Beyond the Piazza: Living and Learning in Italy

Studying abroad in Italy introduces students to thousands of years of world-famous art, history, culture, and cuisine. When students want more than a tourist experience, they can turn to the Pitzer in Italy program.  

Study abroad becomes personal in the Pitzer in Italy program. Students live with host families in the city of Parma, where they cultivate language learning and cross-cultural community building. They take classes at the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world. Students also partner with local organizations for independent study projects. Additionally, study trips introduce students to Italian arts, food, and architecture.

Program Directors and mother-daughter duo Franca Mora and Elena Feboli support students throughout their time in Italy. For decades, they have introduced students to their hometown and guided them through the program’s transformative, multicultural experience.

Pitzer in Italy Highlights

• Homestays with host families 
• Language learning in Italian 
•  Independent study project 
• Study trips exploring opera, cheesemaking, pasta-making, castles, art, and more 
• Extended excursion to Sardinia to delve into history, sustainability, and regional identity
• Coursework in Italian Renaissance art and contemporary Italian issues 
• Learning at the University of Parma and Toschi Art Institute of Parma

A defining trait of Pitzer in Italy is its location in Parma. The mid-sized university city is a hub of art, business, politics, science, and culinary specialties like Parmigiano-Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma.  

Mora and Feboli pointed out that, compared to tourist-heavy cities like Florence, most Parma residents don’t speak English. This helps students to practice Italian and soak in the culture.  

Sofia Presser ’26, who did the program last fall, agreed with this assessment. 

“I noticed my Italian improved a lot quicker than my peers’ who were studying in Florence, Rome, and so on,” said Presser.

Feboli said that the program “has this great addition of being with a host family who welcomes students with open hearts.” 

Presser found this to be true with her host family. 

“I was worried about taking up space in a house that wasn’t mine,” said Presser. “Yet, I was met with openness and kindness I have never experienced. I will cherish the relationships I have with each member of my host family forever.” 

Aside from talking to their host families, students also work with an Italian university student who is learning English. Their language immersion goes hand in hand with their community immersion. 

Located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, Parma is well connected by train to the rest of the country. Pitzer students have traveled to Milan, Florence, Venice, and Rome to experience the thriving artistic and cultural scene in those cities. 

Intercultural Understanding in Practice 

Independent study projects are developed in consultation with the program directors and local partners, ensuring that students’ work is academically grounded and responsive to community context. Students find many ways to exercise intercultural education through their projects. Examples include: 

• Teaching English to students of all ages 
• Pursuing immigration justice through non-profits and centers 
• Assisting in health programs at local clinics 
• Supporting media arts initiatives
• Doing research in various departments at the University of Parma

Feboli described the independent study project as a community-based learning experience in which students collaborate with local organizations while applying their academic work in a real-world context.

Some students have turned their research into fellowships. Elizabeth (Ellie) Montoro ’24 worked with the Centro Immigrazione Asilo Cooperazione Onlus while in Parma. Along with her time with the U.S. Coast Guard, the experience inspired her to research international maritime law and migration for her 2024–25 Fulbright award. 

Presser, who is a sociology and organizational studies major, enjoyed teaching English to Italian middle school students for her independent study. 

“I hope to be a teacher after I graduate, and this experience allowed me to follow my passion, while also getting real-world classroom experience,” said Presser. “I felt like I was able to connect with Pitzer’s core value of intercultural understanding.”

Learn more about the Pitzer in Italy program.