Live like a local and enjoy a variety of activities with like minded people in Florence, Italy.
Florence is a city that has something to offer everyone. Art lovers will be amazed by the city’s world-class museums, which house masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and other Renaissance masters. Foodies will delight in the city’s delicious Tuscan cuisine, which includes everything from bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak) to ribollita (Tuscan bread soup). And history buffs will be fascinated by the city’s rich history and stunning architecture. But living in Florence for a couple of months is more than just a vacation. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in Italian culture and experience firsthand the Italian way of life. You’ll learn to speak Italian, make new friends, and discover new passions.
Your experiences always includes
Live on the opposite side of the Arno River - away from the tourist frenzy. Experience local life, steps away from authentic shops, cafes, and restaurants. All private apartments are located within restored palaces, or palazzos.
Your local host who organizes community activities and connects you to local events. Whether you want to study Italian, volunteer, learn cooking, or just connect with locals, our Community Manager can guide you.
Your Community Manager curates the best local events in Florence that only locals know. Access the undiscovered side of this historic city. All scheduled community activities, meals, and happy hours are included in the program fee.
Travel medical insurance included in program fee. Community Manager can connect you to optional activities such as yoga classes, gyms, and nearby hikes and excursions to beautiful places near Florence.
Your Home in Florence, Italy
Our flagship program site is in the Oltrarno neighborhood of Florence. However, during our peak months, we offer the identical program based out of a different site. When booking, this alternate site is labeled as “Seasonal Site”.
Flagship Site
While most tourists congregate on the north side of the river Arno, the Oltrarno neighborhood on the south side of the river is here where local Florentines still live. Oltrarno was rebuilt once the Medici family settled there during the renaissance. Most of our members live in apartments located within a restored Italian palazzo that maintains its historical charm, but provide modern amenities such as dishwashers, washing machines, high speed internet, and a fully equipped kitchenette, living room, and bedroom. When you walk outside, you can still admire traditional artisans working in their shops, or you can savor famous Italian aperitifs in one of the many wine bars nearby. Best of all, you’re only a short walk across the bridge to all the tourist attractions on the north side of the river.
All apartments are located within a restored historical palazzo, and include the following:
- Recently restored palazzo
- Fully equipped kitchenette
- High speed internet
- Weekly cleanings
- Queen sized beds
- Dining area
- Walking distance from everything
- Living room
- Bathroom with shower stall
Seasonal Site
During peak months, our Seasonal Site is located in the Teatro Luxury Apartments. These refined residences, born from the meticulous restoration of the historic Florentine Teatro Comunale, offer an extraordinary blend of history and contemporary ease. Our same team of Community Managers organize all the same events and activities as in our Flagship Site, the only difference is the lodging. The Teatro apartments are located on the north side of the Arno River, next to the medieval tower Torre della Serpe, near the foot of Parco delle Cascine, Florence’s largest park. Identical program, different apartment building.
All apartments are located within the same upscale building, and include the following:
- Studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments
- Fully equipped kitchenette
- High speed internet
- Weekly cleanings
- Upscale fixtures
- Dining area
- Walking distance from everything
- Living room
- Bathroom with shower stall
Authentic Florence Experiences
As part of The Good Life Abroad community in Florence, Italy, you will experience a wide variety of activities to immerse you into the local culture. In addition to our weekly Tuesday Lunch Club, weekly happy hours, and fitness events, we also bring you local professors to illuminate you on Florentine history, art, and architecture, as well as cooking classes and wine tastings. We’ll even venture to the countryside of Tuscany with hikes and walks. Your Community Manager is also able to connect you to local events that you are personally interested in, such as language lessons, art classes, or concerts and festivals.
Some of the experiences you'll enjoy in Florence and Tuscany include:
- Welcome reception & farewell party
- Tuscan traditional cooking class
- Architectural walking tour
- Weekly “Tuesday Lunch Club” in different restaurants
- Italian language workshop
- Lectures on Florentine History by local historians
- Wines of Tuscany tasting
- Weekly “Happy (to be 55+) Hour”
- Medieval Art Workshop
Additional Experience Options:
Unique personal experiences that can be arranged at an additional cost with your Community Manager
- Excursion to town of Siena
- Private Wine Tour with Local Sommelier
- Advanced Classical Italian
- Gym or yoga studio membership
Getaway with Day & Weekend Trips
Make Florence your home base and delve into the charm of nearby Tuscan towns and cities, all within 1-2 hours by train or car. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend retreat, you’ll find countless opportunities to experience the rich culture, history, and flavors of Tuscany.
