As winter break approaches and juniors around the country start to leave for a semester abroad, I can't help but be insanely jealous. This time last year, I was getting ready to spend the greatest semester of my life studying abroad in Florence, Italy. There isn't much I wouldn't do to be able to spend another semester in Florence. However, since this is not possible, here are the five things I miss the most about Florence.

1. The Food

I can barely put into words how incredible the food in Italy is. The pizza. The pasta. The gelato. The sandwiches. The cheese. I am getting hungry just thinking about it.

2. Traveling

One of the greatest things about studying abroad in Europe is how easy it is to travel. Almost every weekend I would hop on a train or plane and fly to another city or country for the weekend. I am so grateful for all of the incredible places I was able to see, but nothing was better than returning to my favorite city at the end of the weekend.

3. The Wine

Italian wine is made without any preservatives or all of the extra sugar. Because of this, you can drink large amounts of wine without experiencing the hangovers we are accustomed to in the U.S. Also, because everything is homemade, you can order the house wines in restaurants and still have an incredible wine at a much lower cost.

4. The History

Just by walking to class everyday, I was able to see several extraordinary buildings and artworks that make Florence the incredibly historic city it is.

5. The Views

Walking up 500 steps to the top of the Duomo is totally worth it when you get to see the view at the top. If those steps didn't kill you, climb the steps up to Piazzale Michelangelo for an incredible view of the city while you sip some great wine.

Florence, you will always have my heart!