy or
• Alessandro “Sandro” Pertini | 25 September 1896 – 24 February 1990
Italian journalist, partisan and socialist politician who served as the
seventh President of Italy from 1978 to 1985;
• Giovanni Sartori | 13 May 1924 – 4 April 2017
Italian political scientist specialized in the study of democracy and
comparative politics;
• Giovanni Spadolini | 21 June 1925 – 4 August 1994
had occupied key positions in the social, economical, political and Republican Italian politician, the 44th Prime Minister of Italy, the first
cultural life of Italy or abroad: since 1945 not to be a member of the Christian Democrats, newspaper
• François Carlo Antommarchi | 5 July 1780 – 4 March 1838 editor, journalist and historian;
Napoleon’s physician from 1818 to his death in 1821, earned the diploma • Piero Luigi Vigna | 1 August 1933 - 28 September 2012
of Surgeon in 1812 from the University of Florence; Italian magistrate. From 1997 to 2005 was Chief of the Procura
• Francesco Saverio Borrelli | 12 April 1930 –20 July 2019 Nazionale Antimafia (National Antimafia Prosecution Office);
Italian magistrate, General Attorney of the Court of Appeal in Milan for • Giuliano Urbani | 9 June 1937
44 years; Italian academic and politician. He was the minister of cultural heritage
• Lamberto Dini | 1 March 1931 from 2001 to 2005.
Italian politician and economist. He was the 51st Prime Minister of Italy
from 1995 to 1996 and Foreign Minister from 1996 to 2001;
• Mario Draghi | 3 September 1947 Today’s excellence
Italian Prime Minister, and Italian economist who served as President Four researchers from the University of Florence have been
of the European Central Bank between 2011 and 2019. Before that, he reported among the most cited scientists in the world by the US
served as the Chairman of the Financial Stability Board from 2009 to agency Clarivate Analytics: Alessandro Maria Vannucchi, professor
2011 and Governor of the Bank of Italy from 2005 to 2011; of blood diseases of the Department of Experimental and Clinical
• Domenico Fisichella | 15 September 1935 Medicine - on the list since 2017; Roberta Sessoli, professor of
Italian academic and politician, who served as Minister of Culture in the general and inorganic chemistry of the Department of Chemistry
first cabinet of Silvio Berlusconi from 1994 to 1995; “Ugo Schiff”. Not to mention Paolo Nannipieri, professor emeritus
• Margherita Hack | 12 June 1922 – 29 June 2013 of agricultural chemistry, and Andrea Scozzafava, former
Italian astrophysicist and scientific disseminator. The asteroid 8558 professor of general and inorganic chemistry. The list of “Highly
Hack, discovered in 1995, was named in her honor; Cited Researchers” includes researchers who have written high
• Indro Alessandro Raffaello Schizogene Montanelli impact scientific articles, most cited each year in their respective
22 April 1909 – 22 July 2001 scientific fields.
Italian journalist and historian, considered the best Italian journalist of
the 20th century;
3 Who we are:
right here, right now
Today the University of Florence is one of the largest universities
in the Italian university system.
Its population counts over 56,000 students (7% foreign students),
about 900 PhD students and 800 research fellows.
The Museum System
The University Museum System originates and draws its identity
from the Museum of Natural History, the most important of the
country. Consisting of places scattered over the historic centre of
Florence and beyond, the Museum houses 8 million exhibits, some
of which of outstanding scientific and naturalistic
importance: from sixteenth-century herbaria and precious
Its staff is composed of 1.200 teachers and 500 researchers, 1.500 eighteenth-century waxworks, to fossil skeletons of elephants
administrative and technical staff. and collections of multicoloured butterflies. The establishment
The University has a budget of around 404 million Euros per year in 1775 of the first naturalistic museum open to the public, the
of which 278 million come from State funding, 56 million from Imperial and Royal Museum of Physics and Natural History, is due
tuition fees and the rest from research and other institutional to the love for science and the passion for natural things of Grand
activities. Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Lorraine. In the Palazzo Torrigiani, now
home to ‘La Specola’, the Medici collections of “natural things”
The University of Florence is made up of: were gathered and expanded and nature was shown in its entirety:
from mineralogy to astronomy, through botany, zoology and
• 21 Departments for academic research in 5 different areas:
anthropology. Based on this unitary vision of scientific knowledge,
- Biomedical;
all such heritage, enriched by centuries of studies and research
- Scientific;
has merged into the Museum of Natural History, founded in 1984
- Social Sciences;
with the aim of unifying the numerous collections held by the
- Technology;
University of Florence.
- Humanities and Education;
Today there are three units that make up the Museum: ‘Palazzo
• 10 Schools for the organization of didactic activities: Nonfinito’, with the ethnic-anthropological and osteological
- Agriculture; collections, and the historical photographic archive; ‘La Specola’,
- Architecture; with the anatomical wax models, the litho-mineralogical and the
- Economics and Management; zoological collections; ‘La Pira’, with the geo-paleontological and
- Engineering; botanical collections, and the Botanical Gardens.
- Human Health Sciences; Included in the Museum System are the Villa La Quiete complex
- Humanities and Education; and Villa Galileo in Arcetri. ‘Villa La Quiete, a blueprint of the
- Law; history of the Medici House, devotion and female education.
- Mathematical Physical and Natural Sciences; Preserves the historical and artistic heritage linked to the events
- Political Sciences; of the Montalve - a congregation founded in the 17th century by
- Psychology. Eleonora Ramirez de Montalvo, which became Sisters in 1939 -
who have lived and looked after the Villa for over three centuries.
 ‘Villa Galileo’ is the home where the great scientist spent the last
part of his life, confined to house arrest by the condemnation of
the Holy Office of 1633.
www.sma.unifi.it

