Students are encouraged to study in Italy through the Urbino/Florence Study Programs in either a Summer Program or a Semester Program.

Summer Program

If you are interested in authentic Italian language and cultural immersion, and if you’re considering spending the summer in Italy, we would like to present you with an affordable, accredited and quality Italian Language and Culture Program in Urbino and Florence. This program has been operating since 1992 under the directorship of the faculty of Italian of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. In the sixteen years of its existence, more than 600 students have been exposed to the invaluable experience of living for six weeks in Italy and earning six transferable Villanova credits, practically all for the price of tuition alone at any American University.

Student Testimonial
"In a world that seems so small, my experience studying abroad in Italy opened my eyes to a different and amazing culture. The memories of my time there and everything I learned will stay with me throughout my life."
— Erica Bruno

While attending classes Monday to Friday both at the University of Urbino and at the Istituto Lorenzo de'Medici in Florence, students will on weekends travel to cities of great beauty and interest, such as Assisi, Perugia, Ravenna, Venice, Padova, Pesaro, Florence, Pisa, Siena, Sorrento, Capri and Rome, a distance covering about 2/3 of the Italian booth. Trips also include overnight stays in Venice (2 nights), Florence (2 weeks), Sorrento (1 night) and Rome(3 nights). While in Urbino, students enjoy the clean mountain air (over 450 meters above sea level) and yet they can afford the luxury to patronize the beautiful Adriatic beaches of Pesaro, Cattolica, and even Rimini, less that one hour from Urbino by bus. The places visited in Italy as part of the itinerary all offer a great wealth of the arts and a fantastic testimony of the evolution of history and culture since the time of the Etruscans.

Classes are held Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00PM in Urbino and from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Florence. All full-time college students are eligible to join the program. Since Introductory Italian is being taught, no previous knowledge of the language is required. Most students select six language credits, while some opt for 3 language credits in Urbino and 3 credits of Renaissance Culture (in English) in Florence. Advanced students can take "Contemporary Italy" in Urbino and "Renaissance Culture" in Florence. “Contemporary Italy”, explores several major aspects of Italian society and is taught in Italian; “Renaissance culture” is a course taught in English which observes one of the most remarkable and vibrant periods of Italian history: the Renaissance, which so profoundly shaped western culture. This course satisfies core requirements for Advanced English Literature, Fine Arts, Advanced History and Free Elective. In Florence students can take a non-credit cooking class for a nominal fee. For more information, please visit the International Studies program site.

Villanova Semester Program in Italy, Urbino and Florence

For over 20 years, Villanova University has partnered with the University of Urbino (Universitá degli Studi di Urbino, founded in 1506) and Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence to provide a summer program for students wishing to improve their language skills. From these longstanding partnerships has come an exciting opportunity for Villanova students to study the Italian language in Florence for three weeks and to enroll at courses directly at the University of Urbino, taught in English and in Italian, during the regular school year. The renowned city of Florence and the historic university city of Urbino provide the perfect mix of locations for any student who is interested in learning more about life in modern Italy.

Student Testimonial
“The Villanova University of Urbino/Florence Program of Summer 2007 not only strengthened my ability to speak a foreign language but opened my eyes to a whole new world of culture and tradition. Trips to the serene sea of Capri and to the historically rich city of Rome are just two of the amazing stops this program has to offer. I will forever be grateful to have participated in such a life changing journey around the most beautiful country in the world.”
— Maria Tempera

Florence, the heart of Renaissance Italy, offers a taste of life in a city that is full of museums, shops, and restaurants. Nestled in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, the city of Urbino also played a significant role in the Italian Renaissance and offers a unique climate for Villanova students to participate in the Italian language, culture, and lifestyle for a year or a semester.

The student going to Florence/Urbino will be able to take both Italian language courses and English-taught courses on art, culture, cinema, history as well as choose among a great variety of business courses (Marketing Management and Economics of Globalization are just examples among the many). Fro more information, please visit the International Studies program site.