Back to School in Tuscany: A 2025 Guide to Dates, Traditions, and Tips

September in Tuscany marks an exciting time of year – the back to school season. After the long summer break, students of all ages prepare to return to classes amid a mix of anticipation and nostalgia for vacation. This guide explores how students in Tuscany head back to school and university each September, including the key 2025 opening dates, cultural habits and rituals, common Italian back-to-school vocabulary, differences between high school and university life, and helpful tips for international students. Let’s dive into the unique atmosphere of a new academic year in Tuscany!

Key Dates for School and University Openings in Tuscany (2025)

One of the first things families and students want to know is when classes resume. In Italy, school start dates vary by region. In Tuscany, the official first day of the 2025–2026 school year for all elementary, middle, and high schools is Monday 15 September 2025. This date, set by the regional education authorities, will see students from Florence to Siena to Pisa heading back to class after summer vacation. The school year will then run until early June 2026, with final exams (including the esame di maturità for graduating high school students) taking place in late spring.

Universities in Tuscany follow their own academic calendars, which often kick off later in September. Many university programs begin the first semester in the second half of September or early October. For example, the University of Florence scheduled its fall 2025 classes to start around 15 September 2025 for some faculties, while the University of Siena set its first semester start date at 29 September 2025. Other institutions like the University of Pisa commence in mid-late September (one department’s calendar begins on 22 September 2025). The exact dates can differ by university and even by department, so new and returning students should check their specific course schedules. Generally, by the end of September, campuses across Tuscany come back to life as lectures, labs, and orientation events get underway.

It’s worth noting that these dates are important not just for students but also for families planning the end of holidays, for teachers preparing lessons, and even for local businesses. The weeks leading up to mid-September are a flurry of activity – from back-to-school shopping to finalizing class schedules – all in preparation for that ringing of the prima campanella (the “first bell”) on opening day. Keep in mind that public schools and universities observe national holidays and regional breaks (like Christmas from late December to Epiphany in early January, and Easter week in spring), so the academic calendar is interspersed with several welcome pauses throughout the year.

Cultural Back-to-School Traditions in Tuscany

The return to school (il rientro a scuola in Italian) in Tuscany isn’t just a date on the calendar – it comes with its own cultural practices and emotions. Italian students often have a set of rituals and habits to mark the new school year. For instance, many spend the last week of summer break covering textbooks with protective paper, organizing new notebooks, and choosing the perfect outfit for the first day. It’s common to start the year with zaini (backpacks) filled with fresh supplies: crisp notebooks, a stocked astuccio (pencil case), and the latest diario (school diary) – an agenda where homework is noted, which often doubles as a personal journal or doodle pad during the year. Picking out a diary is almost a rite of passage each year, with popular diaries featuring cartoons, pop singers, or inspirational quotes.

On the primo giorno di scuola (first day of school), you’ll see some heartwarming scenes. Parents of younger children often accompany them to the school gates, snapping photos to commemorate the milestone (the first-day-of-school photo is a beloved tradition for many Italian families). Teachers and school principals might welcome students with a short speech or an assembly to greet everyone after summer. In some Tuscan schools, it’s customary for older students to “adopt” or mentor the newcomers, helping first-year students (especially in high school) get oriented – a practice that fosters a sense of community.

Students themselves have their own small rituals, often as good-luck charms or superstitions. According to one survey, about one in four students has a personal ritual for the first dayskuola.net. Some will try to sit in the exact same desk or next to the same classmate as the previous year (why mess with a lucky arrangement?). Others carry a portafortuna (lucky charm) in their backpack or wear a special piece of clothing they consider fortunateskuola.net. A popular tradition among teens is listening to a particular “back to school” pump-up song on the morning of the first day – a musical way to get motivated. And of course, in this social media age, many classes make sure to take a selfie di classe (class selfie) on day one, capturing the mix of excitement and nervousness on everyone’s facesskuola.net.

