When people think of Florence, they picture Renaissance art, cobbled streets, and breathtaking architecture. Living here as a student truly feels like stepping into history. But what often goes unnoticed is how deeply sustainability is woven into both the past and present of this city. Studying at AEF has opened my eyes not only to Italian language and culture, but also to Florence’s long-standing tradition of living in harmony with the environment.
Florence: A Renaissance City Ahead of Its Time
One of my most memorable experiences at AEF was attending Strategie sostenibili nella Firenze del Rinascimento, an event organised through the school. There I learnt how Florentines centuries ago were already practising what we now call sustainable living. They separated waste, reused materials, and avoided unnecessary excess. Food scraps fed animals, fabrics were repurposed, and wood was carefully managed. Even the city’s water was treated as a vital resource: the Arno River powered mills, sustained trade, and shaped everyday life. Walking through Florence today, it’s inspiring to see how these early practices laid the groundwork for modern sustainability.
Sustainability in Modern Florence
This tradition continues. Today, recycling bins line the streets, local markets emphasise seasonal produce, and many Florentines still shop at family-run stores rather than supermarkets, reducing packaging waste. Sustainability here isn’t a passing trend; it’s part of daily rhythm. As a student, I’ve noticed the small details: encouragement to walk or cycle, refillable water stations, and high-quality items designed to last. These habits feel like echoes of Renaissance Florence, adapted for the 21st century.
AEF’s Commitment to Sustainability
AEF shares this Florentine spirit. Respect for the environment is one of the school’s core values, reflected in both its building and its community. Efforts are made to reduce waste, recycle, and save energy, but sustainability at AEF is also about mindset. In class, we connect language learning with culture, history, and current issues, reflecting on how daily choices, from food to transport, affect the world around us. For me, this has been a unique part of the AEF experience: learning Italian while also learning how to live more mindfully.
Living and Learning Sustainably as a Student
My days are filled with small but meaningful sustainable habits. I walk to school each morning, refill my water bottle instead of buying plastic, and shop at markets to support local farmers. These choices may seem simple, but together they form a lifestyle that feels natural, balanced, and deeply Florentine. They’ve shown me that sustainability isn’t about perfection; it’s about small, intentional actions that connect us to history, community, and the environment.
A Lasting Lesson
Studying abroad in Florence has been about more than just learning Italian. It has meant experiencing a way of life that values beauty, culture, and sustainability. AEF has helped me see how these values intersect, both in the classroom and in the city itself. Florence has always been ahead of its time, and being a student here means learning from the past while helping to shape a more sustainable future. What I’ll take home is not only new language skills, but also a new way of thinking about how to live: thoughtfully, creatively, and sustainably.
AEF Sustainability Week: Coming Soon
From 29 September to 1 October 2025, AEF will host its first Sustainability Week, bringing students, faculty, and staff together around environmental awareness and action. The programme includes a city clean-up with Angeli del Bello, a guest lecture from Zerolab on sustainable fashion, a talk on overtourism with Sandro Billi, and a Green Aperitivo with locally sourced food. This initiative reflects AEF’s mission to connect language learning with cultural immersion and civic responsibility, giving students the chance to practise Italian while engaging with urgent environmental issues in Florence.