Florence Community Managers
In Florence, you’ll be supported by our duo of Community Managers, Martina and Giacomo.
Martina grew up in Tuscany’s Siena province but moved to Florence to pursue degrees in Languages, Literature, and International Studies. She became a licensed tour guide with the goal to share her love for Florence and Tuscany. Martina’s narratives traverse the city’s streets, unraveling tales of old families, historical events, and the influential figures behind iconic structures or stunning art pieces. Beyond history, Martina introduces clients to Florence’s contemporary life, exploring markets, artisan enclaves, modern art exhibitions, and fashion boutiques. With expertise in oenology and viticulture, she’s sure to give you the best wine recs.
Giacomo is an Italian-German born and raised Florentine. He is known as the go-to person for quirky Florence-facts and anecdotes. After pursuing a Master’s degree in Architecture, he decided to follow his passion for storytelling and become a licensed local tour guide. He loves and knows the ins-and-outs of his city’s streets, monuments, and history. When he’s not busy planning his next trip or learning about the Byzantine Empire, Giacomo enjoys working on personal creative projects and taking walks in the Tuscan countryside.
Your Month-Long Florence Experience
More than just a vacation, immerse yourself in Italian culture and experience firsthand the Italian way of life. You’ll learn to speak Italian, make new friends, and discover new passions.
Your Tailored Experience Includes:
- 30 nights stay
- Fully furnished exclusive apartment
- Weekly ‘Tuesday Lunch Club’
- Weekly Happy Hour
- Weekly activities
Included Extras
- Tuscan cooking class
- Wines of Tuscany tasting
- Walking tour of Florence
- Florentine history lecture
- Italian language crash course
- Day trip to Siena
Get Florence Details
Request a digital brochure with dates, prices, housing, and activities for our experience in Florence, Italy.
What Our Community is Saying
I loved the activities, they were really unique and different. We did belt making, a cooking class, and we went to a lunch that was clearly filled with people from Florence and not full of tourists.
Mindy D. Experienced Florence, Italy
“I loved the group activities, like our picnic in the Rose Garden and making belts at a leather shop. The people are amazing, and I would definitely recommend it to friends. Italia is fantastico!”
Theresa V. Experienced Florence, Italy
“As a solo traveler, I expected to explore venues and dine alone, trying to connect with people around me. However, having this group with us was so unexpected and the best part about it. It felt like a built-in community.”
Nada S. Experienced Florence, Italy
Frequently Asked Questions About Florence
Spring and fall offer ideal weather for exploring the city’s famous landmarks and scenic streets. Winter is quieter, providing a peaceful environment to enjoy Florence’s art and history.
Florence is compact and best explored on foot, with most attractions located near the city center. For longer distances, taxis are a convenient option, as public transport within the city is limited.
The Uffizi Gallery and Florence Cathedral are must-visit landmarks showcasing Renaissance art and architecture. Outdoor attractions like Piazzale Michelangelo offer breathtaking views of the city.
Florence has a mix of casual trattorias and upscale restaurants offering authentic Tuscan cuisine. Many have outdoor seating and easy access for older adults.
The historic center is ideal for its proximity to major sites, shopping, and dining. Accommodations near the Arno River often provide quieter options with stunning views.
Siena, Pisa, and the Chianti wine region are excellent options for history, culture, and scenic beauty. Trains and guided tours make these destinations easily accessible.
Florence is generally safe, though crowded areas like the Ponte Vecchio may require extra caution with personal belongings. Enjoy exploring the city’s charming streets with confidence.
Your best life awaits you.
Your dream of international living is within reach.
Get detailed information including prices, dates, and booking information
Reviews & Reflections
Alumni Experience in Florence
What’s it really like to spend a month living in Florence with The Good Life Abroad?
Personally, we would have liked more out of the city experiences. But the balance was good to experience what the city had to offer. The Community Managers really highlighted the best things in the city to do and see.
Well planned, skilled in country guides, good accommodations in good location
We loved Florence and enjoyed the people in our community and the managers.
Giacomo and Martina
it is the perfect experience for people who have never been abroad and don't like the constant on/off travel experience. You can do as much as you want or as little as you want. This experience will let you feel the everyday life and still see the important historical items and events.
