Study Abroad in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the hub of Argentina in almost all senses. It fulfills an extremely important role as Argentina’s major port city. It is the center of the country’s cultural, economic, industrial, and political life. The population of the city proper is almost 2.8 million while the area known as Greater Buenos Aires is estimated to have a population of over 12 million.

Tango is one of the cultural treasures born in Buenos Aires. This evocative dance form began around the end of the 19th century and by 1902 the Teatro Opera had begun organizing tango balls. By the 1920s this dance form became popular in Parisian high society and spread throughout the world from there. One of the singers who helped to popularize and refine tango music was Carlos Gardel. Today, Gardel is still highly regarded, even idolized, and thousands visit his tomb every year. Many will put a lit cigarette in the hand of the life-sized statue that stands over the tomb.

In addition to its famous tango music, Argentina has also given birth to a number of famous authors. Jorge Luis Borges is probably the best-known. He is famous for his short stories and essays and also wrote poetry and criticism. Other significant writers include Adolfo Bioy Casares, Ernesto Sábato, Victoria Ocampo, and Julio Cortázar. The University of Buenos Aires is one of the most prestigious universities in South America and has produced five Nobel Prize winners.

The population of Buenos Aires is incredibly diverse. The majority of the Argentines of the city are of Spanish or Italian descent. However, there are also significant communities of people of Arab, Jewish, Armenian, Anglo-Irish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean descent. The Buenos Aires population also contains a minority of mixed Spanish-aboriginal heritage.

In many ways, the architecture of the city is far more reminiscent of Europe than much of the rest of South America. Perhaps the most famous building in the city is the Casa Rosada (Pink House), which is the official seat of the Executive Branch of the country’s government. The Casa Rosada is located downtown on the Plaza de Mayo – the city’s main square. Wandering around the square you can see many of the city’s other famous buildings including the Cabildo, which housed the city council in earlier times, the current city hall, and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

One of the most popular pastimes in Buenos Aires is football (soccer to US readers), whether people are playing or watching it. Popular teams include the Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo de Almagro, and Vélez Sarsfield. Horses are extremely popular in Argentine sports and you can find horse racing, polo, and pato. Pato is similar to basketball only on horseback and the Argentine Congress declared it Argentina’s national game in 1953. Regular basketball, tennis, rugby, and field hockey are also popular.

Buenos Aires is a diverse, multicultural center with a proud history, fascinating culture, and influential economy. Studying in this Argentine gem will provide you with excellent opportunities to immerse yourself in a new culture among people speaking a different language while exploring a complex, yet welcoming, city.

Study Abroad in Florence

The Art of Study Abroad in Florence
Michelangelo, Donatello … no we’re not talking about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-we’re talking about Florence, the capital city of the Tuscan region of Italy, where the two famous artists of the same names lived and changed the face of the art world forever (not that those heroes in half shells weren’t totally bodacious).


An Original College Town
Florence has been drawing students to its universities for centuries, thanks to the numerous well-known natives who paved the way for future artists, architects, scientists, thinkers and writers. Long ago, students flocked to the city to learn alongside and about people like the ‘non-Ninja Turtles’ above, as well as scientist Galileo, architect Filippo Brunelleschi and many more.

Today’s students find these Florentine innovators and the city just as fascinating and relevant:

Study abroad programs in Florence are popular in part because education in Italy is so well-respected
Florence is home to the European University Institute, the premier student research organization in the world
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that 60 percent of the world’s greatest artwork is located in Florence
It’s no secret that Florence is best known for its dominance in the arts. Florence study abroad programs in the arts abound and students are keeping the artistic legacy alive with their own contemporary works. Sure, it’s Paris that’s got the Louvre, but art students shouldn’t overlook all Florence has to offer:

Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, and the Oltrarno section will expose you to the city’s newest generation of artisans and craftspeople
A visit to the Uffizi Gallery, with its collection that includes works by Cimabue, da Vinci and Botticelli, cannot be missed
Check out the Accademia Gallery at the Duomo and get a look at Michelangelo’s David
The National Museum ‘Il Bargello,’ which was established in 1255, offers art students the chance to see the works of Michelangelo and Donatello, as well as Brunelleschi. Architecture students who study abroad in Florence will be especially interested in Brunelleschi, as his architecture is seen by many as just as much works of art as Michelangelo’s David or the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. In particular, students of architecture will not want to miss:

Brunelleschi’s 15th century Gallery of the ‘Hospital of the Innocents,’ which features frescoes depicting the famous Medici family
Micelozzo’s 14th century Piazza di San Marco, the Piazza della SS. Annunziata and the Convento di San Marco
Arnolfo di Cambrio’s Palazzo Vecchio, a center of Florentine politics, which was begun in 1299.
Never heard of Di Cambrio? He was the architect of the famous Italian Gothic Cathedral, the Duomo, dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, that now houses many well-known sculptures. But even if art and architecture aren’t your things, there’s tons of fields to study abroad in Florence. Take the romantic Italian language, for example. The friendly Florentine natives will be more than happy to patiently help you with your skills. In addition, humanities students may want to study in Florence, since it’s known as the city where the field was born.More Than Just Studying
When you enroll in a Florence study abroad program you’ll receive an excellent education, but you’ll also gain a unique perspective on a culture much different from your own. Florence is considered by many to be a world cultural center, so it’s hard not to trip over culture nearly everywhere you go in the small city.

