Activities & Excursions

Orientation

Upon arrival in Italy, students attend an orientation session, during which they will get to know each other and the Program staff, and start exploring the various intriguing, ever-changing and sometimes contradictory characteristics of Italy and Italians today. Students will also discuss the host family experience and learn about the semester courses and activities that lie ahead of them.

Hands-on Learning

In many of our courses, learning is not limited to the classroom. Whenever possible, we integrate field excursions and visits to enhance comprehension and provide students with a multifaceted experience. For example, art history courses naturally include visits to museums, churches and sites of artistic relevance in Siena, Florence and other towns in the region so that students can see first-hand the masterpieces discussed in class. Students studying Italian fashion will have the opportunity to visit museums dedicated to textiles, costumes and individual Italian designers in the Florence/Prato area.

Group Excursions

Each semester program includes several excursions that are designed to give students a wide-ranging and meaningful experience of Tuscany and other regions of Italy of the sort tourists rarely have. We may walk through the Tuscan countryside from one unspoiled small town to the next, passing along ancient Roman byways and through woods where locals hunt for mushrooms and gather herbs; we may visit farms that produce wine, olive oil and pecorino cheese; we may relax in one of the region’s many natural hot springs; and experience traditional Tuscan festivals. Students also have the option of signing up for longer excursions (at an additional cost), such as a weekend trip to a fascinating, often off-the-beaten path location, such as Bologna, an ancient city that moves to contemporary rhythms and is considered by many to be the Mecca of Italian cuisine; or Padova, site of Giotto’s renowned Scrovegni Chapel; or the Maremma Tuscan coastal region. Excursions vary from semester to semester.

Solo Travel

A mid-term break gives students the chance to travel and explore Italy on their own, putting their knowledge of Italian to good use! While a multitude of interesting destinations lie within just a few hours of Siena—from centers of art history to hill towns and Mediterranean beaches—there is also the possibility to travel farther afield. Popular destinations include the Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast; the Dolomite mountains for skiing or hiking; the coast of Campania from where you can visit the lively city of Naples, the fantastic ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum; and the holiday spots of the Amalfi coast and Capri, as well as Italy’s two major islands, Sardinia and Sicily.