Well planned, comfortable accommodations, experienced and friendly guides, great balance between leisure and activith,
1. For a solo traveler, it’s a great way to enjoy the company of others while having your independence.
2. Eliminates the drama of finding a suitable place to stay when you travel.
3. Provides a wide array of quality experiences that one can partake of.
Its' the people! Giacomo and Martina have the best personalities and know everything we want to know! They are the best!
The trip was everything I wanted. There was a support infrastructure and organized activities but plenty of time for doing what I wanted.
Our accommodations were really good and the location was really nice. We really enjoyed meeting the people in our group. Martina and Giacomo were great. They were very helpful and they gave great tours. I felt the extra tours were very expensive.
While we welcomed the addition of pre-paid events and experiences (which were not promoted when we submitted our deposit in Feb 2024) there are two major items with the catalog. First, it came late and second, we found the pricing of the additional tours and experiences to be very high. The GLA model is appealing for the somewhat self-reliant travelers (in our opinion) and the rates were more like "cruise-ship" pricing. Because of the catalog delay, we had already taken the initiative to organize several of the listed items on our own, but we still elected not to use any of the other catalog items due to pricing. For example, at 370euros per person to be part of a group of 10 or 12 we were able to arrange a similar experience for the same price on a private two person basis. I think the only exception was the Italian language event.
The trip was everything I had hoped for and more. Lovely accommodations, attentive & knowledgeable community managers, forming lasting relationships with fellow travelers, and a wonderful itinerary allowing time for individual trips but including innovative planned activities.
I feel this is a great way to travel. There is a perfect balance of support and freedom for me. I love getting ideas from other group members and the community managers
For the people that want to travel abroad and not have the hassles of a tour company
Quality adventure for active seniors.
Great apartment, activities, and having the community managers made everything easier.
We were disappointed in the apartment. The living room space and dining area were small as a combined room. It would have helped if we could have seen a picture or video of the apartment beforehand. Otherwise everything else was great. The apartment manager was helpful in getting settled. The community managers were exceptionally helpful and excellent tour guides. We needed to visit a doctor during our stay and our community manager hooked us up with an English speaking one which was great!
Great program.
Very tailored to the older traveler, which was vital to bringing my 89 yo mom. Our community guides Giacomo and Martina were amazing. Our activities were well-considered and the balance between free time and planned activities was good. Our lodgings (Dragomanni) were excellent as well.
Great overall experience
The only reason I gave the rating a 7 instead of a 10 is the quality of accomodations
It really depends on how someone likes to travel. I would explain the benefits of The Good Life Abroad and see if it is a match for my friend. We realized on the trip that staying a month in one place is probably too long for how we like to travel. Although we kept busy most days, the time seemed to go too slowly, and we would normally be ready to move on to another city after a week or two. We really enjoyed the trip overall, but realized it probably isn't something we would do again.
Our two Community Managers made it a most enjoyable experience.
Uniquely curated experience with capable and supportive community manager.
Great experience
The outline of the program is great—a mix of group activities, optional activities and suggestions for our own time. Love Martina and Giacomo—they were organized and communicated well to the group. I really liked the group programs they set up. My only complaint is the apartment location (Santa Monaco Plaza). We did not get one good night’s sleep. Too many loud drunks on the street all night. There was a hostel around the corner and two gelaterias that stayed open til midnight. Night after night after night of not enough sleep just wore me down. I would need to make that very clear to anyone wanting to be in Florence.
Wonderful program.. good balance of togetherness and free time.
The program is suited for any kind of traveler's personal experience.
Great community managers and lovely apartment.
Outstanding community managers, Martina and Giacomo. I felt so well taken cared of. So many fun and memorable moments created by Martina and Giacomo
I was hoping for an immersive experience and I feel I got what I wanted. The variety of planned and optional experiences was varied and still allowed me time to explore in the city and beyond on my own making it very personal.
The variety of planned and optional activities was great and the communities managers were so helpful and friendly and supportive.
We enjoyed the experience. Highlights were the other group members, the Community Managers and the included activities. Improvement could be made on accommodations, they were not as pictured when I signed up. (See below under One Thing to Change). Also, we felt like the optional activities provided by the Community Managers were quite expensive. Pre-departure information could be improved.
The program schedule was pretty close to perfect-a great mix of tours, classes, lunches and happy hours. You could choose to go to what you wanted, and you could add an optional tour here and there. Even if you chose to do nothing apart from the schedule there was plenty to do. Community Managers were very responsive and helpful.
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