Ideas for Italy and Surrounds - Maybe a Language Immersion Program?

[DonPolo]

I've found these forums excellent for solving problems and getting ideas. The current one is this: a large group of my friends, but mostly from Australia are meeting up in Camogli in Liguria for a reunion of sorts in from 15 to 18 September. Most of the people have already planned trips to Europe and Camogli will be just one of their stops on their journey.

I'll be travelling alone at this stage and have already travelled a fair bit in Italy/Sicily but it's a big country and there's always things to explore. I've never visited Napoli or Pompeii for example.

However, I hit upon the idea of combining my interest in languages and the country by taking part in some sort of language immersion program.

There are literally hundreds of these programs and I was thinking that some people here may have some recommendations.

I'm an experienced traveller so don't really need a program to book me accommodation etc. but if that is part of the deal so be it. I have to back in Australia around the end of September, it I guess would be looking at a week or ten days prior to the 15th.

Any ideas for immersion programs?

If I don't to a language program I'm probably leaning towards Emilia Romana, Puglia, Calabria or maybe Piedmonte.

 

[Fioridave]

I've found these forums excellent for solving problems and getting ideas. The current one is this: a large group of my friends, but mostly from Australia are meeting up in Camogli in Liguria for a reunion of sorts in from 15 to 18 September. Most of the people have already planned trips to Europe and Camogli will be just one of their stops on their journey.

I'll be travelling alone at this stage and have already travelled a fair bit in Italy/Sicily but it's a big country and there's always things to explore. I've never visited Napoli or Pompeii for example.

However, I hit upon the idea of combining my interest in languages and the country by taking part in some sort of language immersion program.

There are literally hundreds of these programs and I was thinking that some people here may have some recommendations.

I'm an experienced traveller so don't really need a program to book me accommodation etc. but if that is part of the deal so be it. I have to back in Australia around the end of September, it I guess would be looking at a week or ten days prior to the 15th.

Any ideas for immersion programs?

If I don't to a language program I'm probably leaning towards Emilia Romana, Puglia, Calabria or maybe Piedmonte.

If you are traveling alone, the only immersion program will be on line, and I think it’s kind of a waste to be learning online when you are surrounded by it. Try to speak, listen, and read signs. Buy a newspaper. If you understand well enough, when you go to a museum, get the audio guide and set it ti Italian.

 

[Pauline]

There are lots of language schools for travelers in Italy but you may have to go to a larger town. You could search in Florence. I’ve read about people going to language schools there. Hopefully someone will have suggestions for you.

 

[Ian Sutton]

Any learning options locally to you?

The thought of being on holiday, yet in a classroom, feels strange to me.

 

[DonPolo]

Thanks all. Some good suggestions, but for me the idea of being surrounded by the language with someone to guide me would be awesome. Half a day tuition and then the rest of the day/evening wandering and practicing sounds good to me. I just wondered if anyone had had some experience with this sort of program good or bad?

 

[Pauline]

I follow Lucca Language School on Instagram.

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www.instagram.com

 

[DonPolo]

I follow Lucca Language School on Instagram.

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www.instagram.com

Thanks I have asked them for information. I have also asked for information from the Scuola Leonardo Da Vinci in Viareggio. They also have schools in Roma, Firenze, Turino and Milano.

Centro Puccini - Italian language courses in Viareggio

Centro Giacomo Puccini italian school offers a wide variety of language and culture courses to learn italian on Tuscan Coast. Enjoy yourself in Viareggio!

www.centropuccini.it

 

[davythefatboy]

I've found these forums excellent for solving problems and getting ideas. The current one is this: a large group of my friends, but mostly from Australia are meeting up in Camogli in Liguria for a reunion of sorts in from 15 to 18 September. Most of the people have already planned trips to Europe and Camogli will be just one of their stops on their journey.

I'll be travelling alone at this stage and have already travelled a fair bit in Italy/Sicily but it's a big country and there's always things to explore. I've never visited Napoli or Pompeii for example.

However, I hit upon the idea of combining my interest in languages and the country by taking part in some sort of language immersion program.

There are literally hundreds of these programs and I was thinking that some people here may have some recommendations.

I'm an experienced traveller so don't really need a program to book me accommodation etc. but if that is part of the deal so be it. I have to back in Australia around the end of September, it I guess would be looking at a week or ten days prior to the 15th.

Any ideas for immersion programs?

