Activities and trips are a great way to enjoy the richness of Italy’s culture while absorbing some local history and maybe learning something new. Learning about local culture is a great benefit of studying abroad—while you work towards your degree, you also have a chance to explore a corner of the world that you might be a little less familiar with. Traveling abroad stimulates both your personal growth and your intellectual capacity. Luckily, the John Cabot University Student Services Office organizes trips and activities throughout the semester so students can travel.
Read on to learn more about the trips and activities offered at John Cabot University and how you can benefit from them!
Immerse Yourself in Sensorial Experiences
Indulging the senses, in particular taste and smell, can provide you with a wealth of memories from your time in Italy. When you incorporate food and drink into your time abroad, adventurously tasting, cooking, and exploring ingredients broadens your horizons and allows you to intimately experience a part of Italian culture. The things you learn about Italian cuisine will remain in your mind, connected to the sensations you experienced.
If you take a cooking class organized by JCU, you have the opportunity to learn from an expert Italian chef. Cooking authentic recipes with expert guidance means you’ll get to learn quite a bit about local cuisine when you study abroad in Italy. Food plays a large role in Italian culture and has strong ties to family life. With cuisine being such an important part of Italian identity, learning more about it is an easy way to feel closer to the culture.
Many people also think of wine when they think of Italy, and you can participate in a wine tasting excursion through JCU to learn more about it. This is also a great way to see more of the Italian landscape like the Castelli Romani, which are wine-producing towns scattered in the hilly remains of inactive volcanoes in Colli Albani just outside of Rome.
Experience Physical Activities Outside of University
Moving and exercising are important things for university students to incorporate into their routines. With the amount of time you spend on your studies, getting a chance to stretch out and move is necessary. You can take trips and participate in activities that allow you to fit some exercise into your schedule, while learning and experiencing Italian culture at the same time.
Skiing and hiking are both excellent activities that give students a great view of Italy’s landscapes and help them see how the geography has influenced local culture. A ski trip in the Apennine Mountains shows you the beautiful slopes and lets you breathe in some crisp, refreshing air. Not everyone knows that Italy is one of the “big four” skiing destinations, along with Austria, France, and Switzerland. Students in Italy might want to take advantage of this. Hiking is another way to get a great look at the natural environment in Italy. Hike past caves, creeks, waterfalls, and coastal landscapes on trips to trails by Positano and Amalfi.
If you’re not into athletics, trips like the tour of the thermal baths might be right up your alley. You’ll get to physically experience a piece of Italian history, without doing anything sporty. This still gives you an opportunity to relax and unwind physically. Thermal baths were used by ancient Italians and medieval popes, which means that these trips can help you soak up and experience an interesting part of Italian culture.
Are you interested in going to University in Italy?
Contact John Cabot University for more information.
