In the interest of full disclosure, I've taught here on and off since 1990 and know the director as…read morea friend. This is a very different and interesting learning environment. It started as a noncredit workshop for printmaking and over the years has grown to include painting, fashion, design and photography (my field). Classes in the summer usually run a month and there are options for language classes as well. Most of the students are Americans but the staff is mostly Italians and are top notch. The people who run the place are excellent and a great resource to help you make the most of your time in Florence. My university sub-contracts space from SRISA and its an excellent facility as well as having an on site gallery. If your interested in a summer, spring or fall class in the visual arts, this is a terrific place to start looking.

From the owner: Over the past 45 years, Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA) has become one of the…read moretop art and design schools in Italy. SRISA offers accredited programs of study including academic year, semester, and summer study abroad; Post-Baccalaureate Certificates; and internships. Courses are taught in the English language. Additionally, SRISA hosts a multitude of Faculty-Led and Customized programs throughout the year.

I want you to know that I almost never write reviews but felt an obligation to protect others here…read more This school was the place that we chose to make a huge investment of time and money, studying cooking with them for a whole month. What we did not know was that the school had been purchased by a Japanese company and was run very poorly. Friends who stayed in the suggested housing got it worst- commutes of more than an hour to class (triple the maximum promised on the site), showers that were unsanitary with crumbling stucco, apartments beside construction and noise where no one could sleep. And no refunds for any of these issues nor were solutions found quickly. We loved our teacher as a person but: We are all displeased in this class where: We do not have individual stations so there is not enough work to go around. Much of the day we just sit and watch. We cooked in a toaster oven and therefore can't broil, grill, roast or bake anything significant. The pastry and desserts are far too simple for any of the students to learn anything new- far less complex than on posted sample menus. We then toured other local programs with beautiful professional equipment and environments for significantly less than the price we paid. At these programs, all students have individual stations and build skills instead of watching one person take turns doing tasks. They also provide recipes for all dishes cooked instead of asking us to type every afternoon. I suggest you look elsewhere.

The shoemaking teacher Mr. Angelo was really amazing. We studied in a small group so I could ask…read moreseveral questions to the teacher. Furthermore, the school is located in an excellent location near the Duomo of Florence. Although the course was not really cheap, I would highly recommend this class if you have an interest in learning the traditional Italian shoemaking process. Totally worth it!!!

I met Alessandro, one of the owners, for other reasons than photography, so I got to appreciate his…read morepositive energy and excellent company before I could see the work that they do. Then I came to see the studio, beautiful and full of interesting bits of technology. They even do drone services, meaning that Pixelsquare is not the classic "point and shoot" photography company. The work that they do is really great. Courses are also good, my GF took part to their classes and was very happy with the outcome on the top of spending a lot of good time she learnt a lot from them.

I was fortunate to attend an Yelp event where we got a little lesson on smartphone photography. We…read morereally had a lot of fun thanks to our guides from Pixelsquare. They were professional and a lot of fun. We learned a few basic photo techniques and were introduced to a new photo app. We spent some time outside then came back to their studio where I found out that they offer photo workshops and video workshops there at the studio and abroad. I think their prices are pretty reasonable and after watching some of their promo videos it looks like they have a lot of fun too. Highly recommended !

Don't go there please! Learn from the real ex-student that dropped out on time. You will waste…read moreyour time and money, The master in graphic design program costs 18000 euros and it's definitely not worth the price. I ended up in a hospital because business administration didn't want to give me the correct documents based on the actual schedule students get when the school starts - the actual classes lasts 6,5 months - not 11 months as advertised which was upsetting, Once you pay for the classes, the business administration will start making your life miserable as a student and won't answer any of your questions / concerns. Professor didn't show up for a lesson after 30 minutes and business staff laughed about students waiting. The worst private university on the planet.

Was there for a One Year course in Fashion marketing and Communication, everything went really…read morewell, professor are very skilled and staff is really friendly. I found a job after that and I would go back to IED tomorrow if I could

I agree with Beatrice above me, I went to SACI for a term while abroad and was promised a…read moreprofessional art school. Unfortunately, most students there merely took art as an elective a few times- with some exceptions. The teachers WERE great but the amount you paid vs what you got was not worth it. Not to mention since there was no food meal plan- and you're in a VERY expensive city- the amount they told you you would need for food everyday wasn't even close. The studio closes at like 7 I believe- so if you thought maybe you could work there on your art despite the fact that they gave you your own studio space in some classes- nope. Lorenzo is awesome though. If all classes were like his I wouldn't even complain.

SACI offers undergrad and master's degrees. It is notable for its location in Florence. In fact,…read morejust as a tourist, by doing your research, you can gain access to many of the same private collections, spaces and exhibits that you would if you had paid an exorbitant tuition. The facility is rather small and dingy just like any other art school, with classrooms so close to each other that noise is often an issue. There is a rather lackluster and empty student gallery despite the facility being in a relatively well-designed building. The library is considered the crown jewel containing many art publications which the faculty expect you to use rather than depending on their knowledge. They will also expect you to be fluent in Italian, while boasting a rather poor grasp of the English language. /edited to stay within Yelp guidelines

My daughter has been taking Isabelle's art class now for 18 months and she loves it! We feel this…read moreis such an incredible opportunity for her to learn fine art in the city of art! Thank you isabelle!

From the owner: Corsi di disegno e pittura per bambini e adultiread more

The Accademia Gallery in Florence offers a focused, more intimate, and ultimately defined by a…read moresingle, overwhelming masterpiece, Michelangelo's David. Founded in the late 18th century as a teaching collection, it evolved into one of Italy's most important art institutions You slowly move through the gallery of Renaissance paintings and plaster models. You curiosity begins to build as you anticipate viewing this famous David. Quite impressive...the statue's size, precision details, and sculpture expertise lives you in awe. The Accademia's smaller size allows for a more intimate experience. It highlights Michelangelo's works as well as adding meaningful context.

You cannot visit Florence without visiting Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David…read more Though I had a tour guide, I felt like the pace was too slow. It's a great museum, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather beat the crowds to see David, and then take my time strolling through all the other works of art. Seeing 17' of David in person is unreal-- a human made this out of rejected marble. The magnitude of David's height and attention to detail is incredible and the lighting under a skylight highlights every vein and definition of muscle even more so. If you're looking for a deep dive art history lesson, I'd recommend using AI. Note: try to book skip-the-line tickets in advance. If you're unable to, you can try to book through a third party booking system such as Viator, but you'll be paying more.