If I don't to a language program I'm probably leaning towards Emilia Romana, Puglia, Calabria or maybe Piedmonte.

I spent a week in September last year in a town of 2,000 people in italy for a one week immersion in language and culture. I have been coming to italy for 35 years, but it was a great experience and I highly recommend. Valeria and Simona were amazing. They are offering two different weeks this year, Sicily and Puglia, but unfortunately the timing doesn't look like it would work for you.

The web site is https://vitasempliceinitalia.com/

Date - 11 → 18 settembre 2025

Destinazione - Puglia (Nord del Salento)

Focus - Lingua italiana, Cucina contadina, borghi bianchi e la festa della patrona del paese, momento imperdibile per conoscere da vicino le tradizioni locali!

Date - 116 → 23 ottobre 2025

Destinazione - Sicilia (Nord-Est, a casa mia!)

Focus - Lingua italiana, natura incontaminata, incontro con persone locali, artigiani e piccoli produttori e…funghi!

 

[davythefatboy]

If you are traveling alone, the only immersion program will be on line, and I think it’s kind of a waste to be learning online when you are surrounded by it. Try to speak, listen, and read signs. Buy a newspaper. If you understand well enough, when you go to a museum, get the audio guide and set it ti Italian.

Sorry, the immersion program I attended last year in Sicily was great, there were three people traveling alone (including me) and one couple. Not sure why you think these things are online only, I don't really think you can immerse online.

 

[davythefatboy]

Thanks all. Some good suggestions, but for me the idea of being surrounded by the language with someone to guide me would be awesome. Half a day tuition and then the rest of the day/evening wandering and practicing sounds good to me. I just wondered if anyone had had some experience with this sort of program good or bad?

Yes, the trip that I took, after breakfast there was a three hour language class (with a coffee break). After lunch there was an excursion nearly everyday, although there was the option to just walk around or hang out or take a nap. There was an easy hike around Mt. Etna, a visit to a park with giant stones that seemed almost like sculptures, a street festival and a number of other trips. Everything was done in Italian, and we tried our best to only speak italian in the car on the way to the various places. Mostly dinners were at the agriturismo, but a couple times out. Even when the instructor weren't present we (our group was all Americans) were pretty good at sticking to Italian. I would highly recommend it.

 

[California Go Girl]

Thanks all. Some good suggestions, but for me the idea of being surrounded by the language with someone to guide me would be awesome. Half a day tuition and then the rest of the day/evening wandering and practicing sounds good to me. I just wondered if anyone had had some experience with this sort of program good or bad?

I just finished 2 very pleasant weeks at Il Sasso in Montepulciano before setting off on the rest of my Italian trip. The language program was good and I enjoyed my apartment on the far side of town. I didn't feel the need for a lot of day trips after challenging my brain for 4 hours in the morning and conversing during class and the inculded coffee break, so I mostly just relaxed or took short walks on my own during the afternoon and weekends rather than join the group exclusions, other than one Saturday class making pasta and gnocchi. Montepulciano isn't well connected to other towns, so if you will be there without a car (as I was) solo out of town excursions will be challenging.

 

[DonPolo]

I spent a week in September last year in a town of 2,000 people in italy for a one week immersion in language and culture. I have been coming to italy for 35 years, but it was a great experience and I highly recommend. Valeria and Simona were amazing. They are offering two different weeks this year, Sicily and Puglia, but unfortunately the timing doesn't look like it would work for you.

The web site is https://vitasempliceinitalia.com/

Date - 11 → 18 settembre 2025

Destinazione - Puglia (Nord del Salento)

Focus - Lingua italiana, Cucina contadina, borghi bianchi e la festa della patrona del paese, momento imperdibile per conoscere da vicino le tradizioni locali!

Date - 116 → 23 ottobre 2025

Destinazione - Sicilia (Nord-Est, a casa mia!)

Focus - Lingua italiana, natura incontaminata, incontro con persone locali, artigiani e piccoli produttori e…funghi!

Thanks for the reply, Davy (is it?). What a shame the dates don't match. My daughter and her husband are travelling to Pugila on the 20th and have invited me to catch up with them.

 

[DonPolo]

I think I've settled on a 5 day intensive in Viareggio in the Lucca region since I will be meeting friends in Camogli just west of there a couple of days after. Viareggio seems to be a nice seaside town. The next is finding a place to stay either in town or an agritursimo if I can work out the transport.