If you're studying abroad in Italy, make sure you complete TopUniversities.com's top 10 things to do while in the country.
Of course, you'll barely need our list to convice you of Italy's merits. Imagine studying art where Michelangelo painted, drama in the lands of Romeo & Juliet, cooking in the home of pasta and pizza and history in the lands where Roman ruins come to life.
Choose to study abroad in Italy and your weekend trips could be to Rome, Venice, Florence or Milan – now wouldn’t that be worth writing home about? A country of fashion, food and football, one year in Italy may not be enough...
1. Start with a trip to Rome
Nearest universities: Luiss Guido CARLI; University of FLORENCE; IED Istituto Europeo di Design; Universita' degli Studi di MACERATA; PERUGIA University; Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa; University of PISA ; Sapienza University of Rome; Università degli Studi di ROMA - Tor Vergata; University of SIENA
The Vatican City, the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and of course the Trevi Fountain – do you really need any more reasons to visit Rome while studying abroad in Italy? The country’s capital city is a haven for tourists, students and all lovers of good things Italian, from iconic religious monuments to the sets of Hollywood films.
Rome has a chaotic energy about it that envelopes anyone who sets foot on the city’s labyrinth of cobbled streets. You may well need respite from the hustle and bustle after a few days – not to mention the noise of the scooters – but your first visit to Rome certainly won’t be your last.
2. Follow in Michelangelo’s footsteps
If you’ve chosen to study abroad in Italy then you’re studying in the home of the famous Italian Renaissance artist, Michelangelo.
Travel around the country and you’ll see some of Michelangelo’s paintings and sculptures wherever you go, from the altar wall in Rome’s Sistine Chapel to one of his most famous works, the figure of David in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.
Michelangelo also designed Saint Peter's Basilica in Venice. Following in Michelangelo’s footsteps will take you all around Italy, but once you’ve seen all there is to see of Michelangelo, why not follow his rival, Leonardo da Vinci?
Did you know? Michelangelo’s full name is Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. Bit of a mouthful!
3. Indulge in pizza, pasta and all good things Italian
Forget Pizza Hut; you’ll be able to afford the real thing on your student budget while studying abroad in Italy – after all, the country is home to that wonderful dish with its doughy base covered in toppings and sprinkled with melted cheese.
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy Italian food, particularly eaten in Italy where it’s made to absolute perfection. Pizzas have minimal toppings, pasta is cooked al dente, gelato has just the right texture and then there’s the wine to wash it all down. Enjoy pizza, pasta and all good things Italian in a quaint little cafe – most likely a family affair – to experience the real Italy.
4. Walk over the Bridge of Sighs while exploring Venice
University of BOLOGNA; CA' FOSCARI University of Venice ; University of MODENA; University of PADUA; University of PARMA; University of TRENTO; University of TRIESTE