Library System
4 International dimension
The University of Florence has signed over 500 Cooperation
Agreements in over 100 foreign countries in order to promote
reciprocal exchange of teachers, researchers, students and
technical and administrative staff. Moreover, UNIFI has
The Library System consists of 5 large thematic libraries implemented 26 courses specifically designed to obtain double
(Biomedical, Sciences, Social Sciences, Technology, Humanities) degrees and 2 joint degrees (see Studying). Its strategic goals
and Prato Campus. Over 3.5 million documents, including 88,163 include the participation in the “European Research Area” of
periodicals, 156,968 e-books, 320 data banks, 6169 documents which Framework Programmes for Research and Technological
filed by the academic community in the institutional repository of Development are the main tools. UNIFI is one of the most active
the University of Florence FLORE (www.flore.unifi.it) are available Italian universities in terms of projects and grants obtained. In
as well as valuable antique volumes and prestigious collections. the 7th Framework Programme, the EU funded about 150 projects
The system also offers access to a considerable Digital Library for a total of over 40 million Euros. UNIFI has also submitted
that can be searched online by registered users even outside the several proposals with a high success rate in the framework of the
University campuses. Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020 and other EU
www.sba.unifi.it/changelang-eng.html programmes.
As of December 2019, the University of Florence has over 70 H2020
ongoing projects and more than 90 other EU projects in the field of
LENS and CERM education, cooperation and joint initiatives. It also participates in
There are several centers and laboratories such as LENS (European several research programmes sponsored by international agencies,
Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy - www.lens.unifi.it) CERM associations, foundations and other donors. In December 2018 it
(Magnetic Resonance Centre - www.cerm.unifi.it) and so on. has been granted the European ‘HR Excellence in Research’ award.
UNIFI is involved in more than 900 Erasmus Bilateral Agreements
with partner Universities located in the member countries of
Firenze University Press the European Union, the member countries of the European
The University of Florence has set up its own publishing Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein), Turkey, Republic
house called Firenze University Press – FUP which publishes of Macedonia and Switzerland. Within each academic year there
the outcomes of academic research carried out by the University are about 900 young Europeans taking part in the Erasmus
of Florence and by the national scientific community, with the Programme that chose to study in Florence.
aim to spread them in the academic circle both at national and
international levels.
www.fupress.com
 In 1999 our Institution was awarded the title of “European Tuscany University Network
Centre of Excellence” by the European Union, in recognition of its Since 2013 the University of Florence is a member of the Tuscany
specialization in courses dealing with European integration. University Network – TUNE- whose mission is the promotion
abroad of research and teaching activities performed in Tuscany.

