Housing and Dining in Prato

Housing in Prato comes in many shapes and sizes and will be very different from what you are used to in the U.S. There is a wide variety of locations, room sizes, facilities, and services. This is because our program is located in a real, historical town center. A core value of studying abroad is also the opportunity to learn how to adapt to the differences of other cultures, places and environments. Some housing is provided by the University’s residence halls that are managed directly by university staff and resident assistants. Some housing is provided instead by hotel-style residences that are owned and managed by local people. The University of New Haven code of conduct strictly applies to all establishments.

Residential Options

Each residence is equipped with WiFi internet access, closets/wardrobes, and bathrooms. Weekly or bi-weekly cleaning services are provided. Not all the residences are equipped with air conditioning, fans, or elevators. Special housing requests should be submitted through the Accessibility Resources Center (ARC) on main campus during the application process.

Bedsheets, pillows, pillowcases, and towels are provided. Meals are not provided at any of these housing locations, though students may use the basic kitchen facilities to make their own meal. Please see the meal plan section for more information about eating out.

All our Student Housing facilities are conveniently located within a maximum of 12 minutes easy walking distance to the Tuscany Campus, and within easy reach of the city’s Porta al Serraglio railway station, to the Prato branch of the University of Florence, to Monash University, and to Prato city library, and are all very near to many stores and services, as well as many restaurants and a supermarket on our meal plan.

The San Francesco Residence Hall is located next door to the main campus building and is managed directly by the Tuscany campus. In San Francesco there are 14 bedrooms (double, triple, and quadruple) spread over three floors. Bedsheets, pillows, pillowcases, and towels are provided by the university. Each bedroom has a private bathroom, only some of which are en suite, and there is a small kitchen (microwave, fridge, water boiler and toaster) on each floor. There is also a lounge and a study room with two tables. This residence has an elevator for students with limited mobility recognized by the Accessibility Resources Center.

The laundry area is equipped with washing machines and a dryer, for which students are supplied with tokens. The cleaning provided is just for the common areas, so students are expected to clean their bedrooms themselves, and wash their bedsheets and towels themselves. The facility is 8-minute walk from Prato Porta al Serraglio railway station.

The Annex Suite is located on the ground floor of our campus building and contains a triple and a quadruple bedroom. This residence has two non en suite bathrooms and a kitchen.

Managed directly by the Prato Tuscany Campus, the Rinaldesca Suite is located on the second floor of a historic building in Via Rinaldesca, directly opposite the campus in piazza San Francesco. There are four bedrooms, all quadruple, plus kitchen, lounge, a washing and drying machine and three bathrooms. Bedsheets, pillows, pillowcases, and towels are provided by the university. The kitchen contains a microwave, fridge, water boiler and toaster. There is a large table in the kitchen which is useful for study.

The cleaning provided is just for the common areas, while students are expected to clean their own bedrooms and wash their own bedsheets and towels. There is no elevator. The facility is 8-minute walk from Prato Porta al Serraglio railway station.

Via Roma is family-run guesthouse located just outside the medieval walls of the city at the end of via Santa Trinita, just a 5-minute walk from the campus and 14-minute walk from Prato Porta al Serraglio railway station. Via Roma is equipped with three floors of double and triple bedrooms, each one with a private living area/kitchen, air-conditioning in the summer and a common laundry area with a washer. Bedsheets, pillows, pillowcases, and towels are provided. Via Roma staff provides cleaning and linen change once a week. We have exclusive use of the Via Roma Guesthouse, and non-guests are not permitted entry to the guesthouse and cannot gain access without being buzzed in.

Il Giglio is a traditional hotel run by the same family that manages Via Roma Guest House and is just a 6-minute walk from the campus and 12-minute walk from Prato Porta al Serraglio railway station. Il Giglio is equipped with two floors of double and triple bedrooms with air-conditioning in the summer, kitchen facilities in a spacious common area, a washing machine, and a dryer. There is also a lounge area, and a room with tables for quiet study. Bedsheets, pillows, pillowcases, and towels are provided. Cleaning and linen change are provided by Giglio staff once a week. We have exclusive use of the Giglio hotel, and so it is occupied only by our students.

Residence Manassei is located inside a historic 13th-century building that is just a five-minute walk from campus. This residence contains apartments with triple bedrooms. Each apartment contains a kitchen unit and an en suite bathroom.

Centrally located just a 6-minute walk from the campus and 12-minute walk from Prato Porta al Serraglio railway station, San Marco residence offers triple and quadruple rooms all with a private bathroom, TV and air-conditioning in the summer. Bedsheets, pillows, pillowcases, and towels are provided. The facility is equipped with a washing machine and a common kitchen. Facility staff provides cleaning and linen change once a week. The residence is located next to the hotel San Marco, which has a reception open 24/7. We have exclusive use of the San Marco Residence, and so it is occupied only by our students.

Hotel Giardino is a popular, family-run hotel located in the historic Piazza del Duomo, in Prato. It is a 2-minute walk to Prato Porta al Serraglio railway station and 6-minute walk from our campus in Piazza San Francesco through the busy main squares and streets of the city. We have exclusive use of the Giardino hotel, and so it is occupied only by our students. One of the hotel Giardino owners, and a porter appointed by them, is always present in the reception area near the front door. There is also a lounge area in the lobby and a large room with tables for quiet study.

