Broward College

Study Abroad in Urbino, Italy

Summer 2012

June 29 to August 5

Urbino is one of the best preserved Renaissance towns in all of Italy.

Culturally the town is most famous for its 15th century Renaissance palace designed by Laurana for Duke Federico da Montefeltro. The Ducal Palace, which has been named by Kenneth Clark the prototype of all Renaissance palaces and the most beautiful of its kind in the world, now houses an important museum. Urbino is the birthplace of Raphael and was an important Renaissance center vying with Florence. There are beautifully decorated churches and summer music festivals take place regularly in the courtyard of the Ducal palace.

Today Urbino is also known for its university, founded in the 16th century and one of the best in Italy for humanistic studies. It houses our summer language and cultural program. Some of its professors teach in the Urbino Program. The university is a short walk to the town where the Program’s classes are taught. Each student has his or her own private dorm room with a shared bath. Many rooms have views of the beautiful undulating hillsides common to the Marche region. Lunch and dinner are provided in the cafeteria and the university is justifiably proud of its well prepared cuisine. Students can buy breakfast in the cafeteria for a couple of euros (approximately two dollars). Wireless internet is available in the commons area. It is required that students buy inexpensive Italian cell phones to be able to stay in touch with others in the group.

Above, a view of the street leading to the classrooms in a Renaissance palace. There are many summer programs at the university in the summer. Students from all over the USA and the EU (European Union) come there to study. Students from other schools, such as the University of Tennessee, participate in our program, as directed by Dr. Michael Vena, an alumnus of Yale University who started the Urbino program several decades ago at the University of Southern Connecticut.

On weekends there are several day trips planned to small towns close to Urbino. Last year we went to Assisi, San Leo, Loreto, San Marino and Gubbio (travel by chartered bus is included in the fee). We also attended an Opera by Puccini in Macerata (optional and not included in the program fee). For 2012 we are planning a four day academic schedule from 8 AM to 1 PM (Monday to Thursday) in order to leave long weekends free for excursions, as included in the program fee, or as students opt to do at their own expense. Last year a dozen students traveled to Venice on a free week-end accompanied by one of their professors.

On free weekends students may sign a release form for independent travel at their own expense. Above, some of our students travel to Venice on a train. The train system in Italy is convenient and inexpensive for weekend trips. From Urbino students take a bus to the train station in Pesaro. From Pesaro one can easily reach, Siena, Pisa, Ravenna, Bologna, Orvieto, and other points of interest. Last year some students visited Southern Italy to see Pompei, the ancient Roman city buried by an eruption of Vesuvius in the year 70 A.D., Naples and the region of Puglia where they stayed for three day. The southern region of Italy is culturally older than the rest of Italy preceding the Romans and called Magna Grecia or the Greater Greece, since it was colonized by the Greeks. .

After classes end, there is two to three days in Rome and Florence (hotels and bus transportation to the city is included). Students are free to make their own itineraries, but the coordinating professors, most of whom speak Italian and who have traveled extensively in Italy, are always willing to offer advice and accompany the students to their designated itineraries. In Rome there is usually a bus tour of the city with one of the professors commenting on the various sights of the city. It is a good orientation for the proper planning of itineraries.

From left to right:Florence: our hotel rooms, the Arno River flowing under the Ponte VecchioRome: interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Capitoline Museum

On the left, students taking Italian in Dr. Paparella’s class.

On the right, coming home was bittersweet because we were leaving an incredible country and new friends. We are at the Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome, waiting to return to Miami.

Required for the program:

--Full payment of the expenses by deadlines.

--Payment of tuition: To participate in the trip you must register for at least one course before we leave for Italy. You must bring required textbooks.

--Passport or visa: You must register for the program using the same name that is on your passport or the airline will not allow you to fly with them. A passport or driver’s license is required to register.

--Health insurance (travel health insurance is available for under $30).

--Good mobility. Remember this is a walking trip.

--Italian cell phone (included in program costs).

--You are required to travel with the group and follow all group guidelines. You will be required to sign a travel contract with the College.

Included in costs:

--Room and board in Urbino

--Excursion hotels and travel to included destinations as mentioned in the advertising brochure.

--Round-trip airfare

--Italian cell phone

--Trip cancellation insurance

Estimated total cost for Summer in Italy 2012 (excluding tuition):$ 5050 plus appropriate spending money ($500-$1000 minimum)

Schedule of payments:Non-refundable deposit of $250 due at sign-up15 January 2012 – $120015 February 2012 – $120015 March 2012 – $120015 April 2012 – $1200 (If due date is on a weekend, payment is due on the following Monday.)

Payments must be made by the deadlines. If you join the group after a deadline, you must pay the amount due up to the date when you join the group. No refunds from the College are possible.

Airline fares after the initial due date have to be purchased individually and may be higher than the group rate. However, you are required to fly with the group.

Individual travel cancellation insurance is included in the cost, but it must be secured as soon as you make your first deposit. Read carefully what is included.

Courses offered:

--Italian I and II (ITA 1120 and 1121)

The Italian language courses are four credits each and the tuition is $351.80. The Italian Film course earns three credits and its tuition is $263.85 ($87.95 per credit).

The program offers other courses that can be taken by students who do not need the credits and may wish to take them merely for enrichment as auditors; for example: drawing. However, all course taken must be in the BC catalogue and the student must register and pay tuition at BC. You may take one or two courses in Italy.

Recommended to bring:

--Laptop or internet device

--Small fan for dorm room

--Clothes for warm weather and a sweater for cooler weather

--Appropriate clothes to enter churches

--Not more than one suitcase and one carry-on are recommended; you will have to carry your own luggage and space is limited on buses.

--An adaptor and a transformer to change electricity from 110 to 220.

--An elegant dress or suit for the Opera or other special occasions.

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For more information, or to make a deposit to make a reservation, contact a coordinator:

Katie Barcikowski, Study Abroad Coordinatorkbarciko@broward.edu954 201 7709

Dr. Emanuel Paparella, Instructor of Italianepaparella@broward.edu954 778 6512

Professor Domenica Diraviam, Instructor of French and Italianddiravia@broward.edu954 201 6558

Panoramic View of the University of Urbino