USAC Italy: Viterbo-History, Art, Photography, & Journalism

I loved spending my senior year in Viterbo. I graduated with a degree in biology, but I also loved the various classes I took, including history, anthropology, Italian, and politics. I enjoyed listening to all the professor's lectures and writing papers on topics I would not have otherwise researched. I personally loved the city because it was more homey and quiet. It is busy during the festival around the Macchina di Santa Rosa, but otherwise expect to learn Italian to talk to shopkeepers (it is hard but worth it). Rome is in such close proximity that you can take advantage of the trains to travel. I often spent weekends traveling around Italy and loved it. The airport is very efficient, and it was pleasant flying out of there when I visited some other countries. I met wonderful people. Everyone was smart, kind, and fun. It was an opportunity to meet people from universities across the United States. I look back on the memories I created with everyone in my cohort at least once a week and miss them thoroughly. I made some life-long friends and visit them around the United States with my newfound love of traveling. I would recommend that anyone planning to study abroad plan their trips well in advance. It may feel rushed and hard, but doing so will ensure you spend your time the way you want to. I loved all the adventures I went on! Learning a new language and practicing it can be challenging, especially when you have the option to choose a program where the native population speaks English or simply rely on Google Translate. It feels much more authentic, is extremely rewarding to speak in another language, and it reminds you that you can do hard things.

I studied in the spring of 2025 and had a great time. The people in the program as well as the staff were al amazing, kind, and supportive. The city itself was really quaint however looking back I do wish I choose a bigger city just because it would have been more my vibe. That being said I did also enjoy the small town vibes a bit in terms of the food and the people. I became really close friends with a couple locals and still talk to them almost everyday now and for that reason alone I am thankful for my experience. The one thing I would point out is that if you go in the spring it is not going to be the Mediterranean weather you might be expecting it will be cold and very rainy. Very happy I experienced this and this program will be great for anyone interested in photography, history, food, or just likes the small town feel.

I wouldn't trade my time in Viterbo for anything. The classes were engaging, and the city itself was safe and exciting. As the weather warmed up, the shops and restaurants welcomed us in. The locals were all very kind and wanted to get to know us. The people were also amazing, and the ability to immerse ourselves in the culture was incredible.