Another unique aspect of back-to-school time in Italy is the compiti delle vacanze – summer homework. Italian kids often return to class either proudly or sheepishly reporting on whether they finished their assigned readings and exercises from summer. Rushing to complete these compiti in the last days of August is practically an end-of-summer tradition (procrastinators know this all too well!). Teachers may spend part of the first week reviewing this work or testing knowledge retention, which adds a bit of academic seriousness to the return.

Culturally, September in Tuscany also means a shift in daily life rhythms. The leisurely pace of August (when many businesses close for holidays) gives way to a busier routine. You’ll notice towns and cities feeling more alive in the mornings and early afternoons with the buzz of school traffic – parents driving kids, teenagers crowding on buses, bicycles weaving through streets (especially in smaller towns or centers like Pisa with many student cyclists). Local bakeries and cafés get an uptick in morning business as students grab a quick colazione (breakfast) – maybe a cappuccino and cornetto for older teens or a fruit juice for younger ones – before the first bell rings.

While these habits are widespread in Italy, Tuscany has its own flair in some places. For example, in Siena (famous for its Palio horse race and strong neighborhood identities), some contrade communities give a special good luck wish to students of their district. And in general, Tuscan warmth and hospitality shine through as teachers and classmates reunite, often exchanging stories of what they did over the summer. The phrase on everyone’s lips is “Come sono andate le vacanze?” (“How was your vacation?”) followed by the inevitable Tuscan/Italian answer detailing experiences with family, the seaside, the countryside, or the local town festival.

(Fun fact: As of 2025, Italian schools have introduced a new rule banning smartphones during class time – so one thing students won’t be bringing out in class this September are their phoneswantedinrome.com. Instead, more focus is on notebooks and face-to-face interaction, just like the old days!)

Italian Vocabulary for “Back to School”

When talking about the back-to-school period in Tuscany (and Italy in general), you’ll encounter many specific terms and expressions. Learning these can be helpful, especially for international students or anyone interested in Italian culture. Here are some common Italian expressions related to returning to classes, along with their meanings:

• Rientro a scuola – Literally “return to school,” this phrase refers to the whole back-to-school period or the act of going back to school after a break. You’ll see headlines like Rientro a scuola 2025 in newspapers discussing the new academic year.
• Tornare sui banchi di scuola – An idiomatic expression meaning “to return to the school desks.” It’s used just like “go back to school,” often in a nostalgic or descriptive sense. (E.g. Lunedì si torna sui banchi di scuola – “On Monday we return to school desks.”)
• Prima campanella – “First bell.” Italian schools typically start the day with a bell; this phrase symbolizes the start of the school year (the first bell of the first day). You might hear alla prima campanella tutti in classe – “at the first bell, everyone (must be) in class.”
• Zaino in spalla – “Backpack on shoulder.” A colloquial way to talk about going back to school is to say students are ready with lo zaino in spalla, implying they’re packed up and heading to class.
• Diario scolastico – The school diary or planner. The diario is a staple for Italian students; it’s where homework is written and is often full of stickers, doodles, and notes from friends. The start of the year means picking a new diary (popular brands have different themes each year).
• Compiti (delle vacanze) – Homework (specifically “of the holidays” in this context). As mentioned, many students have compiti delle vacanze to hand in, which can include book reports, worksheets, or essays completed during summer vacation.
• Buon anno scolastico! – “Have a good school year!” It’s a common well-wishing phrase from teachers, parents, or officials at the start of the year. You might also hear buon rientro (“happy return”) in a more general sense of coming back to work or school.

Learning these phrases not only expands your Italian vocabulary but also gives insight into the school culture. For instance, knowing that tornare sui banchi di scuola literally invokes the image of the school bench/desk shows how ingrained the physical classroom setting is in the concept of returning to school. If you’re an international student or parent, dropping a phrase like buon anno scolastico at the right moment will surely earn you a smile!

