Spring Study Abroad Programs in Italy

Studying abroad was without a doubt the most transformative experience of my life. World Strides made the process so much easier with their quick and detailed communication. I felt like I had so much support and resources to be successful while abroad. They also provided multiple excursions that were already included with my trip. If you get the opportunity to study abroad with world strides I highly recommend!!

It has been about 3 months since I came home from Study Abroad, and I still haven't found the right words to describe this experience! When I left for study abroad, I was stepping into the unknown - moving to a new city, far away from everything and everyone I had ever known. Some moments challenged me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and forced me to grow in ways I never expected. Along the way, Ifound a new sense of independence, confidence, and trust in myself! What I will cherish the most are the people. The friendships I made, my roommates and forever friends who turned into family. They were there for every laugh, every tear, and served as a shoulder to lean on when I needed it most! I was lucky enough to do something most people only dream of. I got to experience cultures, traditions, and places that opened my eyes to how beautiful our world is! I left study abroad with more than just pictures and postcards, but lessons, stories, friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime!

I went abroad with this company, and it couldn't have gone any better. In any situation that was rough, they were always there to chat or help resolve the issue. Great company; would love to go again!

I had the absolute best time while in Italy! I met so many nice people, ate the most amazing food, and traveled to nearby cities. My program coordinated many great field trips for our group to go on, including a castle, a cheese factory, and the Ferrari factory. I felt safe exploring and sightseeing, and loved being a part of the Italian culture! Such an incredible experience I will never forget! I am so glad I studied abroad in Reggio Emilia, Italy!

Verona was the perfect study abroad city. It had the best mix of Italian culture, European vibes, and local hospitality. The ability to study Roman Art and Italian Food tourism classes and actually being able to experience it allowed me to fully understand and have fun with my courses. My housing in Verona was amazing with modern amenities and walkable destinations, also making me feel like a local. Italian locals were incredibly kind and it was also nice having the city-center so near, where I could go if I wanted to feel like a tourist. The architecture was breathtaking and each shop had a story to tell with incredible history behind it. My advisors were quick to help with any question I had and provided me with great recommendations. Verona is also just a train ride away from major Italian cities like Venice and Milan, making adventurous weekends very accessible!

Studying abroad through SAI was the best choice I have made in my academic, personal, and career life yet. Not only are the staff and program well structured, but they truly allow you to be supported, make friends, and experience places/things you never would have expected. As a participant of the 2-city program, I experienced life in two cities of Italy, each unique but special. While La Spezia helped me settle into Italian culture and appreciate the slower pace of life, the hustle and bustle of Florence showed me why Italy is such a destination for people to experience. My 4 months flew by faster than I could imagine, and staying so busy and immersed (in the best way) now allows me to share about my time- and how I have absolutely no regrets. Being involved in the moment, taking time to talk to locals and do "non-touristy" trips/things, and keeping an open mind can shape your life and is truly what makes the experience. It's the little things. People watching. A scrumptious cappuccino. An immersive class experience. Studying abroad is, yes, about education and pursuing a career, but so much of the learning and growing for it are done outside of the classroom, often through unexpected moments. I always felt the support of SAI staff, and their focus on the student experience at a personal level created a sense of belonging and home away from home. If you are on the fence, just go! You won't regret it!

I wrote this while I was abroad, and it felt correct to share in this space for anyone considering Viterbo. What a blessing to be studying abroad in Viterbo. Recently, I have been reflecting on what dropping into a community longterm offers. In having the opportunity and capacity to build a rhythm in a medieval Etruscan town, I am connecting with locals and learning so much about how life moves here in Viterbo. Italy, like the US has a lot of different vibes and paces from town to town and city to city. Viterbo is no different. Study abroad offers a unique opportunity to drop into a region and to feel out what life is like in a space very different than your own. Speaking Italian has offered me an incredibly unique lens to conversations with locals and those who are considered locals from other regions. Overall, they echo the same sentiments about Viterbo, something I have yet been able to see, and will need to process when I am away. Daily, everything closes down in the early afternoon, which is the hottest part of the day. It’s been incredibly hot overall, with some days reaching 38 degrees celcius. I feel I have adapted overall, but today was especially hot and last night was hard to sleep. As an anthropologist and musician, there have been so many opportunities to drop into playing music and connecting with historical sites, stories, and more. It was a bumpy transition into Italy as the student loan changes arrived on July 1st and I have been connecting with students who are expressing how their financial aid packages will be changing this fall. It’s a major moment of change in the world, and I am thankful to be experiencing it from a new space where I am gently adapting and becoming used to how many people enjoy smoking overall. I'll never be the same!