Bedsheets, pillows, pillowcases, and towels are provided. Residents of Giardino benefit from weekly room and bathroom cleaning, weekly linen change, constant management presence, a large common room, an elevator, TV, air-conditioning in the summer and fridges in the rooms. Laundry services for personal items are not included, but students can take their clothes to a laundromat situated 2- minutes’ walk from the hotel (students receive an allowance for a weekly wash).

Meal Plan

One of the best things about Italy is the food! To make eating out simple and convenient for students, the University of New Haven's Tuscany Campus runs a prepaid meal voucher system that operates in both Prato and Florence. At Orientation in Prato, you will be provided with a set of meal vouchers which can be exchanged for meals at several city center cafes and restaurants for the duration of the semester. Some restaurants can provide options for students with special dietary requirements.

A major part of any experience abroad here is exploring the options, and our meal plan has been designed to let you sample a wide variety of dishes in family-run restaurants and cafes located throughout the city center. You will discover that food and eating in Italy is different! For example, breakfast in local cafes is a pastry or a sandwich with a coffee or a tea. With some exceptions (such as kebab and Chinese) the restaurants on the meal plan serve typical Italian food like pasta and pizza for lunch and dinner, and don't open for dinner until 7.30pm. Getting used to these differences and adjusting to them, is also part of the experience of education abroad.

• Sample of Local Eateries where you can use your Meal Vouchers

  Name	Description
  Ali Hamza Kebab	This small and super friendly place on via Santa Trinita serves great falafel and kebabs all day long. Ali is a firm favorite of many students!
  Bar San Francesco	This café is located in the heart of the Santa Trinita area. After your breakfast or lunch, you can people watch on the terrace next to the lively street.
  Bartat	This local café in the same building as the nearby Monash University program is a cool spot for breakfast and lunch.
  Bar 4S	This characteristic café is nestled between the city library and our very own Art Studio. The owner Carolina has a big smile for everyone!
  Bon Per Te	This original place offers a range of scrumptious snacks, fried food and pancakes, and is located right by Porta al Serraglio train station.
  Brunch One	Opened in 1986 this legendary diner offers a wide range of pizzas and burgers.
  Buonamici Caffe	Like many in the center of Prato this café has some outdoor seating. It’s ideal for breakfast and lunch as it is located in the city’s main square opposite the City hall and the historic Palazzo Pretorio.
  Caffetteria del Centro	Directly opposite campus, this friendly place is a popular spot for students, locals and office workers alike.
  Chiaroscuro	This café offers a wide range of coffee, teas, home-made cookies, as well as fruit and veggie drinks.
  Chocolat	This cafe is conveniently located in front of Porta al Serraglio train station on via Magnolfi. Perfect for breakfast and lunch (and they do great chocolate too!).
  CiGarba	CiGarba ("We Like It" in Tuscan slang) is a mix between a pizzeria and a hamburger bar. They are also famous for their grilled meat. It is located between the Castle Square and Piazza San Marco.
  Crazy Pizza	This very popular pizza restaurant on via Serraglio near the station also offers takeout pizza.
  Francescaioli	A family-run restaurant in Piazza San Francesco directly under the campus serving traditional trattoria-style dishes and pizza. Many tables available outside in the attractive piazza San Francesco.
  Frieday	Classic Belgian fries with a wide range of sauces, but also panini, fried seafood and even Nutella sandwiches!
  Gelatiamo	Local favorite Aldino serves delicious Italian gelato and pancakes in this store located close to the cathedral.
  GI Doc	Family-run atmospheric restaurant serving a range of typical Tuscan meat and pasta dishes. Be sure not to miss the unusual wine cellar that doubles as a special dining room for two!
  La Cova - Prato	Tapas bar with a typical southern European atmosphere. It opened in the spring of 2015 and is already famous around the city!
  La Bottega Supermarket	This small neighborhood supermarket offers all the essentials for home cooking, snacks, vegetables and fruit. Located in the picturesque piazza Sant'Agostino in the city center. Students can use their vouchers here.
  Mokha	Always one of the most popular places on the plan, Francesco and Domenico serve Mediterranean cuisine and pizza in a chic, sophisticated atmosphere.
  Pizland	This authentic pizzeria serves tasty pizza in keeping with the tradition of Naples, the city where pizza was born. Gerardo and his family are great fun too!
  Pizzeria del Masini	Marco Masini’s unusual pizzas are characterized by his quest for quality, using only locally grown, authentic and healthy ingredients. He also offers vegetarian and vegan pizza.
  Ravioli di Cristina	We couldn’t NOT have a Chinese restaurant on the meal plan given that there are many Chinese immigrants living in Prato. Federico welcomes our students for lunch, dinner or takeaway.
  Da Saporé	Slices of great Neapolitan pizza to eat in or takeaway.
  Siamo alla Frutta	You can use your vouchers at this store to get delicious locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables.
  Buca Niccolini - FLORENCE	This cozy restaurant is conveniently located near Florence’s cathedral and offers a variety of traditional Italian dishes as well as pizzas and big salads. Very convenient for when you want to spend a day in Florence.
  La Cova - FLORENCE	Tapas bar in Florence located near the imposing Palazzo Pitti. Very convenient for when you want to spend a day in Florence.

For questions specific to the Tuscany Study Abroad program, please see our Tuscany Campus FAQ.

General FAQ