With concrete vestiges of its rich and layered history almost everywhere, Italy invites SYA students to venture outside the classroom and deepen their knowledge of this country’s history, art and culture. On daylong excursions and longer trips, SYA Italy students supplement their classroom studies with visits to a wide range of museums, churches and archaeological ruins. As a group, our students frequently visit Rome, just two hours from Viterbo by train and home to some of the world’s most important artistic and historical artifacts. Several longer trips throughout the year take SYA Italy students to regions in both northern and southern Italy, affording them a glimpse of Italy’s cultural diversity. In the past, the group has visited cities in Tuscany, Umbria, Campania, Sicily and Tunisia.

During school vacation days and weekends, SYA students may remain with their host families or travel independently if they have made detailed plans and secured the proper permission. Over a weekend, students might venture to the Dolomites for hiking, to Milan for shopping or to the coast for the beaches.