With breathtaking natural scenery, a wealth of historic architecture and a culinary scene that sets the standard for much of the rest of the world, Italy tops many travelers' lists of favorite or prospective destinations. To add a deeper level of cultural immersion to a trip to Italy, you can study the Italian language while spending time in one of the country's cosmopolitan cities, classic Mediterranean beach towns or charming countryside villages.


In the eternal city, not only are there endless historic sights, fabulous dining choices and fashionable shops but there are also many language schools to choose from. One of the most popular is the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci, housed in a former aristocrat's mansion near noteworthy sights like the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona. Students may choose from over a dozen courses of varying lengths; many vacationers pick the week-long "La Dolce Vita" intensive. Standard group classes run for four hours a day, with both morning and afternoon sessions, and the program includes cultural excursions, such as tours of the Vatican Museums and wine tastings, that are used as part of the language-training curriculum. The school also operates language programs in Florence, Milan and Siena. Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Piazza dell'Orologio 7 00186 Rome, Italy (+39) 06 688 925 13 scuolaleonardo.com


Visitors to Italy who want to experience the unparalleled scenery, traditional gastronomy and artistic soul of the Italian countryside often head to the rolling hills of Tuscany. In the historic heart of the medieval village of San Giovanni Valdarno, the Il Sillabo language school offers students an opportunity for full immersion in Italian language and culture. Besides the three-hour group classes each morning, the school provides students with an extensive selection of free cultural programs, such as cooking lessons, art history lectures, wine appreciation and drawing and painting classes. Courses run from one to four weeks in length and feature the option of staying with an Italian host family in town, which can include home-cooked Tuscan meals. Il Sillabo Via Alberti 31 52027 San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy (+ 39) 055 912 3238 sillabo.it

Cinque Terre

Although Italy boasts more than 4,000 miles of coastline, much of it dotted with sandy beaches and picturesque villages, nowhere does the rugged beauty of the land meet the the warm waters of the Mediterranean in as dramatic a setting as in the Cinque Terre. The Cinque Terre is a national park comprised of five historic seaside towns that are not accessible by car because they are perched on and beneath jagged cliffs over the sea. Just 5 miles east of the Cinque Terre in the town of Chiavari, the Nel Blu language school offers week-long, small-group and individual Italian language classes. Group classes start each Monday throughout most of the year and include social programs like parties and film nights hosted by the school. It is a short trip by car or public bus from Chiavari to the town of Levanto, from which the Cinque Terre can be explored by foot. Nel Blu Via Nino Vixio 29 int. 7 16043 Chiavari, Italy (+39) 0185 364 823 nel-blu.it

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