ITC 413 MEDITERRANEAN ROOTS & CULTURE OF SICILY

Two Week combination city program: First Week in Taormina and Second Week in Syracuse

Sicily's history is entrenched with the diverse cultures of the Mediterranean reflected in its art, architecture, food and culture. It is the land where Archimedes taught, Saint Paul preached and Pirandello wrote. The course begins with immersion Italian language and culture study in Taormina, nicknamed the Pearl of the Mediterranean and finishes in Syracuse near the mythological Spring of Arethusa with an exploration into the history and culture of Sicily as a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom.

This course aims to give a broad overview of the most characteristic elements of Sicilian culture from the arts to literature and music. Each historical period found its own particular form of expression so a variety of sources can be used to illustrate the interests of the Sicilian people.
A series of thematic, illustrated lectures will consider various aspects of Sicilian culture, both from the point of view of the ruling powers and of the people, in an attempt to analyse what has contributed to the development of Sicilian history and the Sicilian mind-set, and to pin-point similarities and differences of the island’s culture within its wider Mediterranean and European setting.

The course considers Sicily’s position within Western civilisation, aiming to identify the specific Mediterranean characteristics of the island’s culture as well as the more universal ones.

No prerequisite for previous language study; all levels available.

TOTAL COST € 1.750,00 - Airfare not included
(SUPPLEMENT one week host family stay - half board (breakfast & dinner) € 120)

Students may transfer credits directly into their home university or receive
US university credits through Auburn University. Cost of tuition and fees
for 3 to 7 credits from Auburn University is $865.

First week in Taormina includes:

● airport pickup - transfer from Catania airport to Taormina
welcome dinner
● 7 nights - Saturday to saturday (7 nights) - private Room in shared apartment with oher students **
● 20 hours intensive full-immersion Italian language study
● 1st day package
● entrance test
● teaching material
● free academic & social activity program
● free Internet Access (limited 09:00 am – 2:pm)
● free Wireless Internet Access (limited 09:00 am – 2:pm)
● discount student card
● final certificate of attendance
● insurance
● on-site resident director

** SUPPLEMENT one week host family stay in double occupancy: € 112

Second week in Syracuse includes:

● transfer from Taormina to Syracuse
● 7 nights - Saturday to saturday (7 nights) - private Room in B&B
● entrance tickets for archeological areas and museums included in the field trips
● 20 hours course on "Introduction to Sicilian history". Thematic lectures include:
○ The Classical Heritage
○ The origins of Christianity – Sicilian saints and martyrs
○ Christian and Muslim in Medieval Sicily
○ Natural disasters in Sicily – destruction and rebirth
○ Popular culture – music and theatre
○ Rich and poor in 19th century Sicily – readings from Verga, De Roberto,
Tommasi di Lampedusa
○ Society in 20th century Sicily – readings from Sciascia, Danilo Dolci

● field trips include:
○ The Catacombs of San Giovanni
○ The Puppet theatre
○ Ortigia and the Neapolis archaeological park

● farewell dinner
● transfer from Syracuse to Catania Airport

For more specific details on enrolling and getting academic credits for independent Italian studies in Sicily, please contact:

Donnamarie Kelly Pignone
Academic Advisor
U.S. tel/fax: (+1) 603-894-5552 Cell (+1) 978-828-3228
studyabroad@studiareitaliano.com