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"There are other study abroad programs in Siena, and when I walk by groups of them, isolating themselves from the community by speaking English and living in apartments, I smile. They will go home in a few months having lived in Siena. I will go home in a few months having been a part of a community."
- Nate, Lewis and Clark College
Beginning with a 3-day orientation in a location outside Siena, each semester program includes several excursions designed to give you a varied and meaningful experience of Tuscany and other regions of Italy. For the half-day, full-day, and overnight excursions, you may walk through the Tuscan countryside from one unspoiled small town to the next, passing along ancient Roman byways and through woods where locals hunt for mushrooms and gather herbs; visit farms that produce wine, olive oil, and pecorino cheese; relax in one of the region's many natural hot springs; or experience traditional Tuscan festivals such as Carnevale in Foiano della Chiana.
Every term also includes a 3-day trip to a fascinating, often off-the-beaten path location, such as Bologna, an ancient city that moves to contemporary rhythms and is considered by many to be the Mecca of Italian cuisine; or Padova, site of Giotto's renowned Scrovegni Chapel; or the Maremma Tuscan coastal region, home to Italy's best-known "cowboys" and a lovely national park with unspoiled beaches. Excursions vary from semester to semester. A 10-day mid-term break gives you the chance to travel and explore Italy on your own.
A variety of additional activities are offered to enrich the program experience. Students begin the semester with a series of complete cooking lessons on traditional Tuscan cuisine. Students will also participate in various seasonal activities. For example, in the fall, participants will help out with the grape and olive harvests, vital events in the traditional agricultural life of Tuscany. In the spring, a highlighted activity is the participation in the Carnevale celebration. And throughout the year, there are various cultural activities such as guided museum visits, concerts and opera performances in places such as Siena, Florence, Lucca, and Rome, as well as various other hands-on workshops and lessons.