And because it’s a small city, bring your walking shoes when you study abroad in Florence-there’s really no need for automatic transportation unless:

You decide to travel to one of many other famous Italian cities, such as Rome, Milan or Venice
You take advantage of being in Europe and take some side trips to other countries (the Euro Rail is your best bet)
You and your buddies decide to sign up for a tour of the famous Chianti vineyards
You’ll probably want to walk around a bit to work off all of the tasty Italian food you’re bound to binge on. Food, of course, that you’ll wash down with a little Chianti (settle down, Hannibal-Italy doesn’t serve brains with the wine). Italy is famous for its food in general, but in Florence you’ll find Italian food at its most basic and pure. Florentines love their olive oil, meat, bread and cheese, and it’s reflected in their dishes.After eating Stracotto (braised beef), Pollo alla fiorentina (Florentine chicken) and cenci (sweet fritters), you’ll be ready to hit the night scene. Florence at night will keep you busy:

Cruise the bars, restaurants and clubs around the Duomo and the Piazza S. Spirito (a major meeting place)
Check out the gorgeous night view of the city from the Piazzale Michelangleo
Catch a show at the Teatro della Pergola, well-known for great theate
Nightlife in Florence varies from section to section. If the bohemian thing is your scene, hang out in the Oltrarno section. If you want to mingle with the ‘beautiful people,’ get over to the stylish Piazza della Signoria. Regardless, ask around and you’ll find out what’s going on every night-there’s always something in this exciting, adventurous mini-metropolis!Whether you study the art of Botticelli, the literature of Dante, the Italian language or really any other field, a study abroad program in Florence will be an unforgettable experience. Of all the Italian cities, Florence is the home of the most cultural diversity.

Each year, thousands of students from around the world study abroad in Florence. Why so many international students? Well, the world famous art is certainly one major draw. But that’s only a sliver of what study abroad in Florence has to offer. How about delicious Italian cuisine, legendary architecture, pulsating nightlife and world-class education? Even if you don’t speak Italian, a study abroad program in Florence is something you should get in on. Immediately.

Study Abroad in Dublin

If you’re looking for a city of over a million people that still manages to feel like a friendly, small neighborhood, Dublin has all that and more. Today the city boasts a booming economy and status as one of the premier destinations in Europe. However, the Dubliners have never been people that let things go to their heads and they remain friendly and welcoming as well as practical and down-to-earth.

Dublin is home to University College Dublin, the largest single university institution in Ireland. Founded in 1851 as the Catholic University of Ireland, the school has a long and proud tradition and was associated with many famous people, including several celebrated literary figures such as Gerard Manley Hopkins, Austin Clarke, and James Joyce. James Joyce is probably the most famous Irish author of all time and tours of the city revolve around his novels. The best known are Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses. Tours of the city are arranged so that you can walk where the characters of Joyce walked and experience the world that inspired his writing.

As part of the University of Dublin, Trinity College stands as one of the most prestigious schools as well as one of the biggest attractions of the city. Trinity College embodies the city’s ability to combine modern functionality with historical significance and a welcoming atmosphere. It has a fascinating history as home to some amazing scholars including Edmund Burke, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Beckett, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. It is also a popular destination for those interested in The Book of Kells. The Book of Kells was completed around 800 AD by a group of Columban monks living on Iona, a remote island off the west coast of Ireland. This manuscript contains transcriptions of the four Gospels with extensive illustrations and ornamentations on almost all of its 680 pages. It is the most elaborate and best preserved of the manuscripts from the early Middle Ages and demonstrates the type of illustration and scribe work that Irish monks were famous for during that time period.

Dublin Castle is another notable attraction. The center of British power in Ireland at one point, this castle was built on the orders of King John in the 13th century and more closely resembles a palace than the Anglo-Norman fortress that once stood in its place. The Record Tower is the only remaining evidence of this Viking foundation. Dublin is also noted for several other attractions such as the Guinness Brewery, Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, the National Gallery, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and more. Phoenix Park is actually one of the biggest city parks in the world, easily outdistancing New York’s Central Park and London’s Hampstead Heath. The National Gallery is free and showcases approximately 2,000 works from all the major European schools of painting and featuring Irish landscape art and portraits.

Another aspect of the city that is attractive to many students is the energy and opportunities present with the economic boom of the past decade. European Union membership and general economic success have transformed Dublin into a multicultural center with a thriving economy. But don’t be intimidated. Dublin still remains deeply in touch with its past and decidedly Irish. You will be hard pressed to find more welcoming or laid back people anywhere else in the world.</div>