EUniWell
The University of Florence is partner in The European University CUCS Network
of Well-Being – EUniWell. EUniWell unites 7 different universities Since 2009 it participates in CUCS Network, which is currently
and 102 associate partners drawn from 7 distinct regions of made up of 30 Italian universities. CUCS network mission is to
Europe. It presents an action-oriented response to well-being, deepen the reflection about the expanding boundaries of the
grounded in research expertise, educational leadership and civic academic mission in terms of training, research and knowledge/
engagement to meet the challenge set out by the Council of the technology transfer willing to align them to new global challenges.
European Union and the OECD. EUniWell’s mission is to empower
cutting-edge research, education and training and interact closely
with society to enhance global and regional well-being in social,
environmental, economic, and cultural terms as well as to promote
internal well-being for each student and member of staff, for
each educational programme, for each disciplinary field and
department, for each campus and for the university as a whole.
www.euniwell.eu

Confucius Institute
Since 2014, the University of Florence has been hosting the
Confucius Institute, stemmed from the collaboration between
the University of Florence and the Tongji University of Shanghai.
Recognized and funded by the Ministry of Education of China, the
Confucius Institute is the official body for the teaching of Chinese
language in the world.
It also promotes cultural exchange activities.
5 Studying
The University of Florence is a public university. The “credit”
system in Italian courses deriving from the Bologna Process, is
based on university credits (CFU). The system is based on the
concept of “workload” and are equivalent to the ECTS credit
original copy of the qualification to which such Supplement is
attached. It is based on an international model developed through
an initiative of the European Commission, the Council of Europe
and UNESCO.

The Diploma Supplement, issued in dual languages (Italian and

English) is composed of eight sections containing information on
system. The university credits (CFU) normally correspond to 25 the holder of the qualification, on the institution that issued it, on
hours of student work including individual study. The average load the level and the nature of the qualification, on the curriculum of
of academic work performed by a full-time student in one year is the study course followed with the results obtained, on academic
by convention set at 60 credits. The grading system for subject and professional rights, etc. There is also a section dedicated to a
exams is based on a maximum of 30 points with 18/30 as the description of the national system of higher education related to
lowest passing grade, In case of excellence the maximum grade the qualification obtained and studies completed.
can be enhanced with “cum laude” (30 cum laude).
The University of Florence offers more than 250 programmes, with
The final evaluation in order to obtain a degree is based on a courses at all levels and in all disciplinary areas:
maximum of 110 points, with 66/110 as the lowest passing grade. • First cycle (Bachelor Degree; First level professional and
The calculation of the final grade of each candidate takes into vocational master)
account the grade point average obtained in the exams, as well • Second cycle (Master Degree and 5 or 6-year combined cycle
as the quality of the work carried out as a research or in the final degrees; Second level professional and vocational master)
thesis which is discussed publicly before an examination board. • Third cycle (PhD programmes, specialization diploma and other
In case of excellence the maximum grade can be enhanced by the post-graduate courses)
board with “cum laude” (110 cum laude). Failure to pass an exam is
not indicated in the “exam transcript”, therefore the student must The University of Florence offers the following programmes in
retake the exam in order to achieve a positive result. English:
Second cycle Degree/Two-year Master’s | Laurea magistrale
The Diploma Supplement which can be provided upon request
is a document attached to the final qualification improving ˭ School of Agriculture
international “transparency” and facilitating academic and • Natural Resources Management for Tropical Rural
professional qualification recognition (diplomas, degrees and Development
certificates etc.). It supplies a description of the nature, the level, ˭ School of Architecture
the context, the contents and the status of the studies performed • Architecture (Curriculum “Architectural Design”)
and successfully completed by the individual mentioned in the
˭ School of Economics and Management
• Design of Sustainable Tourism Systems
• Economics and Development
• Finance and Risk Management
˭ School of Engineering
• Geo-Engineering
6 Feeling at home
in our university community
Among the values of the University of Florence equality,
diversity, and inclusiveness play a primary role. The University
and all its members are committed to ensure the wellbeing of
its community, making the students feel at home, experiment
˭ School of Humanities and Education a sense of belonging and fully enjoy their stay. Students
• Geography, Spatial Management, Heritage for International can participate in music activities, such as the Choir or the
Cooperation Orchestra, watch the performances of the University Theatre
˭ School of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences Company “Binario di Scambio”, enjoy the programme of musical
• Advanced Molecular Sciences performances and keynote lectures promoted by the University on
• Computer Science (Curriculum: “Resilient and Secure Cyber Sundays, take advantages of the sporting facilities, meet people
Physical Systems”) in university canteens to which the students can access once they
have a canteen card and enjoy food at reasonable price.
˭ School of Political Sciences
• International Relations and European Studies • Music, Choir and Orchestra
[email protected]
The academic calendar is based on an academic year divided in
two semesters. The classes of the first semester usually start in • University Theatre Company
mid-September and finish in mid-December. Those of the second [email protected] and [email protected]
semester usually start in March and end in May. The academic • Sport facilities
calendar changes every year: all details are normally made www.cus.firenze.it
available around the month of August on the university web site.
• Canteens
www.dsu.toscana.it

