Description

The Center for Italian Studies Babilonia in Taormina, Sicily passionately dedicates itself to the study of the Italian language and culture.

Our new Center is an ideal place to host independent students, as well as faculty led groups, from numerous U.S. Italian departments and Study Abroad programs. Have an on-line tour by clicking here. Our uniquely international student population and unique historical and artistic surroundings provide an ideal environment for learning.

Attached are flyers which feature the 2011 Semester, January and Summer programs (including our cinema course in conjunction with the 56th Annual Taormina International Film Fest). Students earn academic credits for study either by directly transferring credit or by earning credits through Auburn University, our affiliated U.S. university.

The Center for Italian Studies Babilonia and its U.S. partner Auburn University are pleased to announce that - in addition to Babilonia's established Undergraduate courses - Graduate courses are now being offered in Summer, Semester and January Term Programs.

Our U.S. based Academic Advisor assists faculty in developing faculty-led programs and works with independent students to facilitate enrollment and orientation

We look forward to welcoming you and your students to Taormina to experience the warmth of Sicilian hospitality and the region's rich historical, literary and artistic culture.

Highlights

Our Italian language courses can be the beginning of an unforgettable journey in Sicily. From Taormina, it is very easy to get to Syracuse, volcano Mount Etna, the Eolian Islands, Catania, Piazza Armerina and Noto. And traveling a little bit further to Palermo, Selinunte, Segesta, Agrigento, Erice. And many more are the treasures of Sicily.

Do you already know our town, Taormina and our island, Sicily?

Taormina has very ancient origins: in its Bay of Naxos, in 735 B.C., the first Greek colonizers landed and founded their first colony (Naxos) which was later to become the Magna Grecia. After them, whoever ruled over the Mediterranean Sea left their 'footprints' on this wonderful island. Would you like to know Taormina a little bit better' Click on Taormina and have a look at our photo album and if you have time, go for a virtual walk in town among its monuments, its history and its beaches.

Taormina can also be the basis for a trip in Sicily to discover the roots of the Sicily's culture and traditions. As W. J. Goethe wrote in 1786: "Without Sicily, Italy cannot be fully understood. It is here one finds the key to all things. Sicily has been at the centre of the Mediterranean See and therefore of the European interests, for more than 2.000 years, until the 'discovery' of the New World.

At the time of Dante Alighieri there was already a discussion among academics about which should be the national Italian language: that of the writers and poets of the courts of Frederick II or that of the court of the Medici in Florence. Then the divine Comedy was written and this put an end to the discussion. But it is in Sicily that the national theatre has its origins, with the tragedies written by Eschilo, Euripide, Aristofane. It is here that the genius of Archimedes anticipated the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. And it was the culture of the Magna Grecia that fed the Etruscan civilization, first and the Latin civilization, afterwards, making Rome 'Caput Mundi'. Click on myths of Sicily, if you want to know more about them.

Two of the Nobel Price for literature were Sicilians: Pirandello e Quasimodo. But many are the Sicilian writers who are fundamental in the history of the Italian literature: Verga, Capuana, Rosso di San Secondo e Tomasi di Lampedusa. And still nowadays the contribution of Sicily to the Italian literature is immense: Vittorini, Sciascia, Bufalino, Consolo e Camilleri.

The same in music: from the 'cantastorie' telling the stories of the French Paladins to the Opera composer Vincenzo Bellini. The same in paintings: from Antonello da Messina to Renato Gattuso. And in fashion: from Mariella Ferrera to Dolce & Gabbana.

Not to be forgotten are also the treasures of the eno-gastronomy: from pasta alla Norma to caponatina, from cannoli to pasta reale, from Marsala wine to Malvasia.

Travel Types

• Canoeing
• Climbing
• Cooking
• Cross/Back Country Skiing
• Cycling (Mountain)
• Cycling (Road/Touring)
• Deep-Sea Fishing
• Downhill Skiing
• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Golf
• Hiking
• Homestay
• Mountaineering
• Nature Tours
• Paragliding
• Sailing
• Scuba
• Snorkeling
• Snowboarding
• Caving/Spelunking
• Student Tours
• Surfing
• Tours
• Trekking
• Water Skiing
• Windsurfing/Windsailing

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Languages

• Italian

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• Italian

Subject Areas

• Culinary Arts
• Culture
• Education
• Italian
• Languages / Linguistics
• Literature

Cost in US$:

According to the program length

Program Fees Include:

The course price includes: free internet access, student card for discounts, free extra curricular activities, student insurance, educational material, oral and written entrance test, final certificate. Minimum course length: 1 week, maximum number of students: 10 (ten), lesson hour: 55 minutes, classes take place: from Monday to Friday, each of the 6 levels lasts: 4 weeks.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of max 10

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

24/48 hours

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Babilonia's Mission Statement

The main goal of our "Italian plus fun" programs is giving you the chance to study Italian and to enjoy a life and cultural experience in Sicily, fully immersed in its culture, in its history, in its traditions, in its territory.

Year Founded

1992