I genuinely had the best study abroad experience through SAI in Florence. I was able to live with 3 of my best friends and we loved our apartment so much! Although we weren't right in the city center by thew duomo, we found that we loved being across the river as we were more immersed in the culture by being in a neighborhood filled with locals. Outside of our housing and classes, we had so many opportunities to do different activities whether it was a cooking class or a gold leafing class. I could not recommend this experience enough!

I went to study abroad knowing nobody, completely throwing myself into a different culture across the world, and it was the best choice I made in my life. I met the most amazing people in the most amazing place, and I would choose to do it all over again if I could. Study abroad if you have the opportunity!

I absolutely loved my time in Florence with World Strides! I had never been out of the country and didn't know anyone else going, so I was terrified, but the experience was amazing. World strides was really easy to work with and offered a lot of free activities in Florence, such as a cooking class and a weekend trip to Lake Garda. The staff were all really kind and welcoming, and I made very good friends in the program. I could not recommend this program enough!

Informative and organized at meeting, class structured well and in an area students actually want to go learn in! Apartments are perfect and fully equipped! The whole setup made it easy to settle in and focus on learning right away

The italian people were welcoming to foreigners, making the immersion nice! Locals were patient and kind even with the language barrier, and that warmth made it so much easier to feel comfortable and truly embrace the culture.

Strong points were excursions and the relation of material learned in class to material seen and experienced in person and on excursions. It was an enriching experience to learn and live amongst another culture. Fun and exciting excursions, and a fun learning environment. A good way to earn credits in another country!

They provided a good space to study and responded very quickly about problems that we had. The environment was quiet and comfortable, making it easy to focus, and any issues we raised were handled promptly and professionally.

The excursions really immersed us in the culture of Sicily and allowed us to see exciting new things! From wandering local markets to tasting authentic dishes, every stop felt like a genuine discovery. It added so much depth to the trip

I got to see many new places and learn a lot! The trip really opened my eyes to new cultures and perspectives I hadn't experienced before. Every stop taught me something new, and I came home feeling inspired and grateful for the whole journey.

I had a blast, totally worth it! The whole experience exceeded my expectations from start to finish. Everything was well organized, the staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere made it even better. I'd definitely recommend it to friends and family, and I'm already looking forward to going again.

I've had an incredible time studying abroad in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Every day I find myself in a new adventure, meeting new people, and immersing myself in the culture here. USAC has done an incredible job at making me feel safe, supported, and comfortable. Academically, I feel scaffolded to learn new information about the community and the Reggio Emilia approach, combining the perfect mix of theoretical and practical study. Socially, this community has been an amazing place, filled with weekly events, concerts, and just a welcoming town feeling in general. This has definitely been an experience of a lifetime.

The best part about Reggio Emilia is it is not super crowded with tourists. It’s a small city full of life where you can meet Italian locals and truly immerse yourself in the culture. I loved being able walk and get gelato whenever I wanted, then explored using easy access to bus transportation to the mall and movie theater and then to the train station too. The local cuisine is also phenomenal, erbazzone is devine and each Wednesday during the summer the piazza’s are full of energy with dancing, concerts and so much more. The planned field trips were amazing from trying balsamic vinegar to even exploring a castle there is something for everyone. The support from the program directors is excellent, they were always there for all my questions and made the program feel like home.

I got to be apart of Session 1 of USAC’s summer program in Verona, Italy, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I would highly recommend Verona to anyone considering studying abroad. The city has the perfect mix of history, culture, and a welcoming atmosphere, with beautiful architecture, amazing food, and so much to explore. I became great friends with my roommate, experienced authentic Italian culture (Including the Opera!), and had the opportunity to travel to incredible places across Italy and Europe on the weekends. Verona truly felt like a home away from home, and it’s an experience I’ll never forget!!