Take this unique opportunity and learn Italian from experienced, professional instructors while staying in San Demetrio Corone, an old Italian town built by the Albanian people who fled the Turkish Empire's conquest in the fifteenth century. San Demetrio Corone is a very safe, friendly and relaxing place, located in Calabria, a beautiful region in the South of Italy with historical roots in the cultures of ancient Greece, Albania, Normandy, and Byzantium. 

In addition to attending classes five times a week and participating in weekly seminars with prominent scholars, poets and writers, you will discover Mediterranean culture, tradition, and cuisine. You will have access to various research opportunities, internships with local artisans and business people, and the Internet. 

Take advantage of San Demetrio Corone's idyllic location --15 minutes from the Presila Mountains and 25 minutes from the Ionian Sea and the ancient Greek cities of Sibari and Crotone, where mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras lived and flourished. Recently, San Demetrio Corone has been recognized by Anci (National Association of Italian Towns) as one of the top 4% of Italian towns for its history, culture, architecture, and scenery. 

Enjoy the nearby coast and mountains. Step back into history when you visit ancient Greek and Roman ruins. Tour beautiful Byzantine churches and walk the streets of medieval towns. Learn to cook traditional dishes and visit local artisans. Play soccer, basketball and tennis. Cultural events abound, from local traditional festivals, to popular music concerts, to lectures by prominent Italian and international scholars. At night you may unwind at the local pubs or enjoy the pop music, and go out with friends for evenings under a million stars. 

The program offers courses in Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced Italian, Italian Literature, History, Culture, Cuisine and Business.  

 

- Some practical information about the town.

San Demetrio Corone is a town and not a city which means that students can not expect the same services and transportation system (buses, subway, taxi) they usually find in a big city. In any case everything is more or less at a walking distance and, if the budget allows it, the De Rada Institute will provide a minibus for rides in critical hours of the day. Although it's a small San Demetrio is very well connected. In fact from S. D. is possible to take buses for different towns and cities of Calabria (Sibari, Corigliano Calabro, Acri, Santa Sofia d’Epiro, Vaccarizzo Albanese, Castiglione Cosentino, Cosenza etc.) and of other regions (Messina, Taormina, Palermo, Catania, Napoli, Bari, Roma, Firenze, Perugia, Bologna, Milano etc.).  A complete bus schedule will be available once in Calabria upon student request.

Although it is a small town San Demetrio has 7 grocery stores, 2 fruit vendors, 1 bookstore, 1 pharmacy, 1 computer camera & technical support store, 1 pre-emergency room with doctor available every night and weekends, 2 libraries, 1 bank, 2 bancomat, 1 post office, 2 newspaper vendors, 2 gyms aerobics & fitness, 1 soccer, 1 mini soccer, 1 tennis, 1 basketball/volleyball field, 3 bocce fields, 2 theaters for performances, 11 bars/cafeterias, 1 hotel, 2 beds and breakfast and 12 places to eat (between restaurants, pubs, bakery and pizzerias), etc. In a few words the town offers more than enough for students who want to spend a wonderful summer abroad. For more information about the town please visit the official website of San Demetrio Corone.

Note: The Italian Way: It is customary in Italy, especially in the summer, to have the dinner later in the evening. The heat of the afternoon is generally given over to rest, and things start up again in the evening hours. Shopping and business hours are generally from 8:30am to 1pm and from 4:30pm to 8.30pm. On Monday most of the stores are closed (except for bars, pubs and cafeterias). The rule of closing one day per week is observed by all the stores in Italy till late July.