Prices & Dates
Summer 2: June 29 – July 15, 2012 - $3,595 + Airfare
Program Details
Age Requirement: Completing grades 9 – 12
Language Requirement: Open to All Levels
Flight Information: Designated Flight Information
School Name: Dante Alighieri Institute
Course Hours: 40 Hours of Italian Language & Culture
On-Site Leadership: On-Site Directors
Teacher Travelers: TBA
About SPI Siena
Siena is a beautiful medieval town built upon three hills in the heart of scenic Tuscany. The summer brings a wealth of festivities to Siena, such as the thrilling Palio Festival that SPI Siena Italian immersion summer program participants have the opportunity to experience firsthand! Famous for its history, art, cuisine, museums and many medieval treasures, Siena has maintained a unique character and beauty that charms its visitors year round. Though small, the city has a large student population, helping to create an intimate and studious environment perfect for students to immerse themselves in the Italian language and culture. You will have a plethora of places to explore and do, from socializing at local pizzerias and cafés, shopping and discovering theaters, to visiting world famous museums and art galleries. Siena truly is ideal for total immersion into the Italian language and way of life.
History of Siena | Map of Siena
What Students Say
The school in Siena was wonderful! The classes really challenged my Italian skills and the teachers were so friendly and helpful. They really made learning the language and come to life!
Getting the chance to travel to Italy is a once in a lifetime opportunity and this trip made every penny worth it. I loved experiencing a new way of life and a different culture. The SPI program helped prepare me for college and opened my interest to studying different languages.
Italy really opened my mind to lots of new ideas and people. I realized people all around the world are so different yet so similar. It was a great experience, definitely study abroad in high school.
Itinerary:
| Day 1 |  Departure Day: Depart for Rome, Italy! Most flights from the U.S. will leave in the mid afternoon or evening and arrive in Rome the following morning. You will travel from your home city and connect to meet SPI staff, teacher travelers, and other group members to travel on the designated international flight. View Flight Information |
| Day 2 |  Arrival Morning:Arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airportwhere you will be met by SPI on-site directors. From here, you will meet any students traveling on different airlines and transfer to the hotel located in the center of Rome. Your on-site director will collect your passport to hold for the duration of the program. At the hotel, you will have time to freshen up after your long journey!Rome Hotel Information: Grand Hotel Palatino
Afternoon: Get to know your directors and fellow travelers over an orientation lunch followed by a walking tour of central Rome. Experience all ancient and modern Rome have to offer with anticipated stops at the The Forum Boarium, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon (time permitting.) (Lunch and dinner will be paid for on your own so you can start practicing paying in Euros!) Evening: Enjoy an evening dinner at an authentic pizzeria for yummy Italian pizza with your group. Return to the hotel to get a good night’s sleep! |
| Day 3 |  Morning: Enjoy breakfast (included) at the hotel. Spending the morning exploring the Vatican City, a city state that is entirely landlocked by the city of Rome. Here you can soak in the beauty of the church and it’s surroundings. There’s also great shopping nearby at Porta Portese.Afternoon:After lunch, travel to Siena in the heart of Tuscany to meet your homestay and get settled in. Make sure to have your camera ready as you will be passing through some of Italy’s most beautiful landscapes. Before arriving in Siena, you will have another orientation briefing with your director. (Lunch will be paid for on your own.)
Evening: Arrive in Siena to greet your homestay! Enjoy the first night getting to know your homestay by sharing pictures and getting your mind thinking in Italian! It is a good idea to bring a small gift from your hometown to break the ice. Your homestay will help familiarize you with the city on the map and help get you to school the following morning. Palio Festival 2012: Students will have the very special opportunity to experience the preparations for the world famous Palio di Siena festivities with their homestay and group. |
| Day 4 |  Morning:Today you’ll start your Italian language immersion courses at our partner institution, Dante Alighieri Language Institute. Classes are taught by Dante staff and take place near the center of Siena. You will take a placement test to evaluate your level of Italian and be placed into the correct class. SPI Italian language immersion courses focus on the practical acquisition of the language and are both challenging and fun! SPI offers courses at all Italian Levels including AP/IB.Afternoon: Spend the afternoon exploring Siena on a guided orientation tour.
