BELONG

Are you staying in Florence for a medium to long term? The Municipality of Florence, together with the Destination Florence Foundation, has developed BELONG, a project designed for the long stay of "temporary citizens" just like you!

The goal is to meet the needs of a specific type of "visitors"—those who stay longer for study purposes. As is well known, Florence is home to campuses of around 20 foreign universities, mostly American, as well as 30 schools teaching Italian as a foreign language. Users from these segments, combined with the fact that smart working is growing tremendously and offering new opportunities, are individuals looking for accommodation.

So, what is BELONG in Florence? The project takes the form of a platform that offers services to temporary citizens, such as long-term accommodation, tips on how to experience the city, and ways to integrate into the social fabric.

Who are the Belongers? They are the so-called "temporary citizens" or adopted Florentines! These are people who stay for at least three months and need services that tourists do not typically require.

What services does BELONG offer? Regarding accommodation, it successfully connects the supply of available apartments (many of which were previously part of the Airbnb circuit) with the demand from people who struggled to find housing in a market conditioned by short-term rental rates.

However, the platform also provides other information. It suggests volunteering experiences to help you integrate into Florentine society. It supplies all the practical information needed to be a temporary citizen—from practical details to discounts and advantageous offers for visiting friends or family members.

There are also benefits for property owners who decide to lease their apartments at an agreed-upon rate.

You can find all the information you might need on the Belong website.