Finding the perfect place to knuckle down and start studying seems to be the eternal problem that students face. Staying in one place too long, or picking an environment too relaxed or serious, these can make studying so much harder than it should be.
As a student in one of the world capitals of art and culture, on paper Florence should be the ultimate city to find inspiration, but in reality it also comes with some pretty great distractions. The Tuscan countryside, food and drink, and those same art and music places to explore around the city can all leave you in awe, with work firmly at the back of your mind. After all, even ex-residents Michelangelo, Boticelli and Da Vinci probably found themselves distracted.
With that in mind it’s important to have an arsenal of ideal study spaces dotted around the city that you can deploy when suits you best, because in reality the best study space depends on a range of personal factors: motivation, energy, etc.
The Best Looking Study Space
Cinema Odeon Firenze:
This ex-theatre now cinema and bookshop is one of the most relaxed places in the city. There’s a warm glow as you enter, with the bookshop beckoning you downstairs, the high ceilings and art-nouveau design of the building creates a stunning backdrop without losing its cosy elements. Upstairs in the gallery you’ll find the study areas, with two equally inviting choices. If you’re in need of a more chilled out study session then the retro cinema style seating is the ideal spot as you relax into the plush chairs. On the other hand if you need to get a more solid block of work done then there are tables adorning both sides of the space, with cool little film director style chairs where you can concentrate a little better. All of this takes place whilst the cinema screens free films (normally Disney or old classics), arts performances and talks on centre stage throughout the day. Overall it's a fantastic hub for the arts and culture but also a great place to study at the same time.
A More Serious Study Space
Biblioteca Oblate:
If you’re really feeling the need to concentrate at the task on hand, or hit a deadline in time, the Biblioteca Oblate is the perfect place without sacrificing on the stunning scenery Florence has to offer. The library contains a wide range of study areas, and is popular with Italian students too, offering an ideal environment conducive of learning the language as well as concentrating on your other study areas. If a break is needed from that intensity it also offers a tranquil courtyard, and unobstructed views of the Duomo, somewhat of a rarity in the centre of Florence. It also contains a wide range of reading material if you need to really dig into your research. When you’re finished or if you get hungry, its location at the heart of the city makes it incredibly easy to pop out, stretch your legs and get something to eat.
The Best Place For Chill Study
Ditta Artiginiale:
If you’re feeling a bit tired of the usual study spaces and need somewhere a little more relaxed, with a coffee or cake in hand, then a cafe can be the perfect place. Dotted around the city you’ll find local coffee chain Ditta Artiginiale who offer some of the best cafe goods in the city but also incredibly chilled out spaces, with cool interiors making them the perfect spots to study without the stress. They can also be ideal for group study sessions, that might be mainly conversation based, there’s not much more than a good italian coffee and a bit of cake and pastry that can get people up for a bit of talking after all.
Overall these are my favourite three study spaces found around the city, and are all worth a try but given studying can be such a personal thing sometimes the best thing is just to explore. If you stay curious and try your hand at a range of spaces, from art-galleries, river side benches or Gelaterias to even your home, it won’t be long before you find somewhere.
