MCLA, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA. - Modern Languages Travel course to Italy

"Transferring to MCLA was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. Being able to learn from and connect with the faculty and staff equipped me with greater networking capabilities/skills and the opportunity to use them outside of the institution, preparing me for the road ahead. Taking part and engaging in different clubs and organizations on campus helped to shape and guide me for countless opportunities."

Brandon Pender ’07
Research Analyst, Office of State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley ’76

Travel course to Italy

TRVL 300 - The Culture of Italy

We had so much fun! Read all about it!

March 14, 2008 - March 22, 2008

Course Description: One of the features that make Italy one of the most visited countries in the world by tourists of all backgrounds is perhaps the fact that the historical and artistic past is still very much part of the present. On the one hand, whether in history texts or tourist brochures, the pictures of Rome or Pompeii, for example, feature monuments of the past right next to emblems of the present; on the other hand, traditions that date back to pagan times, like the Carnival, are still part of today’s life. This travel course, offered in March 2008 will familiarize students with the past as well as the present aspects of Italian culture - history, art, socioeconomics and politics. Guided tours to famous art museums and venues as well as to historical sites will inform the larger part of the travel course; in addition to that, insights into Italian culture will be provided by visiting relevant sites such as mask-making shops and glass-blowing factories in Venice. The tour will take students to three Italian cities, amongst the richest in history and art: Rome, Florence and Venice.

Course Objectives:

1. To deepen the understanding of the culture of Italy.

2. To critically and comparatively examine the historical, social, economic, and political issues of Italy.

3. To combine travel and study in a formal academic setting.

4. To produce a variety of reports before departing and after returning from the study tour using texts provided during the on-campus meetings, individual research and first-hand observations.

Course Requirements: Before departing and after returning, students will have weekly meetings with the leading faculty in this project, to discuss the assigned readings and audiovisual materials, which offer an overview of Italian culture, history and society. Students will take turns in leading the discussions by preparing presentations and producing one book report. In addition to that, while traveling, students will keep a journal, in which they will note the highlights of the tour as well as their own personal impressions. Upon returning from the study tour, students will complete a final project based on the readings, personal experience and impressions.

Required Readings: Baranski and West eds. The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture

Itinerary

The travel portion of this course will be managed by EF Tours, a leading company in study tours. The student group will be accompanied throughout the trip by a certified, English- and Italian-speaking EF tour guide. Please visit www.eftours.com for more information.

Day 1: Overnight flight to Italy from Boston.

Day 2: Arrive in Rome. Guided tour of Imperial Rome (Via dei Fori Imperiali, Colosseo).

Day 3: Guided tour of Vatican City (Musei Vaticani, Cappella Sistina, Basilica di San Pietro).

Day 4: Excursion to Tivoli in the morning. Gardens of Villa d’Este.

Day 5: En route to Florence, stop in Assisi to visit the Basilica di San Francesco and Giotto’s frescoes. Continue on to Florence.

Day 6: Guided tour of Florence (Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce, Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Belltower, Accademia and Michelangelo’s David).

Day 7: En route to Venice, stop in Verona and visit the Roman Arena. Continue on to Venice for overnight stay.

Day 8: Guided tour of Venice (Piazza San Marco, Canal Grande, Palazzo Ducale, Santa Maria della Salute, Universita’ Ca’ Foscari). Glass-blowing demonstration and/or mask-making workshop.

Day 9: Proceed to airport for return flight.

Cost: around $2800 per MCLA student, inclusive of items below. Depending on student budget, a portion of the costs may be covered by Financial Aid.

-- round trip airfare from airport to Italy;

-- all ground transportation within Italy;

-- all hotel accommodation (triple occupancy with private bath);

-- all venue admissions;

-- most in-hotel breakfasts and some dinners.

For more information, contact Prof. Graziana Ramsden (gramsden@mcla.edu).