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.
This fall marks the 60th anniversary of the Dickinson-in-Italy program! 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 60 years of Dickinson’s oldest study abroad program. The full schedule is available below. Contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at 717-245-1373 or alumni@dickinson.edu.
Check-In times will be available each day. Exact times will be shared in July.
Please note: The schedule below is subject to change. Changes to the itinerary will be communicated with registrants and will be updated on the website as needed.
MONDAY, OCT. 6
Italian to Go
10:30 a.m.–noon
In this course, participants with no prior knowledge of Italian will learn the basics of the language in a collaborative and fun manner. Topics will include ordering at restaurants and bars, daily life, shopping, buying train or theater tickets, asking for information, etc. The approach of the Dickinson-in-Bologna language instructors is communicative and is based in real-life experiences. These two lessons are ideal for participants looking to acquire sufficient knowledge of the Italian language so as to become independent during a stay in Bologna and Italy. Please note: Registrants may sign up for the Monday or Wednesday class or both. Content will vary, day to day.
$30 per person
Walking Tour of Bologna
3–5 p.m.
Explore (or re-explore) the city with our expert guide! This tour will include highlights of the city as well as tours of the Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio.
$25 per person
Wine Tasting at Signorvino in Piazza Maggiore
5:30–7 p.m.
Via Marsala, 2/b
Enjoy a guided wine tasting at this central wine shop in Bologna. Four selected Italian wines and charcuteries will be provided.
$35 per person
Dinner in the Hills
7:30 p.m.
Dickinsonians will enjoy a private dinner with beautiful views of Bologna. Dinner, wine and transportation to and from the restaurant are included.
$90 per person
TUESDAY, OCT. 7
Excursion to Ravenna and Visit to the Byzantine Mosaics
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
This guided tour will offer participants an opportunity to explore the enduring allure of Ravenna's mosaics. Participants will be treated to a close-up view of the remarkable intricacy and aesthetic appeal of these Byzantine mosaic masterpieces, which have earned Ravenna international recognition and a UNESCO heritage site listing. The tour will be conducted on foot; it is recommended for participants who enjoy visiting and learning in a dynamic way, moving from one site to another.
$105 per person
Voice and Emotions: Italian Language Through Theater
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Professor Elena Galeotti, a trained actress, theater manager and language instructor, will lead a workshop on experiencing Italian language through theater techniques. When speaking a global language, we build and communicate a personal view of the world and our connection to it. Such connection is, in many ways, emotional and affective, as we express ourselves through the language we speak. Language is a medium through which we communicate and represent our experiences, our perspectives on reality and our identities. In this workshop, participants will experience speaking Italian in a deeply personal, cooperative and unique way. Prerequisite: knowledge of Italian, post beginner’s level.
$30 per person
Pasta Workshop by the Two Towers
1–3 p.m.
This workshop will last 2 hours and will be held in English by a professional sfoglina, the artisan of fresh, homemade pasta. Starting from the classic well of flour and eggs, the participants will learn the techniques and secrets and will make two of the most traditional shapes. The experience ends with a small tasting of one of the pasta shapes made during the lesson.
$75 per person
Informal Gelato Tour and Tasting
3–5 p.m.
Bologna is home to some of Italy’s best gelaterias. Which will be your favorite? Join the group for a casual walking tour of some of Bologna’s gelaterias. Try just one or try them all!
Free
Centuries of Sounds of Bologna Walking Tour
4–6 p.m.
For over 1,000 years, Bologna has been an active, innovative and influential center of music, both sacred and secular. The city continues to support a thriving musical culture, from choral masses to opera to chamber music to jazz, pop and rock. During this walking tour, you will learn about many of the musicians associated with Bologna; see the locations where they lived, studied and made music; and hear selections of numerous major works. No previous musical experience or knowledge is required. For the fullest experience, bring a phone receptive to mirroring and a Bluetooth headset or earbuds that connect to your phone. This tour will be led by Professor of Music Robert Pound.
$30 per person
Evening
Classes are encouraged to have dinner on their own.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
The Painted Gardens of Bologna
10 a.m. –1 p.m.
