We can't believe that this month has gone by so quickly! We've learned Italian and made beautiful friendships along the way. We've been saying good-bye over the last few days to our teachers, host families, friends and to the city of Ferrara itself. Our wonderful students in Session 2 gave... Continue reading

On Saturday, we took a day trip to Venice by train from Ferrara. We loved it! Maeve and Elizabeth on the Canal Grande Sarley, Lucia, Megan, Cirese and Isaac stop for a picture before boarding our traghetto/gondola. Even though this looks like a gondola, it's not! It's a traghetto (or... Continue reading

Il cortile del castello. The blue color scheme was not planned! Our guide Emanuela front center, and our leader Roberta back center. The Castello Estense is a moated medieval Renaissance castle built for the princely Casa d'Este. The Este dynasty ruled Ferrara from 1240-1597. Il Giardino degli aranci: a perfect... Continue reading

Everything, from the grain that made the flour to the tomatoes in the sauce, was grown on the farm. Roberto and Roberta take a selfie while Roberto's pizza cooks in the wood burning oven. The pizzas were done in under 5 minutes! Teresa and Diana (group leaders) Lucia contemplates her... Continue reading

Another pasta making lesson with fabulous Fabiana, this time with different types of pasta from the South! Spaghetti alla chitarra Megan Isaac, Roberto and Roberta Maeve made a simple dough of semolina flour and water. Rebecca gets creative Amanda perfects her technique with gnocchetti sardi and orecchiette. Check out more... Continue reading

Renowned photographer Gastone Scarabello taught a 2 day workshop that included theory and how to look at a subject. Then he asked the students to go out and to put into practice what they had learned. http://www.artedesignshop.com/it/fotografia/gastone-scarabello.html Gastone critiques Lucia's work in black and white. Anna listens to Gastone critique... Continue reading

On Saturday, we had a guided visit first to Ravenna, where we saw Byzantine Mosaics and Dante's Tomb, and then went to the beach for a relaxing afternoon of playing in the waves, pick-up volleyball, and sunshine. Maeve, Rebecca and Ines wrote CIEE with some of the shells they collected.... Continue reading

Il Castello Estense Our first "pranzo" all'Osteria del Babbuino, where we will be eating lunch on school days! A nice caffe' macchiato Diana Kesselman and Teresa Picarazzi Program Leaders, Ferrara Session 2 Continue reading

Did you know that even though it is completely surrounded by Italy, La Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino is an independent nation? That San Marino is the world's oldest constitutional republic, founded in the year 301 A.D.? Another curious fact: San Marino elects its "president" once every 6 months? San... Continue reading

This past weekend, our senses were treated to more of the region's treasures by visiting a caseificio, an acetaia, and the Ferrari museum, in the province of Modena. We started our field trip at the Caseificio San Michele, where they produce authentic Parmigiano Reggiano. We learned about all of the... Continue reading

We took a leisurely walk through back streets, calli, from the train station to Rialto. Students were able to savor the feel of Venice, despite the crowds. Breath-taking views abound wherever you look in Venice. Academic Director Claudia explains the importance of Piazza San Marco; Marley and Donovan in background... Continue reading

On Thursday, students participated in another hands-on activity by making their own kites at the Gruppo Aquilonisti Vulandra, a kite club that was founded in 1980 by a group of kite enthusiasts. Every year, Vulandra hosts an international kite festival in Ferrara. The students made a sled kite, a sort... Continue reading

You're never too grown up to enjoy a good game of hide-and-seek! Here the Italian Level 1 students learned and used some prepositions by half of the students hiding the clues, and then the other half of the students finding them through oral cues. Chris had a very strong feeling... Continue reading

Last weekend we visited Ravenna, where we saw awe-inspiring Byzantine mosaics dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries. After that, we had a tour of the ancient salt-works of Cervia, and learned about the historical importance of what was once called "white gold". Intrepid travelers on their way to... Continue reading

On Friday, we started off a weekend excursion by going to the beach at the Bagno Ruvido, a beach club in the small town of Punta Marina near Ravenna. There, students experienced the beach the way Italians do, and got some respite from the very high temperature. A goofy moment... Continue reading

On Tuesday, the students had so much fun learning how to make pottery during a pottery workshop held by a local master ceramicist Monica Grandi. Each student created a Ferrara-themed plaque and a vase. Giovanna and Parker cheerfully making their vases, despite the heat. Some examples of pottery that Monica... Continue reading

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