Main Social Media

The University of Florence has official accounts on Facebook,
Twitter, You Tube, Behance, Google+, Issuu, Instagram and
LinkedIn.
 Some of the sub-units belonging to departments or school, have
their own pages, mainly on FB. Social Media accounts, however, do
not substitute student and front offices.
www.unifi.it/social

CESPD
7
“
Students testimonials
I am Amirnezam Amiri a new full scholarship PhD student
at Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of
Florence, since November 2019. I was born in August 1992 in
As a special unit, the Study and Research Centre for Disability Teheran, IRAN. I will stay here till the end of my PhD, 2022. I
Issues (CESPD) was established to receive student with selected this university because of one main reason: Super-
disabilities, acknowledging their needs and planning the necessary expert scientists in my field of studies. The University of
actions to adopt as well as to provide services to enable full access Florence is a particular place for having both expert scientists
to the resources offered during their academic career. Moreover, and great communities which they are two prominent items
in each School one or more academic staff oversee those with for each student. I expect myself to exclude three items
disability issues. during my studies to take back:
www.cespd.unifi.it 1. Learning about how we should think in science to find shiny
perspective in issues;
2. Learning about the most important scientific/technical
Opening ceremony of the academic year subjects in my field of interest;
An official ceremony is organized at the beginning of every 3. To be a member of big international communities/scientific
academic year giving the students the opportunity to meet the groups for collaboration with other experts.
President (Rettore) and get acquainted with salient aspects of the You can probably think all mentioned items will be reached in
academic future. On that occasion the students will be introduced any places but it does not seem. The University of Florence,
to the multicultural tutors at their disposal for any kind of learning at least the department of Physics and Astronomy, is one of
issues, information about students’ association and so on during the rare regions where you can strongly find them and make
all their stay. your best future opportunities for being an expert person in
your field. From my point of view, everything goes well in the
case of welcome service duties and I honestly think that this
organization is one of the best social services/work which I

”
have ever seen in the world.
Amirnezam Amiri, Iran
“ I’m having a two-year postdoc position at the department
of mathematics and informatics ‘Ulisse Dini’. Here, I have
the opportunity to work with one of the top scientists in the
8 Here for U
Welcome Service | Servizi agli ospiti stranieri
The University of Florence does not have any lodging facilities of
its own. However, to facilitate its guests in the search for a suitable
field in a very friendly atmosphere. I feel I was given a lot of accommodation, the Servizi agli ospiti stranieri - Welcome Service
freedom which enables me to develop scientific independence can book you in one of its student residences:
and to fully focus on my research. I also enjoy the Italian • Residenza Via Romana
lifestyle, coffee culture, the soul of the city of Florence and via Romana, 7-13 | Florence

”
the breathtaking Tuscany’s countryside. • Residenza M. Luzi
piazza Dallapiccola, 6 | Florence
Vít Musil, Czech Republic • Calamandrei University Residence
Residenza Universitaria Calamandrei
viale Morgagni, 51 | Florence
• Santa Marta Benedictine Monastery
Monastero delle Benedettine di Santa Marta

“ My name is Juan Torres Prados and I am from University

of Granada, Spain. I did my last university degree course in
Florence, at the Università degli Studi di Firenze, and I am so
via Santa Marta, 7 | Florence

Advices on reduced price facilities can be given to the guest as well

as info about other facilities:
grateful with this institution and all the people that works in it.
I remember all the trips, museums, classes... all the • Evergreen Residence
experiences, and I would repeat them a thousand times if I piazza Dallapiccola, 6 | Florence
could. I will remember it as a decisive part of my life and I invite • The Student Hotel Florence
to everyone who is interested in go and to learn by the way I did viale Spartaco Lavagnini, 70-72 | Florence
[email protected]

