Siena Language Study
Page 4
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LEFT: I lived in a
house on this quiet, narrow street in the heart of medieval Siena. |
Where I stayed
The Dante Alighieri language school offered several housing options. Some of the longer-term
students were housed in apartments with cooking facilities, while others chose
homestays that included room and board. (Rural cottages are another option for
students who have cars and want to explore the Tuscan countryside in their spare
time.) I stayed with a Sienese woman of middle years who owned an ancient
brick house in the center, a block off the lively Via di Cittą and a two- or
three-minute walk from the Piazza del Campo. I had a double bedroom to myself,
with a modern and attractive bathroom a few steps away. My landlady lived on the
lower floor of the house, where I had breakfast and dinner each day in her
kitchen. From my lodgings, it was about a 15-minute walk to the school through
the curving streets of medieval Siena. I was lucky in visiting Siena at a time
of year when few language students are in town. From spring through fall, when
the school is busier, students are more likely to be boarded with families
outside the town center. Booking early improves the chances of getting a room or
apartment within walking distance of the school. Siena
for you: Yes or no?
Siena's Dante Alighieri is only one of many
excellent language schools in Italy and Europe. Still, if you'd like to study
Italian, it's hard to imagine a nicer location than Siena. The city is beautiful
and packed with great art; it's surrounded by Tuscan hill towns, olive groves,
and vineyards; its population of 56,000 makes it feel cozy without being
confining; its atmosphere is enlivened by a major university; and Florence
(which is served by two airports) is only 75 minutes away by bus. For more
information about studying Italian in Siena, visit
www.dantealighieri.com.
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