🌍 Study Abroad Diaries: 4 Months Across Europe

September: Coastal Bliss & Italian Sun

Cinque Terre, Italia. Based in Vernazza, with hikes & train hops to Monterosso, Manarola, Corniglia, and Riomaggiore.

Island hopping to Elba Island via Piombino.

Cannes & Antibes, A French Riviera moment.

Quercianella. Firenze Day Trip.

Sirolo, Italia. The Adriatic coast & a dreamy boat day.

October: Family & The Deep South

Fiesole, Italia. Hotel Plaza Lucchesi.

Massive Tuscany road trip. With the parents. We hit the fortified walls of Monteriggioni, the thermal waters of Bagno Vignoni, and the "ideal city" of Pienza. Biking in Lucca

Forte Dei Marmi. Seaside Vibes

Sicilia, Italy. From the volcanic grit of Catania and the Alcantara River to the heights of Taormina and Castelmola.

November: The Grand Tour & Fall Break

Fall Break: A whirlwind through Portugal & Spain. Highlights included the surf in Ericeira, the palaces of Sintra, and the historic streets of Seville and Madrid.

Portugal (yes, again!). To sip wine in the Douro Valley and explore Porto.

Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Canals and culture.

December: Christmas Markets & Grand Finales

Vienna, Austria. Christmas markets, grand architecture, and a Hozier concert at Wiener Stadthalle.

Swiss Alps. Based in Interlaken, we explored the peaks of Grindelwald and Männlichen... pure winter wonderland.

Paris. The Louvre, hot chocolate at Carette, and the lights of the Eiffel Tower.

London. Ended the journey in the heart of the UK.

Home Base of Firenze!

Before we get into the weekend bags and train platforms, we have to talk about the heart of it all: Firenze. There is a very specific feeling to stepping off a delayed flight or a cramped train at Santa Maria Novella, hitting that humid Florentine air, and realizing you actually know your way home without a map.

My days weren't some curated movie montage. They were the sound of shutters opening in the morning, dodging tourists on the way to class, and the caffeine shakes from too many 1€ espressos. It’s the kind of place where you can be exhausted by the crowds one minute and then completely humbled by the Duomo turning a dusty pink at sunset the next.

Florence is the ultimate home base. It’s central enough that you can decide on a Friday morning to hit the coast or the Alps, but it’s the only city that makes you actually miss the cobblestones the second you leave. From the quiet views in Fiesole to the chaos of the piazzas, this city was the heartbeat of my entire semester.

Here is exactly where those four months took me.