Due to its particular geographical position, Italy has always been a natural link between the main ethnic and cultural areas of old Europe, as well as with the world of Arab-Islamic civilisation. Those different cultures, which have shared with Italy many historical events, have exerted strong influences, giving birth to the so-called Italian “cultural cradle”.
With such a cultural inheritance, Italy has always played an important role in the European education system. Nowadays, Italy is engaged to create the so-called "European Area of Higher Education”, thus applying the reform of Higher Education which is being implemented all over Europe. In order to accomplish this engagement, Italy has increased its offer in High Education, creating a wide and various range of courses which still includes the Italian traditional masterdom in fields such as Architecture, Engineering, Design, Restoration of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology.
Foreign students have the possibility to choose among a variety of options, according to their will to attend a specific University course, to study Italian Language and Culture, or to enroll for a Post-Graduated master, etc.
In order to make the best decision about where and what to study, it is very important to have a clear view of the Italian Education System and Institutions. Part I provides general information you may need to choose the course that suits you; Part II gives you all the information (requirements, documents, contacts) to use before and during your staying in Italy.
Here some factors to consider when selecting a program:
How much time do you wish to spend in Italy?
Are you interested in a scholarship program?
Do you wish to enroll for a University course?
Would you like to build foreign language skills?
Should you be concerned about your housing?
What is your financial situation?
It is useful to start our overview on Italy with some basic information:
ü Official name: Repubblica Italiana
ü Area: 301.260 km²
ü Capital city: Rome
ü Population: about 57 million inhabitants. Italy has the third largest European population with the majority living in the North of the country
ü Ethnic composition: Italian (includes small cluster of German, French and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian–Italians and Greek-Italians in the South)
ü Regions: 20 regions, five of which with special autonomy status
ü Official language: Italian
ü Other languages spoken: German (parts of the Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking); French (small French speaking minority in Valle d’Aosta region) and Slovene in the Trieste-Gorizia area
ü Government: a parliamentary republic; the head of state is the President
ü President of the Republic in 2005: Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
ü Head of Government in 2005: Silvio Berlusconi
ü Religions: 84% Roman Catholic; 16% other including Jewish, Muslim, and Protestant
ü Climate: on the map Italy looks like a boot stretching from Europe into the Mediterranean sea and this accounts for the variation in climate from North to South and according to altitude. The Northern part of Italy has hot summers and cold winter, although the temperature rarely drops below freezing during the daytime. The South enjoys mild winters and long, dry, hot Summers.
Mountain areas such as the Alps and the Apennines have long, cold winters long and short, cool summers.
Italy is known as the Bel Paese
and it is a truly beautiful country that creates lasting memories for everyone
who visits it. There is so much to see from the famous cities to the many
beautiful villages, from the beaches and the countryside to the mountain regions
and the lakes.
It is impossible to mention all there is to see in Italy since each region has
so much to discover and explore, each beautiful in a very different way. Here
below are just a few points of interest to give you a feel for some of the
different regions from North to South.
ü Valle d’Aosta
The Aosta region, close to the French border, has some of the most famous and spectacular mountains in the Alps. Monte Bianco and Monte Rosa create a breathtaking panorama and provide endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts who can hike and climb in summer and ski in winter.
ü Piemonte
Piemonte borders with France and Switzerland and is famous for its wonderful Alpine scenery and ski resorts, as well as its many first class wines and gastronomic delights including truffles, cheese and excellent meat. It is a region full of monasteries abbeys and convents. Torino is the main town, famous for a religious relic known as the Holy Shroud once owned by the Royal family of Savoy, but also for its world renowned Egyptian Museum.
ü Trentino Alto Adige
The Trentino Alto Adige region lies to the North East and is made up of two provinces. One is Trentino, mainly Italian speaking and its capital is Trento. The other province is Alto Adige, mainly German speaking and its capital is Bolzano. This province home to another mountain range, perhaps less famous than the Alps but certainly no less spectacular. Tourists flock to the Dolomites in winter for skiing and in summer for hill walking and mountain climbing.
ü Lombardia
Lombardia is home to the city of Milano, famous all over the world for its fashion houses, but the region also has many artistic and architectural treasures such as the Cathedral (Il Duomo) and Leonardo’s Ultima Cena painting in Milan, the medieval town of Bergamo and the Ducal Palace in Mantova with frescoes by Mantegna. Lombardia also is home to the famous Italian lakes, Lago Maggiore and Lago di Como.
ü Liguria
One of the smallest regions is Liguria with the main town of Genova, home of Christopher Columbus, the navigator who discovered America. Liguria has a beautiful coastline along the Mediterranean, dotted with villages perched high above the sea such as the famous Cinque Terre as well as many picturesque harbours including the very prestigious port of Portofino.
ü Veneto
The Veneto region is most well known for the city of Venezia with its canals and gondolas, the Bridge of Sighs and the beautiful Piazza San Marco. The region is also famous for the town of Verona, the city of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Here concerts and operas are performed in the summer in the ancient Arena. It is only a stone’s throw from the Lago di Garda, the lake that lies half in Veneto and half in Lombardia.
