Food Science Study Abroad Programs in Italy

My time in Italy was one of the most amazing, life-changing, and enjoyable experiences I have ever had. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to visit Italy for the first time, especially since it was also my first time flying on an airplane. I loved how affordable the program was for everything that was included. We traveled throughout Central Italy, enjoyed amazing food and accommodations, and were guided by caring faculty and tour guides who truly wanted us to have the best experience possible. This trip gave me unforgettable memories, new friendships, and experiences that I will always be grateful for.

I had an unforgettable time in Italy with Molise Italian Studies. It was my first time visiting a country outside of the United States, so I was a little worried at first. However, the program was so well run and smooth that I soon had no worries whatsoever. Our guide, Andrea, was excellent and our trip would not have been what it was without him. I would highly recommend Molise Italian Studies to any one who is interested in Italian culture, history, or exploring another country.

My study abroad experience to Italy was incredible. I had met so many new amazing people and new connections. Our tour guide, Andrea, was very helpful, patient, and kind throughout the whole trip. I am very grateful to be chosen to attend this trip.

My experience studying abroad in Molise Italy was absolutely life-changing. I learned so much about culture, made lifetime, friendships, and endless memories. Getting to experience the culture and beauty of Molise was the absolute highlight of my summer.

Molise Italian Studies responded to this reviewJuly 21, 2026

Grazie, Breanna! Colli really is beautiful and it's such a great partnership!

The Molise Italian Studies program was a wonderful way to be immersed in the Molise region, some of the Puglia region, and Rome. By visiting some of the smaller, lesser-known areas in these regions, I got to see firsthand how people live, work, and support their communities through the activities and social work experiences. I can say I grew as a person and have a new outlook on my everyday life at home. It was evident that Italians in these regions value community and connection. I appreciated the opportunities to participate in activities at some of the agencies, such as at LAI and in Capracotta, rather than simply observing the activity. Our tour leader, Andrea, was kind, patient, organized, and knowledgeable throughout the entire trip.

Molise Italian Studies responded to this reviewJuly 05, 2026

Grazie, Maggie! We are so glad to hear this trip made such an impact on you, and we can't wait to hear about your plans moving forward!

I had an absolutely amazing time; I made so many incredible memories that I truly won't ever forget. The friendships I made were so awesome, and the opportunities to experience true culture were life-changing. Both of my professors were absolutely wonderful, and our guide was incredible. Everyone was so amazing and truly tried their best to give us the most rewarding experience possible, and they exceeded my dreams.

Molise Italian Studies responded to this reviewJuly 05, 2026

Grazie, Alex!

Myself and my colleague brought a group of ten university students on a trip with Molise, and we could not be happier! Our guides were knowledgeable and kind. Every single person we encountered along the way as we traveled was welcoming and gracious. So many laughs were shared amongst our students and the Italian community, and we never once felt as if we were not in steady, capable hands with the company. Upon returning home from Italy, we immediately arranged our next trip with Scott and Megan, and plan to continue this trip regularly to allow students to continue to experience all the amazing things our first group did.

Molise Italian Studies responded to this reviewJuly 05, 2026

Thank you, Jen! Looking forward to working with Wilkes again in 2027!

As a student who dreamed of going abroad for years, I never considered a trip like this would be at my fingertips. Many know that traveling abroad is a big decision because it involves location costs return of investment and with being in school of the timeline of when it’s going to happen. I decided to make my minor Hotel restaurant management sophomore year of college, but wasn’t sure of how I was still going to make my broad dream come true. Fall semester of 2024 when I was in one of my HRM studies I wondered what options there could be to study the subject abroad. That’s when I discovered the Molise Italian Studies program NAU in Italy: Economics of Gastronomy. After promptly siding up, I was introduced to a fully guided program with pre-arrival meetings that fully explained the details and necessary precautions of going abroad. Which included an itinerary of the daily activities the lessons that would be focused on and places of accommodation. All details, which transferred extremely well into the actual trip. Each lesson was fully in depth and offered different opportunities. My favorite day was probably the day we visited Di Iorio Tartufi - Italian Truffle where we learned how truffles were safely found and made into a meal. I came home with at least 5 jars!! I highly enjoyed the environment, the greenery, and absolutely the delicious assortment of truffle products. At the end of the day, this program offered me a week of excitement and verity of locations across molise. I couldn’t have asked for a better program to introduce me to the world of traveling.

Molise Italian Studies responded to this reviewJuly 05, 2026

Grazie, Cialyn! So glad to be a part of your HRM journey (& we dream of truffles too)!

The staff at Umbra, whether professors or office administrators, is incredibly friendly and helpful for anything you may need. You will absolutely have opportunities to explore Italy between the trips planned by the student services team or from the trips that may be a part of your classes. Or even if you are looking for information about your own travels, the professors and staff members are full of great recommendations and bits of advice for your travels.

Had such an amazing study abroad semester with the Umbra Institute! Having participated in two of this program's community engagement commitments, I was able to learn more about Perugia's culture and the people through my major. Along with this, the professors I had cared deeply about our learning and were passionate about what they taught (especially props to Italian Prof. Livia). Likewise, I loved Umbra Institute for its tight-knit community, which I was involved in through a work study job as a front desk receptionist. Overall, the program provided me with so many opportunities to immerse myself with the school and Perugia as a city! If you are seeking a study abroad program that values fostering a close community, I highly recommend the Umbra Institute!

