Bologna Celebration FAQs

Yes! All Dickinson alumni and their guests are welcome to attend the celebration.

Many of our events have limited capacity and require advance registration. The registration deadline is Monday, June 23. Some events may reach their capacity before then, and additional spots will be added, if possible, before the registration deadline. After June 23, additional registrations will be accepted as space permits.

The cost of registration depends on the events you register for. You are welcome to attend as many or as few events as you wish.

Cancellations will be accepted with full refunds until June 23. You must contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at 717-245-1373 or alumni@dickinson.edu to cancel your reservation and request a refund.

You can find a full schedule of events here.

Many classes have class captains who are working to coordinate class attendance and special events. These events are being planned by and communicated to each class. Contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at 717-245-1373 or alumni@dickinson.edu to learn how to become a class captain.

No! You are welcome to attend as many or as few events as you wish.

Check-In times will be available each day. Exact times will be shared in July.

Some events, such as wine tastings and pasta workshops, are suitable for adults only. We trust families to determine whether the other events will be suitable for their children. We are not able to adjust prices for children. If you have questions about specific events, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at 717-245-1373 or alumni@dickinson.edu.

We encourage you to make individual travel plans that suit your preferred vendors and travel styles.

Bologna train routes are well connected to areas across Italy and to the rest of Europe! You can book train tickets by visiting one of the sites below:

• General TrenItalia Information, schedules and tickets
• Fast Train: Frecce Rossa
• Train, bus, plane or ferry
• CartaFreccia young and senior offers

Note: Senior offers provided by Trenitalia allow passengers over 60 years old to receive discounts of up to 50% on most train types, including Intercity and Frecciabianca. Membership with CartaFRECCIA is required. The high-speed rail operator Italo also offers an Italo senior discount for those aged 60 and above, providing substantial reductions on ticket prices.

Please note that some routes and tickets may not be available until closer to the date of your trip.

Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (Airport code BLQ; Italian: Aeroporto di Bologna-Guglielmo Marconi) is only a few miles outside of the city. There are also trains available from airports in other major cities across Italy.

Click here to view a list of some popular hotels in Bologna. A hotel block has been arranged at the Grand Hotel Majestic. Some guests are booking housing through Airbnb.

Our celebration takes place while the college is in session, so Dickinson apartments will not be available to alumni guests.

Thank you for your support of the college! Gifts can be made through our online giving form or when you register for the celebration. There are many ways to support the Dickinson-in-Italy program, including:

• by selecting “Study Abroad” while making a gift.
• by directing your gift to one of the funds established for students in Bologna:
  
  Marco Biagi Scholarship: Established in 2003 to honor the memory of Professor Marco Biagi, who taught students at the R. K. Nilsson Center in Bologna, Italy, for more than 20 years.
  
  Robert and Juliana P. Nilsson Scholarship: Established in 2015 in honor of K. Robert Nilsson (1927-99) and Juliana Nilsson. Dickinson established its presence in Bologna in fall1965, when Professor of Political Science K. Robert Nilsson and his wife, Juliana, led 16 juniors and seniors during a year of study in Italy. The Nilsson Scholarship provides support for a student studying at the K. Robert Nilsson Center in Bologna, Italy. Preference goes to a student who is participating in the program for the entire academic year and who demonstrates financial need. Special preference will be given to a student or to students in need of additional support to take full advantage of the study-abroad experience.
  
  Francesco Guccini Study Abroad Scholarship: Established in 2020 by Mary F. Jenkins '70, P'07, in honor of Francesco Guccini to provide support for students with demonstrated financial need who study abroad for a semester or a year.

The Fork is a popular app that allows you to easily reserve tables at restaurants around Italy. Several restaurants in Bologna have a reservation system on their website.

A list of recommended restaurants will be coming soon!

We recommend cocktail attire for the Celebration Reception on Oct. 10. Attire for other programs is at the discretion of the guest.

Classroom space in the Nilsson Center is limited. Should space for specific classes become available, we will share that information closer to the date.

The Nilsson Center will be holding classes for students throughout our week of events. We ask that alumni and guests be respectful of the space to allow minimal disruption to the academic program. The center will be open for all alumni to tour on Thursday, Oct. 9, 5–6:30 p.m.

To let us know if you have accessibility/mobility issues, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement staff at 717-245-1373 or alumni@dickinson.edu, or indicate your needs by answering specific questions about mobility/accessibility on the online registration form. Please note that some activities have physical requirements