The School
The Centro Machiavelli was founded as a cooperative of teachers in 1978 in order to provide an adequate response to a growing world-wide interest in Italian language and culture.
Method research and its application, together with exchange opportunities, have always been the school's principal objectives.
Ever alert to the country's linguistic and cultural developments, the Centro Machiavelli constitutes a constant reference point for students seeking to acquire not only linguistic competence, but also the skills necessary for a full understanding of the Italian society.
The school is located in the historic centre of Florence, Italy in the district of Santo Spirito, home to artisans and artists, where, being just off the beaten tourist track, the economic and social characteristics of the area have been left intact. The school is in Piazza Santo Spirito itself, one of the finest squares of the city. With its bars and out-door cafés, its daily market, workshops and restaurants, it is a favourite haunt of Florentines and thus provides our students with an excellent opportunity to meet them.
The Centro Machiavelli is officially acknowledged by the Ministry of Education.
Why Learn Italian in Florence?
The teachers at Machiavelli are very open-minded, very friendly and helpful.
It is very easy to switch the level if you feel not to be in the right place. You can ask the teacher about everything, they always do their best. Thanks to Frederica and Gino :)) Oh, and don't miss the guided tours through Florence - they are for free, you meet lots of people and the guide, Rima, is absolutely lovely.
Britta (Deutschland)Winding your way through the narrow medieval streets, the splendid squares and along the banks of the Arno, stopping to look at the prestigious monuments from the Duomo with its bell tower by Giotto to the Church of Santa Croce; from Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria to Palazzo Pitti with the Boboli Gardens and the Palatine Gallery; from Ponte Vecchio to the Uffizi Gallery; from the Medici Chapels with the tomb of Lorenzo il Manifico to the Church of Santo Spirito, letting yourself be charmed by the beauty of the Primavera by Botticelli, by Michelangelo's David and by the works of Titian, you can capture the essence of Florence: its history, its charm, its beauty which is further enhanced by the flavours of one of the most famous cuisines in the world. These are just some of the reason why millions of people every year visit the city of the Renaissance.
To appreciate in it's modern-day context you must however abandon this touristic and artistic dimension in which the city is immersed and experience the cultural social and economic vibrancy of its neighbourhoods, with their street markets, shops, restaurants and meeting points. These qualities combined with strong Italian and international spirit have always made Florence a flourishing cultural and multicultural centre one of importance for art, crafts, music, fashion. Florence and Tuscany receive young people from all around the world who come to study Italian language and culture, following programmes involving history of art, fine arts, arts and crafts, cooking, fashion and design. All of Tuscany, birthplace of the Italian language and of Italian culture and one of the major melting pots of modern European culture, was and is a workshop of extraordinary artistic and cultural production which has always been an influence throughout the continent and continues to be so today.