High School vs University: Differences in Tuscany

Education in Italy is broadly divided into high school (scuola superiore, typically ages 14–19) and university (università). In Tuscany, as in the rest of Italy, there are notable differences between the high school experience and the university experience. Understanding these differences can help students transition more smoothly from one to the other.

Structure and Environment: Italian high schools are quite structured. Students attend Monday through Saturday in many cases (yes, half-day school on Saturdays is still common, though some institutes have moved to a five-day week). They stay with the same class group (classe) in the same classroom for most subjects, with teachers moving between rooms. The schedule is decided for them, usually with 5–6 hours of lessons per day starting around 8 AM. In contrast, university life is much more flexible and autonomous. At university, especially in large Tuscan universities like Florence or Pisa, students often have to organize their own schedule – picking which lectures to attend (some may overlap, and attendance might not be mandatory in all courses). Classes might be spread out in different buildings across the city, and there can be long breaks or free days depending on one’s timetable. The feeling of campus life is different too: a liceo (high school) might have a few hundred students who all know each other in one building, whereas a university department can have thousands of students with large lecture halls where the professor might not know everyone’s name.

Curriculum and Focus: High school students in Tuscany choose different types of schools that determine their curriculum. The main types are liceo, istituto tecnico, and istituto professionale. A liceo (lyceum) provides a mostly theoretical, academic education with specialization in fields like classical studies, science, languages, arts, etc. An istituto tecnico (technical institute) combines solid theoretical lessons with technical/practical subjects (e.g. economics, technology, tourism) and often includes internships during the final years. An istituto professionale (professional/vocational institute) is more hands-on, oriented towards trades or practical skills (agriculture, culinary arts, mechanics, etc.), and some offer a shorter 3-year diploma option. Despite these differences, all high school paths in Italy traditionally last 5 years and conclude with the esame di maturità (state exam), which is required to graduate and qualifies the student for university studies.

University programs, on the other hand, are specialized by faculty and field from the start. Once you enroll in a degree (e.g. Economics, History, Engineering, Medicine), your courses will all be related to that field, and you won’t be studying unrelated subjects like you did in high school. This is a big change for many – for example, a student from a Liceo Scientifico who studied math, physics, literature, philosophy, and Latin in high school may suddenly find at university they are only doing, say, Engineering courses with lots of math and physics and no humanities at all (unless they choose electives). The depth of study in one field increases, and students are expected to take more initiative in learning (attending lectures, doing labs or research, studying lecture notes) without the daily oversight that high school teachers provide.

Teaching and Evaluation: In high school, teachers (professori, often called prof by students) tend to monitor progress continuously. Italian high schools traditionally use oral interrogations – the teacher calls on students to the front to answer questions on the spot about the recent material – in addition to written tests. There are many graded assignments throughout each term, and a report card every quarter or semester with evaluations in each subject. At university, the evaluation system is usually very different. Most university courses culminate in a single esame (exam), which can be written, oral, or both. Instead of continuous grading, your entire performance might boil down to that exam. Moreover, exams are taken in specific exam sessions (sessioni d’esame), and students often have the option to choose which date (or appello) to sit the exam. There’s a grading scale out of 30 at university (with 18 as the passing grade and 30 e lode as the highest honor), unlike the 0–10 scale in high school. The freedom is greater – you can even decide to skip an exam attempt and try in a later session if you’re not prepared – but so is the responsibility to study consistently on your own. Many newcomers are surprised at how much independent study is required; professors won’t check homework regularly or chase you if you don’t study – it’s up to you to keep up with the coursework and seek help if needed.