Palio Festival 2012: Enjoy the Palio horse race festivities all afternoon! The Palio di Siena, first of which took place in 1656, is a horse race that is held twice a year in Siena, where riders represent the contrade, or city neighborhoods marked with a distinct flag. You will see the pride and joy of the Sienese people come to life as you witness this “once in a lifetime” experience! Evening: Enjoy a nice meal with your homestay! Mealtime is very important in Italy and where you’ll learn cultural differences and develop in the Italian language. Be sure to let your homestay know in advance if you are going to miss a meal. Many students will meet after dinner for a gelato and a typical stroll around the neighborhood. Weekday Curfew: 10 PM Weekend Curfew: 11 PM Learn More about Housing Options & Curfews |
| Days 5-8 |  Morning: Light breakfast at home. Regular SPI Italian language immersion courses. Watch your skills progress as you learn Italian from native speakers! After class, have lunch with other students (lunch is an additional cost.)Afternoon: Elective activities will be offered three days a week normally on Mon/Wed/Fri (weather permitting.) On Tues/Thurs directors will offer an optional cultural activity such as a cultural event or performance. Elective activities will be selected on-site and potential activities include: visit to the Duomo, cooking classes, sports, hiking, scavenger hunts to hone your skills, tour the Palazzo Pubblico, and explore the Fortezza Medicea.
Evening: Spend the early evening exploring Siena and all that is it has to offer. After, enjoy a nice meal with your homestay. |
| Day 9 |  Morning: Head to the beautiful bustling city of Florence for an all day excursion! In Florence, your senses will be bombarded with everything “italiano” from art to architecture, and food to great people watching, this city is in constant motion!Afternoon: Visit some of Florence’s most famed sights like the Ponte Vecchio and the famous Duomo. Enjoy a personalized tour as you visit two famous art galleries Uffizi and Academia, two of the finest art museums in the world, founded by the last member of the Medici family (one museum included – time permitting we will visit both.)
Evening: After exploring the local gift shops and artisan boutiques in the evening, students will return to Siena for an evening meal with their homestay (some groups may decide to eat in Florence.) A fun evening activity will be planned with directors. |
| Day 10 |  All Day: Enjoy a nice full day with your homestay and new friends. Enjoy the Italian summer by strolling the streets and indulging in tasty gelato. This is also a great opportunity to explore Siena more by eating at restaurants, shopping, and taking in all Siena has to offer. (All three meals are included today!) |
| Days 11-15 |  Morning: Light breakfast at home followed by continued regular SPI Italian language immersion courses. Watch your Italian skills continue to progress as you master new grammatical concepts and improve in your speaking ability! After class, enjoy lunch with other students (lunch is an additional cost.)Afternoon: Potential elective activities for week two include: afternoon excursion to nearby town of San Gimignano, hiking, sports activities, visits to local museums and sights, journal writing, photography, and social exchanges with local students.
Evening: Spend the early evening exploring Siena and all that is it has to offer. After, enjoy a nice meal with your homestay each evening. On Day 15, enjoy a final evening recounting memories with your group over a final gelato in the Piazza. |
| Day 16 |  Afternoon: Enjoy your final lunch in Siena with your homestay and say goodbye.Evening: Depart Siena by bus or train for Rome. Stay at a hotel near the FCO Airport outside of Rome. You’ll have your final dinner with the group and share memories of your time in Italy. (Dinner included)
Hotel Contact Info: Hotel Gioberti |
| Day 17 | Morning: Light breakfast included (time permitting.) Wake up early and travel from the hotel to Rome FCO Airport. Depart Italy with a life changing experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life! |