”
in Florence, the way of learning by every step you do.
• Campusx Florence
Juan Torres Prados, Spain viale Giovanni Battista Morgagni, 51 | Florence
[email protected]
and address the students to Housing Online Platforms
 • Camplus Florence International Relations Offices of the Schools
via del Romito, 5-7 | Florence
• Agriculture | Agraria
Azienda Diritto allo Studio DSU Toscana
Servizio Relazioni Internazionali, Dean’s Office
(Tuscan Regional Board for the Right to University Education)
piazzale delle Cascine, 18 | 50144 | Florence
[email protected]
(+39) 055 2755716 | [email protected]
˭ contacts
Welcome Service | Servizi agli ospiti stranieri • Architecture | Architettura
Via della Pergola, 60 | 50121 | Florence Servizio Relazioni Internazionali, S. Teresa complex
(+39) 055 2756969 | [email protected] via della Mattonaia, 8 - Ground floor | Florence
(+39) 055 27554282 | [email protected]
• Economics and Management | Economia
International Desk Servizio Relazioni Internazionali
The International Desk provides a first point of contact for all piazza Ugo di Toscana, 5 | 50127 | Florence
international students whose country of residence lies outside of Building D15, 3rd Floor, Room 3.02
the European Union or the European Economic Area. All enquiries (+39) 055 275 9763/9764
from EU-resident prospective students should be addressed to outgoing: [email protected]
the Student Administration Office of the School they wish to apply incoming: [email protected]
to or the Erasmus front desks of their School if they are Erasmus
students. • Engineering | Ingegneria
The International Desk serves students from all Schools. Servizio Relazioni Internazionali
via S. Marta, 3 - Ground Floor | 50139 | Florence
˭ contacts (+39) 055 2758987 | [email protected]
International Desk
via della Pergola, 60 | 50121 | Florence • Humanities and Education | Studi Umanistici e della Formazione
(+39) 055 275 6962/6963/6964/6965 | internationaldesk@ unifi.it Servizio Relazioni Internazionali
via Laura, 48 | 50121 | Florence
(+39) 055 2756127/6488 | [email protected]
Mobilità Internazionale and International Relations Offices
• Human Health Sciences | Scienze della Salute Umana
of the Schools
Servizio Relazioni internazionali - courses of former Faculty of Medicine
provide information about Erasmus + Programme. and Surgery | Medicina e Chirurgia
Careggi Hospital, Pavillion H3 – 1st Floor, Room 120 | 50134 | Florence
˭ contacts
Mobilità Internazionale (+39) 055 275 1955/1956 | [email protected]
via della Pergola, 60 | 50121 | Florence
(+39) 055 2756975/6976 | [email protected]
 Servizio Relazioni Internazionali - courses of the former Faculty of Centro di Cultura per Stranieri
Pharmacy | Farmacia offers Italian language courses in four levels (foundation,
Department of Pharmacy, Sciences Campus intermediate, advanced intermediate and advanced), as courses
via Ugo Schiff, 6 | 50019 | Sesto Fiorentino of Italian culture.
(+39) 055 457 3672/3673 | [email protected]
˭ contacts
• Law | Giurisprudenza CCS
Servizio Relazioni Internazionali Via degli Alfani, 6/b | 50121 | Florence
via Pandette, 32 | 50127 | Florence (+39) 055 275 6939 | [email protected] | www.ccs.unifi.it
(+39) 055 2759053 | [email protected]
• Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences | Scienze
Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali Multicultural tutors
Servizio Relazioni Internazionali students speaking the most used languages for international
Plesso didattico Viale Morgagni, 40–44 | 50134 | Florence exchanges, help in the early stage of foreign integration in
(+39) 055 2751349 | [email protected] Florence. They combine their subject area expertise with the
necessary language and cultural skills to communicate with
• Political Sciences | Scienze Politiche
foreign students in the most common languages and work
Servizio Relazioni Internazionali
towards creating self-motivated independent students.
via delle Pandette, 32 | 50127 | Florence
Together with the International Relations Offices of the Schools
(+39) 055 2759082/083/084 | [email protected]
and the staff from the International Relations Central Area,
• Psychology | Psicologia the multicultural tutors help their peers to adjust to a different
Servizio Relazioni Internazionali environment by providing both academic and non- academic
via della Torretta, 16 | 50137 | Florence support, give information about university services and city life
(+39) 055 2755374 | [email protected] and offer fully assistance on foreign student general issues.

The University Language Centre SIAF

Centro Linguistico di Ateneo (CLA) - organises Italian language the University IT System, offers log-in credentials, computer
courses throughout the academic year. literacy courses at various levels, and different topics, such as
internet security, web design, computer graphics, CAD, database
˭ contacts
CLA
design, operating systems and programming languages.
Via degli Alfani, 58 | 50121 | Florence Students can enroll in these courses at special conditions.
(+39) 055 2756910 | [email protected] | www.cla.unifi.it
9 The city
The city is the capital of the region of Tuscany, easy reachable
by car, train and plane due the location of the airport Amerigo
Vespucci right in town. Today Florence can count not only a
glorious past but it is also an important centre for arts and crafts,
for the after-life and to ascend to
Heaven, eternally saved. Dante acts
as a prophet who speaks on behalf of
God to the whole mankind.

