African-American Traveling to Florence, Italy

There are plenty of black people in Italy, nobody will care. Now if you were a gypsy, it'd be a different story...

One of my good friends who is black is studying here with me in Tuscany currently. He has been called "chocolate" and "Tupac" by Italian people walking by, but has not encountered any hate or discrimination. It can be strange at times, but not threatening at all. I am excited for you that you are an artist and get to visit Florence! It is a nice city with a lot of art for you to see. Since you say you are open and personable, you should be fine!

Just for the heck of it, here's an excerpt from Mark Twain's book "The Innocents Abroad" (1869) that shows that Europe was often in the past a much better place for black folks to be than the U.S.: "The guide I have spoken of is the only one we have had yet who knew any thing. He was born in South Carolina, of slave parents. They came to Venice while he was an infant. He has grown up here. He is well educated. He reads, writes, and speaks English, Italian, Spanish, and French, with perfect facility; is a worshipper of art and thoroughly conversant with it; knows the history of Venice by heart and never tires of talking of her illustrious career. He dresses better than any of us, I think, and is daintily polite. Negroes are deemed as good as white people, in Venice, and so this man feels no desire to go back to his native land. His judgment is correct."

Thanks for the responses. Okay, another question is is it safe to go out at night to a restaurant, bar, or club alone or not too smart? Might I meet a few people while there to tag along with for something like that? I am staying at a hotel close to the heart of town.

Florence is quite safe at all hours. Your problem with Florence nightlife may be that it's pretty low key. Staying at a hostel would be a good way to meet other young people to go out with. Otherwise, you can just ask around about what the hotspots are and dive in.

You should be relieved to know that the Jersey Shore folks left months ago.

Sorry,, |I don't care where you go,, being "not too smart" is never safe.
If you go out to bars don't get really drunk and wander down dark lanes alone at night,, and that would be advice i would give someone visiting my small Canadian city. Always keep your wits about you, especially alone.

Florence is the #1 city in the world for American university students studying abroad so there's a good chance you'll meet plenty of them in the clubs, bars, and everywhere else. I recall one night out there a few years ago where we met several Americans but not a single Italian.

I don't drink much. Maybe one glass of wine a week. I'd just like to meet some local people and see how that is and take it all in. I try and be careful wherever I am.