I Want to Go Abroad! But What City is Calling… Five Key Differences Between Two Popular Cities, Barcelona and Florence

There is no wrong answer when it comes to picking a city to spend a semester in. That being said, every person looks for different things with a study abroad program. Here are a few key differences between two common study abroad cities that may help you refine your needs for your study abroad journey.

Big City vs. Small City

Barcelona is a huge city. With tons to see and do, you really will never get bored in this place. This makes it easier to stay put on weekends as there is so much to do and see. Because it is so big however, there may never be a true amount of time for you to do everything you want to do. That means though, there is always an excuse to come back.

Florence is a rather small city. There is a very cosy feel that allows it to feel like home, however, most of the city can be done in a few days. When studying abroad in Florence, you will truly have the opportunity to know the city inside and out and still travel elsewhere. Choosing a small city will make the entire place feel like home.

Beach vs. Wine Country

Barcelona is right on the water. With beaches off the Mediterranean Sea located in the city, you can always spend a day on the sand. With a culture filled with water sports, relaxation, and artistic expression, the beach life in Barcelona is a perfect combination of what an American tourist is used to and a new change. With tons of options for boat activities, check out our website to book your ideal day on the water.

Sunset Cruise

Florence, while not by the water, is the capital of Tuscany, or the wine country of Italy. With just a short trip out of the city, you’ll be able to explore vineyards and taste beautiful Italian wines. There is a specific aesthetic that comes with a wine based area and this radiates in Florence. Wine culture is big in Italy and in Europe. You’ll be able to take part in this and experience it to the fullest extent. To take a tour of wine country, check out our website for plenty of options.

Reach out for Wine Tour!

Exploring a Continent or a Country

Barcelona, being a major European city, has easy access to travel throughout the continent. With its northern Spain location, it is a short distance from France and its airport can get you anywhere you wish. Ryanair constantly flies out of Barcelona allowing for cheap travel as well. If you want to go all throughout Europe, Barcelona gives you that ability.

Florence allows you prime transportation to anywhere in Italy. With its central location, it is just as close to Rome as it is to Venice. With the train system in Italy, you can get practically anywhere in the country through Florence. Continent travel is a bit more difficult as Florence has a smaller airport, meaning less planes go in and out everyday. It is 1000000% possible to get anywhere in Europe from Florence, but Barcelona has a bit more ease due to its size.

The Art Culture

Both these cities, as well as many other cities in Europe are very art oriented. Barcelona focuses on a more Moderisme style of art. The art is modern, innovative, and allows for creativity to shine through. A lot of the art in Barcelona is in architecture. The buildings are beautifully crafted and intricate. Tourists cannot look away. For a deeper look into Modern art in Barcelona, check out the Moco Museum.

Moco Museum

In Florence, they have a more Renaissance style of art. With statues of Gods and Goddesses and beautiful paintings from hundreds of years prior, it reflects a more traditional style of art. Museums and galleries are everywhere for tourists and locals to purchase and view beautiful traditional pieces. To see some traditional art in Florence, check out the Uffizi Galleria.

UFfizi Gallery

The Nightlife Scene

Barcelona is a lively city. It is a custom in not just Barcelona, but Spain, to go out to clubs until dawn. With an insane nightlife, there is always an experience to be had and a new club to try. The weekdays never stopped people from going out. Barcelona is truly one of the greatest cities for nightlife in the world.

Clubs/bars

Florence has a more chill night life scene. With bars and relaxed rooftops taking priority over clubs, the city is more relaxed in its nightlife scene. Being in the wine region, drinking is seen more as a bottle of wine at dinner rather than a night out in a club. That being said, there are still clubs in Florence, they just tend to be smaller venues.

Clubs/Bars

Florence and Barcelona, two of the most popular study abroad destinations, are completely different cities, yet each would provide an amazing experience for a study abroad student. With students looking for different things out of the experience, they are guaranteed to find the perfect city for them and their study abroad bucket list.

Written by: Jillian Kotin