Lifestyle and Social Life: High school life in Tuscany often means living at home with family, with a daily routine centered around school and afternoon homework (or afternoon technical labs for some institutes). Friends are usually classmates or neighborhood peers. Extracurricular activities like sports or music happen, but they are separate from school (Italian high schools don’t typically have the same organized sports teams or clubs as in some other countries – those are done through community teams). University life, especially in cities like Florence, Pisa, or Siena, introduces a new social dimension. Many students in Tuscany’s universities come from other towns or regions, meaning they live away from home (studenti fuori sede). Renting an apartment with other students, living in a dorm, or a student residence becomes a formative experience. The social life expands: there are student organizations, Erasmus/international student meetups, library study groups, and of course the quintessential Italian student tradition – the evening aperitivo. It’s common for university friends to gather for an aperitivo (happy hour) in a local bar or café, enjoying snacks and drinks while unwinding after classes. University cities have vibrant nightlife on certain days (in Pisa, for example, Thursday night is famous for student parties in the street of the city center). This level of freedom and social exploration is quite different from the structured life of high schoolers who had to be home for dinner with la famiglia.

Relationships and Communication: In high school, the relationship with teachers is close-knit over five years. Teachers know each student’s strengths and weaknesses; there’s also a formal respect (students use “Lei” form and Professore/Professoressa to address teachers). At university, the relationship with professors is more formal and distant by default. You might attend lectures in halls of 100+ people. It’s on the student to approach the professor during office hours if they have questions. Interestingly, Italian university professors are still often addressed as Professore or Professoressa (or Dottore for those with PhDs in some cases), and usually formally (Lei). But they will not chase you about assignments – if anything, you must email them or go see them if you need clarification. Adjusting to being more self-directed can be a challenge for first-year uni students. On the flip side, university brings the chance to meet a more diverse group of peers – not just those from your hometown or region, but people from all over Italy and the world (especially in international programs). This diversity enriches discussions and broadens horizons, complementing the academic learning with cultural exchange.

In summary, while high school in Tuscany provides a structured, broad education within a tight-knit community, university offers specialized knowledge in an environment of greater freedom and personal responsibility. Each has its joys and challenges: many look back fondly on the camaraderie of high school years, and equally cherish the growth and independence of university life. Understanding these differences helps students navigate the transition – knowing, for instance, that at university you won’t have six classes a day but rather a few long lectures, or that you won’t have a teacher checking your homework but you’ll have to prep for a big exam – can set the right expectations from the start.

Tips for International Students in Tuscany at the Start of the Academic Year

Tuscany, with its world-renowned universities and rich culture, is a fantastic place to study abroad. If you’re an international student (whether an exchange student, Erasmus participant, or pursuing a full degree) gearing up for the new academic year in Tuscany, here are some friendly tips to help you hit the ground running in September:

