Best of Travel 2022: Lonely Planet Highlights ASA Cities Dublin & Florence
Each year, the team of 200+ travel experts at Lonely Planet sets out to highlight the places that are set to offer the world’s best travel experiences. We’re excited to share that the 2022 Top 10 Cities list includes two ASA study abroad destinations: Dublin, Ireland and Florence, Italy!
DUBLIN, IRELAND
“The real city Leopold walked around in 1922 on his Irish odyssey, with its Georgian squares, traditional pubs and warm people, is still there a century on,” Lonely Planet writes. “And its long established highlights are now complemented by new layers of community and diversity that add to the capital’s contemporary appeal.”
ASA students can study in the heart of the city at Griffith College which has the atmosphere of a small traditional campus, lots of clubs and activities and a very diverse student body. We also offer places at Maynooth University which is just outside of the city in a true college town with easy access into Dublin.
“A small capital with a huge reputation, Dublin has a mix of heritage and hedonism that will not disappoint. All you have to do is show up,” Lonely Planet writes.
It’s a famously friendly city with a legendary, lively ambiance that will offer an unforgettable travel experience.
FLORENCE, ITALY
And of Florence? “Home of the world’s finest art and architecture, Florence requires no introduction,” Lonely Planet writes. “Italy’s famously over-crowded città d’arte (art city) is no stranger to those after some dolce vita. Emptied of its visitors and income in 2020, the Tuscan capital had to rethink its future, forging an exciting new art journey in the process.”
There are many reasons this city is already so popular with ASA students! Stunning views, a walkable city center, world class art and fashion, insanely delicious food (not to mention the home of some of the best gelato we’ve ever tasted), breathtaking architecture, steeped in history, connections to the rest of Italy and Europe in general… need we go on?
ASA students study at Florence University of the Arts (and we also have new online internships available!). Classes are taught in English, except for Italian language classes and some Italian literature classes, and the program is open to all language levels.
We completely agree with Lonely Planet’s introduction to this beautiful city: “Cradle of the Renaissance, romantic, enchanting and utterly irresistible, Florence (Firenze) is a place to feast on world-class art and gourmet Tuscan cuisine.”
How are these cities chosen for the list? The entire Lonely Planet team is surveyed, there’s extensive conversation, a shortlist is created and scrutinized by a panel and then a list is finalized to share with the public. This year, the panel included Roi Ariel, General Manager of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council; Uwern Jong, Editor-in- Chief of OutThere; Tharik Hussain, an expert in Muslim culture and heritage; Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, an expert on Caribbean travel; Martin Heng, an accessible travel advocate; and Melanie Lieberman, senior editor at The Points Guy.
The other cities on the list were: Auckland, New Zealand; Taipei, Taiwan; Freiburg, Germany; Atlanta, USA; Lagos, Nigeria; Nicosia / Lefkosia, Cyprus; Mérida, Mexico; and Gyeongju, South Korea.