Had a great time with Umbra. They are very helpful and have always been there to provide help with resources and advice on how to navigate the city of Perugia. They have always been very transparent about class and schedules!

The city, the people, the classes, the staff— you cannot even begin to describe how incredible this program is and how it has changed my life. I have built long-lasting relationships while working and serving a community that now means the world to me. The smaller city vibe makes the most authentic experience possible. I always wanted to study abroad in Rome or Florence, but Perugia was the only city available. And thank goodness it was. Being at the Umbra Institute was the biggest blessing in my life so far. I was able to become very close with my classmates, professors, and staff members that would not have been possible in other places. I have found meaning and authenticity in my studies, balanced travel, a social life, and felt SO supported in my time here.

I loved so much about my experience here. There were so many wonderful opportunities to visit cool places, and tons of events to go to. The classes were very interesting and all of the professors and staff are lovely. I had so much fun seeing and trying all the new things.

I had an incredible experience with this study abroad program and would highly recommend it to anyone considering going abroad. From start to finish, everything was well organized, and I felt supported every step of the way. The program made it easy to adjust to living in a new country, and the staff were always available to help with any questions or concerns. One of the best parts of the experience was the opportunity to fully immerse myself in a new culture. I was able to explore the city, try amazing local food, and meet people from all over the world. The program also did a great job of balancing independence with support, giving me the freedom to grow while still providing helpful resources. Academically, the courses were engaging and offered a unique perspective that I wouldn’t have gotten at my home university. I learned so much both inside and outside of the classroom. Overall, this program exceeded all of my expectations. It helped me grow personally, academically, and culturally, and it’s truly an experience I will never forget. I would absolutely give it 10 stars and encourage others to take advantage of this opportunity!

Umbra made sure to make the student feel welcomed and at home right away. The staff is always available if you need help. They’re always planning different activities to bring the students together which is great. They’re always giving you recommendations for places to go to so you don’t feel lost. Overall I’m very happy that I chose Umbra and wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

The program was well organized and communication from the staff and professors was reliable and helpful. The two class components (Bioregion/Sustainability and the local internship immersion) worked well together to flesh out our understanding of the community we were inhabiting; Professor Luca Trazzi has a strong teaching style, and proactively went the extra mile to facilitate better understanding of topics that students were interested in learning more about. He showed a professional command of his topics, and struck a great balance between teaching in a formal, academic context (readings, discussion) and organizing activities or more hands-on experiences to illustrate the real-world impact of the concepts discussed in class. Professor Bruno Grazioli was a perfect counterpoint, facilitating the Italian language immersion and internship components. I particularly enjoyed Prof. Grazioli's talent for encouraging us to engage with content on our own terms, centering joy and curiosity in the exploration of the classroom. The assignments were sufficient to make the class components feel worthwhile and academic, but not overwhelming in a way that restricted time to explore Bologna or make weekend plans. I want to express gratitude to Prof. Grazioli for going out of his way to make time for an advanced Italian course for me and another student who came into the program with a strong language foundation, so we were not forced to spend time in a beginner class and still benefitted from that component of the program. I specifically want to credit the program for organizing the class excursions: I rarely if ever felt like we were spending time unnecessarily or being forced to engage with things we did not enjoy, and it was a fantastic way to get a tailored exploration of cities like Venice and Turin. I also want to mention that Ellen and Elena Giulia were wonderful and efficient with the aid they provided us, and all four were marvelous for suggestions when we wanted to travel or were searching for something in the city. This program was a fantastic use of both my time and money, and I would highly recommend it to future students.

My experience in Perugia, Italy was absolutely incredible! The program that I chose was the perfect fit for me. The courses that I took abroad really interested me and I feel that I gained so much more knowledge from them. Many of the courses provided included hands-on activities and real life applications. We had the opportunity to go into the Italian community and apply everything we had learned in the classroom. The program provided cultural immersion experiences by hosting Tandem events where Italian students and Umbra students would get together for an aperitivo and practice having conversations in Italian or learning more about the Italian culture. The apartment I lived in was wonderful. It was right by the city center and the Umbra Institute. This location was very convenient and I loved being in the center of a small Italian city. The staff and professors are very helpful, friendly, and overall very supportive of their students. If you are looking to improve your Italian, live in a small city surrounded by stunning nature and panoramic views, and take classes that really enhance the application of your learning, the Umbra Institute is the perfect program for you!

Overall, my time at the Umbra Institute in Perugia was great! The staff are some of the friendliest, welcoming, and patient people I've met. Their support made the transition to living in Italy quite easy. The living situation was great! Students are housed in apartments in the city center all within a fifteen-minute walk from school. My apartment was very spacious. The academics at Umbra were not too challenging and the professors are all passionate about the classes they teach. Additionally, the Umbra Institute offers a variety of specialty programs such as the Multicultural Psychology Program and the Food and Sustainability program. Although I was not in those programs I took a class in the FSE program and it was my favorite class of the semester. Even though I wasn't in the MPP or FSE program my classes were still interesting and counted towards credit at school. This program is great for anyone looking to study abroad in a small city and be surrounded by a close-knit community.

I loved Perugia and getting to experience small town Italy. The umbra institute was very welcoming and helpful. Honestly my classes were a little boring and lack luster but everything else was great. I loved everyone I met. I had the best time getting to know Italian culture and traveling Europe.

I loved everything about this program, it really felt like a tight knit community which is what I was hoping for when I applied. You get to know the other abroad students, the faculty, and local Italians very well. I also really got to know the city.