About the Program
Immerse yourself in Italian society, cuisine, and culture, while enjoying the summer in Tuscany.
Enroll in a course on the unique history and tradition of the Palio and contrade (districts) of Siena or study Tuscan culture and cuisine. Get an insider’s view of the Palio—a famous horse race that occurs every summer in one of the most recognized piazzas in the world, Piazza del Campo. Each race horse represents one of the 17 historic neighborhoods of Siena, to which Sienese identity is fundamentally tied. Discover how the Palio is not simply a race, but a combination of rituals, rules, and traditions that have roots going back to the Middle Ages.
You'll also study the economic, socio-historic, and cultural aspects of Tuscan food by participating in cooking classes and visiting restaurants, gelato laboratories, dairies, and vineyards.