Elisabetta Cunsolo, adjunct professor of art history at the Dickinson Center for European Studies in Bologna, will discuss the discovery of a pictorial genre that proliferated between the 18th and 19th centuries, transforming some of the rooms of the Bolognese noble palaces into natural settings. After a talk in the classroom about the history of those deceptively painted walls, which have roots in ancient Rome, we will visit some of these rooms where domestic environments dressed up like beautiful gardens.
$30 per person
Italian to Go
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
In this course, participants with no prior knowledge of Italian will learn the basics of the language in a collaborative and fun manner. Topics will include ordering in a restaurant or bar, daily life, shopping, buying train or theater tickets, asking for information, etc. The approach of the Dickinson-in-Bologna language instructors is communicative and is based in real-life experiences. These two lessons are ideal for participants looking to acquire sufficient knowledge of the Italian language so as to become independent in using it during their stay in Bologna and Italy. Please note: Registrants may sign up for the Monday or Wednesday class or both. Content will vary, day to day.
$30 per person
Renaissance Sculptures of Bologna Walking Tour
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Join Eric Denker ’75, retired senior lecturer and head of tours and lectures at the National Gallery of Art, on a walking tour of Bologna. The group will view some of the great sculptures in the city, including works by Michelangelo, Niccolò dell’Arca and Giambologna.
$15 per person
Pasta Workshop by the Two Towers
1–3 p.m.
This workshop will last 2 hours and will be held in English by a professional sfoglina, the artisan of fresh, homemade pasta. Starting from the classic well of flour and eggs, the participants will learn the techniques and secrets and will make two of the most traditional shapes. The experience ends with a small tasting of one of the pasta shapes made during the lesson.
$75 per person
Balsamic Vinegar Tour and Tasting
2–5 p.m.
Travel to Modena for an afternoon tour and tasting at Acetaia Malpighi, makers of traditional balsamic vinegar since 1850. Transportation is included.
$40 per person
Evening
Classes are encouraged to have dinner on their own.
THURSDAY, OCT. 9
Excursion to Ravenna and Visit to the Byzantine Mosaics
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
This guided tour will offer participants an opportunity to explore the enduring allure of Ravenna's mosaics. Participants will be treated to a close-up view of the remarkable intricacy and aesthetic appeal of these Byzantine mosaic masterpieces, which have earned Ravenna international recognition and a UNESCO heritage site listing. The tour will be conducted on foot; it is recommended for participants who enjoy visiting and learning in a dynamic way, moving from one site to another.
$105 per person
Renaissance Sculptures of Bologna Walking Tour
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Join Eric Denker ’75, retired senior lecturer and head of tours and lectures at the National Gallery of Art, on a walking tour of Bologna. The group will view some of the great sculptures in the city, including works by Michelangelo, Niccolò dell’Arca and Giambologna.
$15 per person
K. Robert Nilsson Center Open House
Via Marsala, 2
5–6:30 p.m.
Stop by the K. Robert Nilsson Center to experience the center as is it today! See photos of students from throughout our 60-year history, learn about current programs and reminisce with fellow alumni.
Free
Wine Tasting at Signorvino in Piazza Maggiore
6:30–8 p.m.
Via Marsala, 2/b
Enjoy a guided wine tasting at this central wine shop in Bologna. Four selected Italian wines and charcuteries will be provided.
$35 per person
Evening
Classes are encouraged to have dinner on their own.
FRIDAY, OCT. 10
Walk the Portico di San Luca
10:30 a.m.
Gather to walk to the Basilica di San Luca through stunning covered walkways. This 3.8-kilometer (1.98-mile) walk is a quintessential Bologna experience. A public shuttle is available for those who wish to ride to the top.
Free
Walking Tour of Bologna
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Explore (or re-explore) the city with our expert guide! The tour will include highlights of the city as well as tours of the Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio.
$25 per person
60th Anniversary Celebration
6–8:30 p.m.
Cap off a week of activities with this celebration of the 60th anniversary of Dickinson in Italy! Join fellow alumni, students, current and former faculty members and distinguished friends as we toast the storied history and bright future of Dickinson’s oldest study-abroad program. Food and drinks will be provided.
$25 per person