• Italy
  • Italy: La Dolce Vita - Gelato, Food and Culture
  • Italy: The Sights and Sounds of Italy - Language, Culture, and Travel Program
  • Italy: A Taste of Italy - Biodiversity, Cooking, and Culture Program

In Italy, food can tell a story. For generations, families have passed along recipes that were directly connected to the region in which they lived. Olive trees in southern and coastal Italy led to a cuisine tied to olive oil, while the temperate climates of the north allowed for the creation of dishes based on rice, polenta, and beans. Find out why Romans are famous for their Spaghetti alla Carbonara or why Neopolitans may make the best pizza in the world. Take a closer look at the intimate links between food, agricultural biodiversity, and regional culture.

Orientation in Rome
Spend three days exploring Rome. Hike from the Forum to the Vatican to see the vivid scenes in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Stand in the Colosseum, imagining its dramatic history. Taste your first gelato at one of the cafés in Piazza Navona. You will also be introduced to the heritage of Italian cuisine with instructional sessions and gastronomic excursions alongside an Italian food expert to learn about global food issues and actions to promote good nutrition, biodiversity, and regional cuisine.

Homestay
In Italian, there is an expression that says "Per conoscere una persona, bisogna mangiare nello stesso piatto," meaning: "To really know someone, you need to eat from the same plates together." After your orientation, enjoy a two-week homestay learning about typical life in an Italian family and community. Experience the nexus of culture and cuisine firsthand, sharing meals, stories, and experiences as you live with your new family and explore surrounding areas to sample regional delicacies and see how local food is produced.

Sample host communities: Ascoli Piceno, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio

Sample activities: Visit a buffalo farm to see how mozzarella di bufala is produced; make your own Neapolitan pizza with your host family; visit ancient ruins on Italy's dramatic coastline.

Cooking and Travel
Spend your final week at a well-known cooking school working to create your own Italian culinary story. Each morning you will prepare traditional Italian dishes with a skilled chef. After a delicious midday feast, you'll venture out with your group each afternoon on eco-gastronomic excursions to explore the stories behind unique foods of the beautiful region of Piemonte. Your Italian adventure concludes with a few days in magnificent Venice.

Sample cooking sites: Agliano, Siena, Stresa

Sample activities: Eat lunch at small agraturismo, where all of the food is grown on-site; conduct a professional olive oil tasting with your chef and sample handmade chocolate at a local factory; venture high into the hills to see the time-honored traditions behind producing a local and rare goat cheese; navigate the winding backstreets and canals of Venice.

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