Events and Activities Summer 24

Paola Cascinelli Resident Director, Italy Programs

Date

April 20, 2024

We're so excited to welcome you to Italy this summer and are pleased to offer various co-curricular excursions that will allow you to discover your "home away from home!"

A Day in the Countryside - Free Event! (Required for all students)

The staff will meet the Arcadia Italy Students in Perugia or Florence in the early morning and take them to our very special, much-loved Italian venue: the Orsini Family Farm, on the Trasimeno Lake, just about 30 minutes from Perugia and 2 hours from Florence.

Upon arrival, we will savor a traditional homemade country breakfast 

 before we split into groups. Each group will have the opportunity to partake in typical farming activities such as planting, planting seeds, harvesting, and feeding animals. It is a day where we’ll learn more about the local context – what does it mean to live in the center of Italy? What regional traditions – and more specifically, culinary traditions – make this area unique from other regions? We will also learn about sustainable farming. Following a multi-course lunch prepared by our hosts, you will return home by train or private bus, depending on your location. Detailed information will be provided to students a few days prior to the event.

 

A Rome Appetizer

Join us for an unforgettable exploration of Rome led by Chiara, a knowledgeable Roman native and expert tour guide. Chiara will meet you at Rome's central train station and will lead you on the discovery of the most picturesque gems of architecture and history that Rome has to offer. She will show you her favorite spots while strolling through iconic locations such as the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. After a delightful lunch in a typical Roman trattoria, she will walk you to Palazzo Valentini to visit villas dating back to Roman Empire times. In the afternoon, you'll have some free time to explore further and immerse yourself in the wonders of Rome at your own pace before taking the train back to Florence. This tour proceeds at a leisurely walking pace and is accessible to all students. Chiara will leave you in the historical center around 4 p.m. and give you instructions on returning to the Rome Central Station. 

Total event price will vary between $90 and $130 depending on where the student is travelling from. Price includes transportation by train, breakfast, gelato, lunch, and a 4-hour guided tour. 

 

Arcadia Two-day Excursion in Passignano sul Trasimeno 

On early Saturday, the participants will embark on a journey to Trasimeno Lake, nestled in the Umbria region, the heart of Italy. Upon arrival at the hotel, the participants will have some time to rest before meeting with the Arcadia staff to take part in a variety of activities. We will explore the area's rich historical and religious roots.  During the afternoon, we will take a ferry to visit one

 of the islands, Isola Maggiore. Our tour guide will take us on a slow walking tour around the island and up to its hill, where Saint Francis of Assisi lived for a few days as a hermit in 1211. Most of the paths are paved, there are cafeterias and restaurants in this little village over the lake, and the highest part of the island is accessible by stairs. Students will have free time for the rest of the afternoon and evening. On the following day, we will meet the Arcadia students studying in Florence and Perugia at our much-loved venue, the Orsini farm. 

Price: $105 for students studying in Florence and Perugia; free for Sant'Anna students (already included in program) 

Sign-up for the events must be done through your Arcadia portal