• Program Intro
• Calendar
• About Florence
• Course Information
• Housing
• Costs
• Travel Notes
• Application
• Handbook: Florence A-Z (PDF)

Program Introduction

Penn-in-Florence is designed for students interested in Italian language, history, civilization and art history. Taking advantage of the unique location in the heart of Tuscany, the courses explore the history of Florence and Italy. Florentine and Italian art can be studied first-hand in the museums, churches, palaces and gardens. Intensive Italian-language classes are taught at all levels. Classes meet Monday through Thursday. In addition to cultural activities in Florence, the program organizes one-day excursions to Assisi and Siena and a weekend trip to Venice.

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Program Calendar:

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About Florence

Florence is the capital city of the Tuscan region and it’s most populous city, with approximately 365,000 inhabitants. Nestled below the foothills of the Apennines, along the banks of the Arno River it’s easy to see how such a city became home and muse to great thinkers. Once a centre of medieval European trade and finance, Florence is now considered a cultural, artistic and architectural gem, possessing subtle beauty and a striking history.

The cultural and historical impact of Florence is overwhelming. Renowned for ushering in the Renaissance, the city’s artistic treasures are second to none. The works of Botticelli, da Vinci, Boccaccio, and Donatello grace the halls of the Uffizi, the oldest gallery in the world, and Michelangelo’s David stands high above the crowds at The Accademia Gallery. Incomparable churches and an elegant skyline attest to the Florentine love of display.

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Course Information

Students register for a total of two course units (CU). Course preferences are made on the application and are subject to approval by the program director. Course registration is completed by the Penn Summer Abroad office for students who confirm their intent to enroll in the program and submit required pre-departure documents.

Note for non-Penn Students: One CU is generally considered to be equivalent to three semester hours when Penn coursework is transferred to another institution.

Courses:                                                                                                                         

Italian 110: Beginning Italian

Italian 110 is a first-semester elementary language course for students who have never studied Italian before or who have taken the placement test and received a score below 380. All students who have studied Italian previously are required to take the placement test. Class work emphasizes the development of listening comprehension and speaking, with training in reading and writing. The course is conducted in Italian.  (1 CU)

Italian 134: Intensive Second Year Italian
Prerequisite: Completion of Italian 112 or the equivalent (one year of college-level Italian).

Italian 134 is a two-credit course covering the first and second semester of the intermediate year. The course provides for intensive study of the structure of the Italian language at the intermediate level, emphasizing the development of all communication skills.  It is conducted in Italian. (2 CU)

Italian 220: Streets of Florence, Words of Italy
Prerequisite: Completion of Italian 140 or its equivalent (two years of college-level Italian)

The purpose of this course is to enable students to achieve fluency in Italian language and facilitate their transition into more advanced Italian studies. Frequent lessons on site, will draw information and inspiration from the roads, buildings, monuments, markets and ordinary life of Florence. The students will be also exposed to the living and picturesque Florentine Italian language. The course is conducted in Italian. (1 CU)

Italian 297 / History 180: Survey of Italian History and Culture

Through lectures, discussions and field trips, students will explore Italian civilization and culture. The emphasis of the course is on Italian literature, art, history, political and social institutions from the Medieval Age and Renaissance to the present. The course is conducted in English. It counts for the Major and Minor in both Italian Culture and in Italian Literature, and has no prerequisite.  (1 CU)

Art History 251 / Italian 300: The Art of the Florentine Renaissance in the Italian Context

An introduction to the major monuments, historical movements, theories and methods of Italian art from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to the present day. The course will be taught in large part on site and will be conducted in English. The trips to Assisi Siena and Venice will enhance the students’ exposure to Italian art and culture. The course counts for the Major and Minor in both Italian Culture and in Italian Literature, and has no prerequisite. (1 CU)

Faculty

This program is directed by Dr. Fabio Finotti, Mariano DiVito Professor of Italian Studies, Department of Romance Languages, University of Pennsylvania.                                 Email: finotti@sas.upenn.edu

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Housing

Students are housed in double or triple rooms at the Hotel Bellettini located in the historical center of Florence. Breakfast is included.  http://www.hotelbellettini.com/

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Costs

Note: All tuition charges and fees are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees and may change without notice.

Tuition: $5,866
$2,933 per course unit (CU). Students are required to enroll for two CU.

Program Fee: $3,400
Includes accommodation with breakfast, cultural activities and excursions organized by the program to Assisi and Siena. 

The tuition and program fee are billed to the student’s Penn account according to the Summer Sessions billing schedule.

Other Expenses: Students are responsible for other direct expenses including:  

• roundtrip air ticket to Florence
• visa
• course materials
• meals
• local transportation
• personal expenses and entertainment

William A. Levi Travel Fellowship

Financial Aid
Penn Summer Abroad programs may be supported by financial aid. Penn Students seeking financial aid for a program abroad should contact Student Financial Services (www.sfs.upenn.edu) and complete the undergraduate student financial application for the summer term. Non-Penn students apply for financial aid from their home institution.

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Travel Notes

Passport: Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the end date of the program. If you do not already have a passport or need to renew it, you should begin the process immediately. Passport application forms and instructions can be obtained at the U.S. Post Office or at http://travel.state.gov/.

Visa: If you hold a passport from a country within the European Union, you will not need a visa to enter Italy. All other students must apply for a short term student visa in order to participate in the program. There is no visa fee but you must submit your application to the Italian Consulate no less than 60 days before the start of the program. The Penn Summer Abroad office provides instructions and information on how to apply.

Air Tickets: Penn Summer Abroad does not organize travel overseas. Start researching flights early. There are many possibilities and a large variation in prices. You will receive the list of all students in your program. Contact the ones who are likely to travel from the same airport. You may be able to travel together.

Immunizations:Make sure you receive all appropriate inoculations. Consult with your physician and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which provides information on vaccines and immunizations for travel abroad. http://www.cdc.gov/.

Additional information will be provided in the acceptance packet and in pre-departure orientations that will take place in the spring.

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To Apply

Applications are closed for Summer 2009. Check back again in October for updates on the 2010 program.