Giovanni Boccaccio (1313 - 1375) an

Italian writer, poet and an important
commerce and industry and is committed to be a “smart” city. Renaissance humanist. He wrote
Florence was founded by the Romans in the first century B.C. It several notable works, mostly in
reached its highest levels of civilization in the 15th century under Tuscan vernacular and some in Latin
the Medici family, who later became the Grand Dukes of Tuscany including The Decameron and On
and conferred splendour to the city for over three centuries. The Famous Women.
Grand Duchy of the Medici was succeeded in the 18th century by
that of the House of Lorraine. In 1860 Tuscany became part of
the Kingdom of Italy of which Florence was the capital from 1865
to 1871. Florence has an exceptional artistic patrimony which is
glorious testimony to its secular civilization.
It gave birth to:
Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 - 1446)
is considered the founding father
Dante Alighieri (1265 - 1321), an of Renaissance architecture,
Italian poet. His Divine Comedy, and is recognized to be the first
originally called Comedìa (modern modern engineer, planner, and sole
Italian: Commedia) and later construction supervisor. He is most
christened Divina by Giovanni famous for designing the dome of
Boccaccio, is widely considered the the Florence Cathedral, and for the
most important poem of the Middle development of the mathematical
Ages and the greatest literary work technique of linear perspective in art
in the Italian language. Dante’s main which governed pictorial depictions
purpose in writing the Commedia of space until the late 19th century
was to preach the necessity of a and influence of the rise of modern
moral and religious renewal for science.
everybody, in order to get ready
Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 - 1519) an
Italian polymath of the Renaissance
whose areas of interest included
invention, drawing, painting,
sculpture, architecture, science,
music, mathematics, engineering,
literature, anatomy, geology,
10 Experience the most of
“Italianness”
Last but not least, studying at the University of Florence and
becoming a part of its community is an opportunity to experience
the most of our culture and to bring it back home.
Studying abroad is a thrilling experience that students usually
astronomy, botany, paleontology and never forget! Experiencing a new culture is like stepping into
cartography. He has been variously a whole new world. At the University of Florence students are
called the father of paleontology exposed to local language, smells, flavours, colors, sights, sounds,
and architecture, and he is widely and people. Who doesn’t want to have a second language under
considered one of the greatest their belt or the ability to step inside the mind of Italian culture
painters of all time. to see things from a whole new perspective? Moreover, spending
some time in a foreign university gives students an advantage
Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - and a competitive edge in the work field and often opens many
1564), known best as simply doors. In the University of Florence students can expand their
Michelangelo was an Italian sculptor, circle of friends, gain new skills, learn to empathize and boost
painter, architect and poet of the their creativity experiencing Italian and Florentine architecture, art
High Renaissance. forms, music and food.
 “The world is a book and
those who do not travel read
only one page St. Augustine

”
“ Travel is fatal to prejudice,
bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,
and many of our people need it
sorely on these accounts Mark Twain

”
 VISA and residence permit
If you are a student from the EU, Switzerland, EEA, Norway, Iceland
and Liechtenstein you are not required to do any formalities for
stays up to 90 days. Before departure, you must verify that your ID
or password is valid for travel outside your country and for the entire
period of your stay in Italy. Upon your arrival you are requested to
file a declaration of presence within 8 business days of arrival with
the Police Headquarters (Questura) of the province in which you are
lodging, please use the correct form. If you are staying in hotels and
other reception facilities, the declaration of presence is handled by
the reception facility upon check-in, a copy of which is supplied to you
to be displayed to authorities upon request. If you stay more than 90
days, in addition to what above specified, you should register at the
Anagrafe (public records office) upon your arrival and submit specific
documents. You should contact the office beforehand.