• Get Familiar with the Academic System: Take time to understand how the Italian academic system works. For example, know that an “esame orale” is an oral exam, often one-on-one with the professor, and that there are specific exam sessions called appelli. Italian universities might not have continuous assessment like you’re used to – usually, there’s just a midterm and/or final. Read your course syllabus (programma del corso) carefully and note when and how you’ll be evaluated. If the concept of a mostly oral final exam is intimidating, consider attending any study sessions or asking Italian classmates to practice with you. They’ve been doing oral exams since high school and can share their strategies.
• Improve Your Italian (and Embrace the Local Language): While many degree programs in Tuscany offer courses in English – especially at the postgraduate level or in certain fields – day-to-day life and administrative matters will be much smoother with some Italian. Learn key academic terms like matricola (freshman/new student), facoltà (faculty or department), lezione (lecture/class), esame (exam), libretto (grade record, often now online, but the term is used for your set of grades), and tirocinio (internship). Don’t hesitate to attend the Italian language courses often offered to international students at the start of the year. And outside class, practice Italian when grabbing your coffee or shopping at the market – Tuscans are generally friendly and will appreciate your effort to speak their language, even if just basic phrases at first.
• Plan for Accommodation Early: September is a busy month for student housing. If you haven’t arranged housing yet, make it a priority. University residence spots may be limited, so many students rent rooms in shared apartments. Cities like Florence and Pisa have plenty of options, but also lots of demand. Use university housing boards, Facebook groups, and student networks to find a place. It’s common in Italy to meet the landlord (proprietario) or current roommates before finalizing – sometimes even via a quick interview. Don’t be discouraged; this is just to ensure a good match. If you’re already in Tuscany, consider checking bulletin boards at your department or local cafés – there are often annunci (ads) for rooms for rent. And be wary of scams if searching online from abroad – never wire money without confirming the listing. Ideally, arrive a bit early to house-hunt in person or secure temporary lodging until you find a longer-term room.
• Connect with Orientation and Student Groups: Most Tuscan universities host orientation events or welcome days for international students. For example, the University of Siena and University of Florence have offices for international relations that might organize a welcome aperitivo or campus tour. Attend these! They are great opportunities to meet fellow international students as well as helpful staff. Additionally, look for local chapters of organizations like ESN (Erasmus Student Network) or other international student associations. In Florence, for instance, there are often meetup events for international students to get to know each other and the city. These groups can help you navigate bureaucratic things too, like getting your codice fiscale (tax code, which you’ll need for things like signing a rental contract or even getting a SIM card) and residence permit if required.
• Embrace the Tuscan Lifestyle (but Balance Study and Fun): Tuscany is rich in history, art, and natural beauty – take advantage of it during your stay! On weekends or free days, explore beyond your campus: visit nearby Tuscan towns (Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano, and Arezzo are all gems within easy reach). Enjoy local cuisine – you’ll quickly learn that a pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) or a gelato can be a student’s best friend on a budget. However, also establish a good study routine early. The semester will fly by and exams come up quickly, so keep up with coursework even as you enjoy la dolce vita. Many international students note that Italian universities require a lot of self-study; consider forming a study group with classmates to stay on track (and it’s a nice way to make Italian friends!). Libraries and study rooms (called sale studio or biblioteche) in Tuscany can be great places to focus – and they also often become social hubs where students gather.
• Understand Administrative Essentials: University enrollment in Italy can involve some paperwork. Ensure you’ve completed all needed enrollment steps (like providing your diploma, visa documents if applicable, health insurance, etc.). If you haven’t done so, register with the local health authority for healthcare access (EU students can use an EHIC card, non-EU might need to sign up for the national health service or have private insurance). For any bureaucratic procedures, don’t hesitate to ask the International Office or even a helpful Italian classmate – people are generally willing to assist if you’re polite. Also, get student discount cards (like the university student card or ISIC) – these can give discounts on museums, transportation, and more. In Tuscany, showing a student ID might even score you reduced tickets to cultural sites and events, which is a nice perk of being a student in an area with so much to see.
• Prepare for the Academic Year Rhythm: In Tuscany, the academic year often has two semesters (starting roughly Sept/Oct and Feb/March). September is a time of excitement and adjustment. Lectures usually begin promptly (Italian professors may be a few minutes late occasionally, but generally expect you to be on time). You might notice some differences, like lectures sometimes going on without break for an hour and a half or more. Don’t be shy to politely ask a professor if you didn’t catch something – they know some students aren’t native Italian speakers and many will clarify if you ask. Another tip: familiarize yourself with the university’s online portal (many use systems to post lecture slides or announcements) and how to sign up for exams online. These platforms might not always be in English, so use translation tools or friends’ help to navigate them.

Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. Every year, many international students arrive in Tuscany feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Give yourself time to adjust to the Italian way of doing things – whether it’s the more relaxed approach to scheduling or the concept of dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) that is part of the culture. You’ll soon find your favorite study spot, your go-to café, and a circle of friends. Tuscany is an incredibly welcoming place, full of cultural richness that complements academic growth. By starting the year informed and open-minded, you’re setting yourself up for a rewarding experience. Buon inizio e buon anno scolastico – have a great start and a wonderful academic year in Tuscany!

References:

• Regione Toscana – Calendario Scolastico 2025/2026
• Università di Firenze – Academic Calendar
• Università di Siena – Calendario Didattico
• Università di Pisa – Calendario Didattico
• Expat Guide: Italy School Calendar 2025-2026
• Welcomm Europe – Italian School System
• Study in Italy – Official Guide
• Continents – Tuscan Universities Overview