This is the student zone – here they write about their experiences during the program in Volterra – and their travels, while at the program
This semester us students have five classes: Social History of Art in Italy, Italian Language and Culture, Urban Sketching, Design Studio, and Alabaster which is our sculpture course. However, even before our classes started we had opportunities to explore the town on the Saturday of arrival and the Sunday. Every one of us took advantage of these two free days,...
“Hello and welcome to Volterra,” is what this Summer’s group of study abroad students heard on Saturday May 2nd, 2026 when they moved into their dorms. After many long, tiring hours of travelling and trying to adapt to a new environment it was finally time to get settled into their home for the next three months! This year there are...
Throughout our time in Volterra, our classes were very unique, with many of them taking place outside the classroom. This made the experience much more engaging, and we really appreciated this hands-on way of learning. Our Social History and Art in Italy class brought us to the Museo Etrusco Mario Guarnacci, which houses one of the most important collections of...
We’ve officially made it to our final trip destination with Social Art History in Italy! Florence is the city our class knows best, as we often travel here on day trips. This time, however, we have a full end-of-week stay, giving us a chance to explore the city from a new perspective. Our very first stop was the Cattedrale di...
With an early morning train and a bus transfer, our group finally made it into Siena! As soon as we arrived, we were immediately struck by the iconic ‘burnt Siena’ buildings, this is actually where the color gets its name. Reddish-brown clay found in the region was heated, or ‘burnt,’ to create a deeper, richer red-brown pigment known today as...
Rome was already awake, even if we weren’t after yesterday. We began by passing the Circus Maximus, located right near where we were staying. Once the largest stadium in ancient Rome, it was primarily used for chariot races and public games. Today, it’s a wide open space rather than a preserved structure, where people can walk freely. During our stay,...
Rise and shine Maximus! Well not quite yet. After some early morning coffee, our group hopped on a train and headed out to Vatican City, ready for a full day of exploring. We began in the museum, which is laid out in a timeline-style journey through history. The early rooms displayed early rooms felt familiar with Roman and pre-Roman artifacts...
For our second class trip, we made our way to Rome! Or at least, that’s where the road took us. Our group stayed at the Church of St. Gregory al Celio, located right next to the Circus Maximus. It was a charming spot with several exterior courtyards and was conveniently situated near train and bus stations, making public transportation easily...
We were finally able to go on our first class trip for Social, Culture, and Art History of Italy with Joanna and Wladyslaw. First up was Pisa, a simple bus to Pontedera, followed by a quick train transfer. Originally an Etruscan settlement, Pisa later became a Roman colony and developed into a significant port because of its location near the...
With school field trips scheduled for the second half of the semester, our class embraced the freedom of the first half by setting out to explore more of Italy. Studying architecture in Volterra is an education in itself, but stepping beyond the city walls has allowed us to experience the richness, diversity, and regional character that define Italian culture. From...