ü Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia’s most famous city is Trieste, once a main trading port for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When the Romans were here, their port was Aquileia but the sea has since receded and the town now lies inland. Another town well worth a visit is Udine, once under the rule of Venezia and with many buildings reminiscent of that period.
ü Emilia Romagna
Heading south the next region is Emilia Romagna, one of the most famous gastronomic regions of Italy so make sure you have time to enjoy some of the wonderful regional specialities while here. The main town is Bologna, home to the ancient University, and full of churches, museums and historical buildings. Other towns well worth a visit are Modena, Ferrara and Ravenna. Rimini lies on the coast and is one of the most popular Italian seaside resorts, especially for young people and families.
ü Marche
Between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Coast lies the region called Marche, often unknown to many travellers. Italians enjoy the many beach resorts around the towns of Pesaro and Ancona here in the summer but the region offers much more. There are many lovely towns to visit such as Urbino, a beautiful Renaissance city, but also wonderful inland mountain countryside and nature parks.
ü Toscana
Toscana is home to the leaning Tower of Pisa, the Piazza del Campo in Siena where the Palio is held, and the magnificent and well-maintained architecture of Firenze, one of Italy’s most visited cities and birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. The region is full of fascinating historical towns and villages such as Lucca, San Gimignano, Pienza and Volterra set in the famous Tuscan countryside which make Toscana one of the richest artistic regions in Italy. It also has its own coastline and is a favourite holiday destination for many Italians.
South of Toscana lies the less well known region of Umbria, with its magnificent rural landscapes and the wonderfully preserved towns of Perugia, Gubbio, and Assisi.
ü Lazio
Roma, Italy’s capital, is also the main town of the region
known as Lazio. Roma, the Eternal City, is a walking museum of history, art and
architecture. The ruins from Roma’s glorious past are situated in the city
centre itself and include the monumental Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Roma is
also famous for its wonderful squares and fountains such as the romantic Piazza
Navona with Bernini's fountain of the "Four Rivers", the Piazza di Spagna and
the Trevi Fountain, all in the heart of the city and within walking distance of
one another.
No visit to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Città del Vaticano,
the world’s smallest sovereign state, where you can take part in a religious
mass in St Peter’s square and visit the fabulous Basilica and Museum.
You should also find time to travel outside Roma where there is also so much to see. In particular the region is home to what remains of the ancient Etruscan civilisation, which dates back to before Roma was founded.
ü Campania
The Campania region is famous for Napoli, Sorrento, the Amalfi coast, the islands of Capri and Ischia. The coastline of the Bay of Napoli offers spectacular scenery and Naples may have a reputation as a loud and chaotic city but it is a town well worth visiting. It is full of wonderful churches and historical buildings from the past but it also has a very lively and colourful present!
From here you can take a trip to Mount Vesuvius, the active volcano that wiped out the towns of Pompei and Ercolano in 79 A.D, two sites definitely not to be missed on a visit to this region.
ü Abruzzo
The regions further south are often less visited by international tourists although there is now growing interest in this part of Italy too.
Abruzzo has the Apennine mountains, home to the National Park
of Abruzzo where you can follow mountain trails and perhaps catch a glimpse of
the local wildlife, including some rather shy bears. There are also beautiful
towns to visit, such as L’Aquila with its fine architecture, Sulmona considered
the most beautiful town in the region with its Gothic and Renaissance style of
buildings and Chieti with its wonderful views across Abruzzo to the sea.
South of Abruzzo is the small region of Molise. Many people visit Termoli, a
popular beach resort with a lovely old town. From the harbour of Termoli you can
take the boat across to the Isole Tremiti, uncontaminated islands that lie just
off the coast. The main towns of the region are Campobasso and Isernia.
ü Puglia
Puglia at the heel of the Italian boot, has wonderful landscape and beaches as well as castles and towns of historical interest. Lecce in particular is well worth a visit for its baroque houses and churches.
ü Basilicata
Basilicata has for a long time been an underdeveloped region but is of considerable historical interest. One town worth a visit is Matera where you can visit the caves in the rocks that until recent times were used as houses. It also has fine beaches to enjoy in the summer months.
ü Calabria
Calabria is another region that is perhaps less well known by international visitors although it is a popular holiday destination for Italians since it offers both mountains and a wonderful coastline. It received international attention recently when the famous Greek Bronze warriors were retrieved from the seabed.
ü Sicilia
Sicilia is the sunkissed island with a wonderful climate all year round, but it is also a very interesting historical island. Invaded and conquered over the centuries, it offers a wealth of sightseeing from Greek temples and Roman ruins, Norman castles and Byzantine domes. After visiting these wonderful monuments, you can relax on the beautiful golden beaches, or climb Mount Etna, Europe's largest active vulcano.
