About
The Dickinson-in-Italy program is Dickinson's oldest education-abroad program, first offered in 1965. That year, eight seniors and eight juniors sailed to Italy on the S.S. Castel Felice. The program now has more than 1,300 alumni.
The academic home for Dickinson-in-Italy is the K. Robert Nilsson Center for European Studies in Bologna. Named in honor of the program’s first director, it is located in the heart of the city, at the beautiful Piazza Maggiore.
60th Anniversary of the Dickinson-in-Italy Program in Bologna
The 2025-26 academic year will mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the program. To celebrate the program’s legacy and continuing impact, Dickinson will hold a series of events for alumni and friends in Bologna, on campus and in cities across the U.S.
Bologna Celebration
October 6–10, 2025
Registration is now open! Join fellow alumni, former directors and friends for a week of celebration in Bologna. Highlights include pasta making workshops, wine tasting, art and language classes, and a celebratory event to mark 60th years of Dickinson’s oldest study abroad program.
Watch the recording of the March 5 webinar to learn more about the October events.
The registration deadline is Monday, June 23. After that date, additional registrations will be accepted as space permits.
Our capstone celebration will take place during the evening of Friday, Oct. 10!
Contact alumni@dickinson.edu with questions or to volunteer for the event.
Hotels:
Click here to view a list of some popular hotels in Bologna.
Hotel Blocks:
Grand Hotel Majestic
Grand Hotel Majestic Reservation Form
Hotel Internazionale Bologna
Hotel Internazionale Bologna Reservation Form
Hotel Cavour Bologna
Hotel Cavour Bologna Reservation Form
Restaurants:
Bologna Restaurant Recommendations
Restaurant recommendations - Google My Maps
Show your Bologna pride! The College Bookstore has a few Bologna-specific items available for purchase!
Flavors of Northern Italy
October 12–19, 2025
All alumni are invited to embark on a delectable journey through the heart of Italy with our culinary tour to Verona and Trento. Visit the Alumni Global Adventures page for more information.
Alumni Weekend 2026
Save the Date!
June 12–14, 2026
Alumni Weekend 2026 will include a celebration of global education at Dickinson. All Dickinson alumni who have studied abroad will have the opportunity to celebrate their experiences and Dickinson’s proud tradition of global engagement.