Skip to content

Florence, Italy (J-Term)


FLORENCE: CRADLE OF THE RENAISSANCE


Program Dates: January 8-19, 2026. 

Application Information: Applications will be open August 1-September 29, 2025. For any questions or more information on how to apply to this program, please contact the faculty leaders listed below.



Academic Focus: Art and Art History
Students in this J-term course will have the chance to explore Florence, Italy - the city recognized as the cradle of the Renaissance - as a city and region, from ancient settlements to the 21st century. During this program, students will:
  • Explore Florence's art and history, focusing particularly on works from the Renaissance by Michelangelo, Donatello, Botticelli, and Artemisia Gentileschi;
  • Study Florence's religious and political heritage, including the Florentine Republic and the Medici family, and Florence's role in modern Italy;
  • Familiarize themselves with local Italian food and culture by residing in the Medieval city center, blocks away from the Duomo.
Students will accomplish these goals by participating in the following:
  • Visiting museums, churches, palaces and parks;
  • Creating a 10-12 minute oral presentation during the trip in addition to an accompanying handout on this topic;
  • Recording the activities of the trip in a written and visual travelogue;
  • Taking a cooking class and learning how to cook with an Italian chef

Eligibility: Open to all majors. Student must be in good academic standing and have a minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of application (and maintain that GPA minimum until the semester before the program). Limited slots available. 
*Because of the location and the nature of our activities, it is critical that the students that participate in this J-term course are prepared physically, emotionally, and mentally for the experience. Florence's medieval center, where housing and most class activities will be located, is a pedestrian-only location. As such, you will need to be able and willing to walk at least two miles without difficulty. 

Faculty Leaders:   Genevieve Hendricks (hendricksrs@hollins.edu)
                                Stephanie Gibson (gibsonsm@hollins.edu)

Approximate total cost per student: $3,000 for program fee. Does not include airfare, passport fees or personal expenses.

Funding Opportunities: Hollins provides the opportunity for experiential learning scholarships for students with demonstrated financial need. These scholarships are not guaranteed and require a student be admitted into a program and complete the scholarship application process. Click here to visit the Hollins Experiential Learning Funding Opportunities landing page on Hollins' SharePoint site, where you'll find detailed information about eligibility, application timelines, and more.  Still have questions about scholarships? Reach out directly to elapps@hollins.edu.

For further questions specifically about the program, contact the faculty leaders listed above.
For questions about study abroad in general, contact Dr. Ramona Kirsch, Director of Global Learning at kirschrr@hollins.edu

below: a view of Florence from a rooftopFlorence Rooftop View skinny