Known for its colorful coastal villages, natural landscapes, and strong local culture, Cinque Terre offers students a unique setting to experience a different side of Italy.

Now, students at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) have the opportunity to study in the region through the university’s new Cinque Terre Program. Launched at the beginning of 2026, the program expands FUA’s study abroad offerings beyond Florence and gives students the chance to experience a different side of Italy in La Spezia and the surrounding coastal cities.

The program was created to provide students with more academic options and a hands-on approach to learning. Through the new Two City option, students can even split their time between Florence and Cinque Terre, experiencing both Florence’s urban and historic setting and Liguria’s coastal, community-based environment.

According to the Cinque Terre Program's Student Life & Development Advisor Eva Sturlese and Associate Director Angela Manion, the program grew from a desire to expand FUA’s academic offerings while introducing students to a different perspective of Italian life. By using La Spezia and the Ligurian region as an academic setting, the program encourages students to experience Italy through a more local and immersive perspective.

One of the key reasons Cinque Terre was chosen is its strong connection between place and learning. The region isn’t just scenic, but also functions as a living classroom. Students are surrounded by a mix of natural landscapes, coastal communities and industries that play an important role in both the Italian and global economy. From marine engineering and shipbuilding to environmental preservation and tourism, the area naturally connects to a wide range of academic opportunities.

Sturlese and Manion emphasized that this combination of sea, mountains and cultural history allows students to engage with subjects like economics, business, environmental studies and humanities in a more direct way. Instead of only learning in a traditional classroom setting, students are able to observe and experience how these fields operate in real life.

The program supports a wide range of studies including Economics, Business, Psychology, Marine Sciences, Biology, Hospitality, Food and Wine Studies, Art, Design, Writing, and Environmental Studies. According to Sturlese and Manion, these fields were intentionally chosen because they naturally connect to the local environment and the industries present in the region of Liguria.

A large part of the experience comes from learning activities and excursions. Students regularly explore the surrounding area, including the villages of Cinque Terre, Lerici, and Portovenere, as well as nearby cities like Genoa and Pisa.

The program also includes weekly extracurricular activities such as yoga, sports nights, cinema nights and language exchange sessions. These are meant to help students build community, practice Italian, and feel more connected to local life.

As Manion and Sturlese explained, the goal is for students to “connect with the places, people, and environments that have shaped the region,” turning everyday experiences into part of the learning process.

Although the Cinque Terre Program is still being developed and is still in its early stages, FUA has high hopes for the program's future. Manion and Sturlese shared that they “hope the program will expand in the next years as regards the number of students enrolled also in the Two City Program,” allowing even more students to experience two distinct regions of Italy during one semester.

The institution also hopes to “expand our local network of partners to provide new exciting opportunities for internships and community outreach activities."

The Cinque Terre Program offers much more than a different location to study. Manion and Sturlese hope participants will “obtain a deeper understanding of Italian culture, society, and history, gained through both academic study and everyday immersion in the local community.” Living in La Spezia will allow students to experience a quieter side of Italy while building stronger connections with local culture and traditions.

Beyond just academics, Manion and Sturlese believe this experience will help students develop personally as well. They hope participants gain, “greater self-awareness, independence, adaptability, and confidence as they navigate a new environment, engage with different cultures and connect with the local community.”

From the colorful villages overlooking the Ligurian Sea to the classrooms of La Spezia, the Cinque Terre Program represents a new door for FUA’s approach to international education. By combining academics with cultural experiences, the program encourages students to explore a side of Italy that extends beyond the traditional study abroad experience.

As FUA continues to expand and build the program through new partnerships, experiential learning and the growth between the Two City Program, future students will leave with not only academic knowledge but also personal connections to Italy that will last a lifetime.