If you come from countries outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Norway,
Iceland and Liechtenstein you should request entry VISA for study
purposes (also if you are applying for a PhD, University Professional
Master Course, Post-Graduate Specialization School Diploma and
Advanced Training Course) at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your
country of residence. If you stay beyond 90 days a resident permit,
issued by the Police Headquarters (Questura) is also requested. You
should submit the request within 8 business days by using the free
yellow kit available at post offices. Afterwards you should enroll in
the Anagrafe (public records office) of your town of residence in Italy.
˭ useful contacts
Portale Immigrazione | www.portaleimmigrazione.it

YOUR HANDBOOK Call Center 800 309 309 (for general information) 24 hours a day
Toll Free number 803 160 (information on certified Post Offices)
For information on the possibility of obtaining a visa for study purposes
www.vistoperitalia.esteri | http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it
Health care and insurance
If you are a student from an EEA country (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Non-EU students: resident permit “for study purposes” and codice
Norway and Switzerland) you are insured through your own national fiscale (tax ID number), receipt of payment of enrolment fee,
health service. Before leaving your home country you should bring statistical form as per D.M 8.10.1986.
your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or ask for it if you For more info you can refer to your local health office and visit
don’t have it yet. The following link is useful for any kind of matter www.asf.toscana.it
concerning mobility in Europe.
˭ useful contacts
http://ec.europa.eu/social/home.jsp?langld=it
Ufficio Stranieri
ASL 10 via Gramsci, 561 | Sesto Fiorentino
If you are not a student from an EEA country (European Economic (+39) 055 6930111 | [email protected]
Area) or if you don’t have a complete health coverage you should
choose your own health insurance plan.
As an international student, from within and outside the EU, enrolled AOUC Careggi
at the University of Florence you can register to the National Health The main hospital is AOUC Careggi. There is a desk dedicated to
Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale - SSN) for the duration of your foreign citizens.
studies. The registration entitles you to choose a General Practitioner
and to receive the same healthcare services as any Italian citizen. ˭ contacts
The registration expires on the 31 December of every year and has a Foreigners’Hospitalization Office | Ufficio Spedalità Stranieri
flat cost of Eur 149.77 (to be paid by postal slip on account n° 289504 via Largo Brambilla, 3 | Florence
Pavilion 2 NIC (Main Entrance)
- account name: Regione Toscana- description of payment: iscrizione (+39) 055 794 9888/7057
volontaria SSR anno 202x).
All students who are regularly enrolled in Bachelor and Master’s
If you are non-EU citizen you need to have a resident permit “for degree courses are insured by the University’s cumulative accident
study purposes”; if the resident permit expires before 31 December, policy that covers injuries occurred during institutional activities,
the registration will expire in the same date. It will be extended at including learning and practical activities, internships, participation in
no extra cost once the permit is renewed. As a foreign student if you international programmes (e.g. Erasmus), trainings, site inspections,
wish to utilize the services of the health system, you need to register measurements, even by third parties, provided they are related to the
by submitting the necessary documents listed below to any of the study programmes, properly authorized and certified.
“Sportelli dell’Anagrafe Sanitaria”:

EU students: ID and codice fiscale (tax ID number), self-declaration

of the school of affiliation, receipt of payment of enrolment fee,
statistical form as per D.M 8.10.1986.
The Tax Identification Number | Codice Fiscale Opening a bank account | Conto corrente
The tax identification number (codice fiscale) is a code to identify To open a bank account, you must be over eighteen years old, possess
citizens in their dealings with the Italian Public Administration. a valid identity document and the Italian tax ID number and you
Every Italian citizen is issued with one by default at birth, but also must have not been convicted for bankruptcy. Bank account terms
foreigners residing in Italy are required to have one, for example and conditions vary from bank to bank: in most cases, a debit card
to obtain a residence permit, open a bank account, register for the (Bancomat) is issued as well as a cheque-book (libretto degli assegni).
National Health Service, rent an apartment, request a telephone In some banks a small deposit of money is required for opening the
line, etc. The tax identification number is issued free of charge by account. In any case it is advisable to contact the banks directly to
the Italian Revenue Agency by filling out a specific form that you can acquire the necessary information considering that each institute can
download from the web site. offer different solutions.

˭ The request can be submitted directly by the person concerned to Other useful phone numbers active 24/7
Revenue Agency | Agenzia delle Entrate
Direttorato Provinciale di Firenze and free of charge
via Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, 23 | 50129 | Florence • NHS Emergency number: 118
(+39) 055 478 7111 | [email protected]
• Carabinieri: 112
EU/EEA citizens must show a valid passport or equivalent ID; • Police | Polizia: 113
non-EU / EEA citizens must have a valid passport with appropriate • Fire brigade | Pompieri: 115
visa (if required) as well as a photocopy of the passport (of the pages • Sexual harrassment: violence and stalking help on line: 1522
clearly showing personal data and visa) and/or residence permit.
Alternatively, the tax identification number can be requested before Maps of University sites
arrival to Italy from the Italian diplomatic authorities in the country
˭ www.unifi.it/vp-10508-sedi-e-trasporti.html
of residence. Foreign citizens entering Italy with a research visa will
receive a certificate of attribution of the tax number at the time
of the convocation to the Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico per
l’Immigrazione - SUI).
More details on the web site of the Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian
Revenue Agency).
www.agenziaentrate.it Italian Public Holidays
• 1 and 6 January • 2 and 24 June
• Easter Monday • 15 August
• 25 April • 1 November
• 1 May • 8, 25 and 26 December
 ENGLISH ITALIAN
Good morning/Good
Buongiorno/Buon pomeriggio/
afternoon/Good evening/
Buona sera/Buonanotte
Good night
Excuse me/Sorry/Please/ Scusami/Mi dispiace/Per
Thank you/You are welcome favore/Grazie/Prego