ü Sardegna
The largest Mediterranean island after Sicilia is Sardegna. This island is a favourite holiday destination among Italians and hosts growing numbers of international tourists each year. It has some of the finest beaches and sea in Italy and many Italians will tell you there are no better beaches anywhere in the world. It is a truly beautiful island with its many medieval towers and castles and many examples of traditional culture.
It is a good idea to pick up some guidebooks on Italy before you come to ensure you have the information you need for your stay. Practical information on the university will be provided by the International Office of the chosen university. Remember however that your experience will be a personal one, and just how much diversity you experience will depend very much on your own background.
ü Business hours: most shops in Italy open from 9.00 to 12.30 and from 15.30/16.00 to 19.30/20.00 and will usually close on Monday mornings. Shops in the large town centres such as Milan and Rome will stay open during lunch time but otherwise streets empty out during the lunch break as Italians go home to eat or look for something to eat in one of the bars or restaurants nearby. Supermarkets and shopping malls stay open all day from 9.00 to 21.00/22.00 six days a week, although some are now starting to open on a Sunday as well. There are often special Sunday openings for all shops in the run up to Christmas or on special occasions.
Post office hours vary but in general they are open Monday to Saturday and usually close early on the last day of the month or the day before a public holiday. Banking hours can vary slightly but in general are from 8.30 to 13.30 and from 14.30 to 16.00 from Monday to Friday. They may close earlier on the day before a public holiday.
ü Electricity: Italy uses the standard European 220 volts. Check whether you need an adaptor or transformer if you are bringing any electrical devices with you.
ü Getting around: public transport is usually cheap and efficient and is probably the best way to visit Italian cities, since parking, petrol and motorway tolls are quite expensive in Italy. Generally speaking, it is usually more expensive to buy a single ticket, so it is worth your while finding out about the cost of weekly or monthly tickets for transport in your town. Be aware that bus tickets are not sold on board and need to be purchased beforehand, usually at tobacconist's and news-stands. All tickets must be stamped before boarding trains and underground trains or on board buses.
a) bus: all the major cities have extensive bus and tram networks but these can inevitably be slow during peak traffic hours when the towns become very congested.
b) underground: Roma, Napoli and Milano have an underground network known as the Metropolitana. Roma has two lines and Milano has three lines. Naples also has funiculars and a commuter line. The Metropolitana and the three Funicolari are a much faster form of travel especially at the busy times of the day.
c) taxis are widespread, especially in the large cities, and can be recognised by the neon sign on top. Taxis are usually white or yellow. Fares are quite high and there are additional charges for luggage, pets, at night-time, and on public holidays. Official taxis have taximeters which display the fare to be paid and will issue a receipt if required. Tipping is not necessary but most people round up a euro or two. Very few taxis accept credit cards in Italy.
Be aware of unofficial taxis that are often parked near airports and train stations.
d) bycicles: most Italian cities and towns have very intense traffic during working hours and bicycle lanes are practically non existent but buying a bicycle (new or second hand) is an option worth considering in smaller towns.
ü Housing: to enable students coming from outside the chosen study site to attend their study courses regularly, the local DSU (Diritto allo studio universitario) office supplies places in hostels or flats. Should the number of students with a right to housing be greater than the number of places available, then places are allocated according to a priority list or according to the chronological order of the applications submitted.
Renting an apartment in cities and large towns will be more expensive and can range from 300 euros to 1000 euros a month, depending on the size and the area where you choose to stay.
Student accommodation will give you the option to rent a room rather than the whole apartment.
If you wish to make your own arrangements, housing for rent appears in local newspapers or you can go to a real estate agency. These can be very helpful but they will charge a fee for finding the accommodation. The minimum rent period is usually one year but furnished rooms in university towns are available for shorter periods.
ü Living costs: prices can vary considerably depending on where you live. All the tourist areas and the main cities, especially in the North of Italy, are more expensive than smaller towns.
ü Banking: non residents (visitors for less than six months) can generally open an account provided they have their tax registration code (codice fiscale). Some banks may also ask for a residence certificate.
You can change currency at any bank and post office or you can withdraw cash from Automatic Teller Machines (Bancomat) that have an international circuit. Credit cards are widely used throughout Italy but you will need cash if you are buying at street markets.
ü Medical care: medical and pharmaceutical assistance for foreigners in Italy is regulated by international agreements and treaties. To benefit of such assistance, foreign students are required a specific documentation.
Non-EU students must have a health insurance policy; this may be made either at their arrival in Italy with a private Italian insurance company, or before their departure with an insurance company of their respective countries; in this second case, students had better contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their home countries of origin for further information on the existing agreements on medical assistance.
ü Pharmacies: pharmacies are recognizable by a red or green cross outside the shop. Pharmacists can give advice and sell over the counter medication but they cannot distribute prescription medications without a doctor's authorization.
If you take prescription medicine on a regular basis, it is advisable to ask your doctor in your home country for the generic name of the medicine as brands vary from country to country.
Otherwise, you should bring an adequate supply for your stay.
Pharmacies are open during normal shopping hours and there is always one pharmacy in the area open 24 hours.