How are you?/ I am fine Come stai?/ Sto bene grazie/

thanks/ I am not well Non sto bene.

What’s your name? My name Come ti chiami?/Mi chiamo

is Paul/I come from Canada/ Paul/Vengo dal Canada/ Parli
Do you speak English? inglese?
Do you have any room
Avete camere libere?/Camera
available? /Double room/
doppia/Camera singola/Hotel/
Single room/ Hotel/
Pensione/Appartamento/
Guesthouse/Flat/Youth
Ostello/Campeggio
hostel/Campsite
Quanto costa per notte/
How much is per night/per
per persona?/ La colazione è
person? Is breakfast included?
inclusa?
A table for two, please/What Un tavolo per due, per favore/
would you recommend? The Cosa consiglia?/Il conto per
bill please favore

Sono vegetariano/Vegano/Non
I am vegetarian/Vegan/I don’t
mangio carne/Che ingredienti ci
eat meat/What’s in the dish?
sono nel piatto?

VOCABULARY I am intolerant/Allergic/
Gluten free/Lactose-free
Sono intollerante/Allergico/
Senza glutine/Senza lattosio
Peanuts/Crustaceans/Broad Arachidi/Crostacei/Fave/Frutti I’d like to buy/How much is Vorrei comprare/Quanto
beans/Shellfish/Wheat/Milk/ di mare/Grano/Latte/Latticini/ it?/It is too expensive costa?/E’ troppo costoso
Dairy product/Nuts/Fish/Egg Noci/Pesce/Uova
Bank/Credit card/ATM/Tourist Banca/Carta di credito/
Where is the station?/ Where Dov’è la stazione?/Dove posso office Bancomat/Ufficio turistico
can I buy a ticket?/ When is comprare un biglietto?/ Quando I want to go to Voglio andare
the next train? è il prossimo treno?
Does this bus stops at..? Questo autobus ferma…?
Is there a toilet?/ Can I get in? C’è una toilette?/Posso entrare? At what time does it leave?/
A che ora parte?/Arriva?
Arrive?
Could you help me please?/ I Mi può aiutare per favore? Mi
am lost sono perso Is this the road to…? E’ questa la strada per…?
Leave me alone Lasciami stare What’s the address…? Qual è l’indirizzo..?
There has been an accident C’è stato un incidente Can you show me on the map? Puoi mostrarmi sulla cartina?
Call the police/Ambulance/ Chiama la polizia/Ambulanza/ Zero/Uno/Due/tre/Quattro/
zero/one/two/three/four/
Doctor Dottore Cinque/Sei/Sette/Otto/Nove/
five/six/seven/eight/nine/ten
Dieci
Aspirin/Antibiotics/Anti- Aspirina/Antibiotico/
inflammatories/Penicillin/ Antinfiammatori/Penicillina/ A hundred/a thousand/ten Cento/Mille/Diecimila/Un
Insect stings Punture di insetti thousand/ a million milione

What time is it?/ It’s 8 o’clock/ Che ora è?/ Sono le otto/Sono le Car/Bicycle/Boat/Motorcycle/ Auto/Bicicletta/Barca/Moto/
It’s half past 8 otto e mezzo Plane Aereo
Un biglietto/prima classe/
Morning/Afternoon/Evening/ A ticket/1st class/2nd class/
Mattina/Pomeriggio/Sera/ seconda classe/solo andata/
Night/ Yesterday/Today/ one way/return
Notte/Ieri/Oggi/Domani andata e ritorno
Tomorrow
I will learn Italian. I promise! Imparerò l’italiano. Lo prometto!
Monday/Tuesday/ Lunedì/Martedì/Mercoledì/
Wednesday/Thursday/ Giovedì/Venerdì/Sabato/
Friday/Saturday/Sunday Domenica
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