After studying Italian off-and-on for several years - and losing much of my fluency due to non-use - I'm planning a 2-week immersion course in Italy, followed by a third week of traveling from a different base city. For the language school, I like the ones in the small cities of Modena and Arezzo. I haven't been to either town, although I've spent time in several towns near Arezzo. From your experience, which town would you prefer if you had 2 weeks there? (Keep in mind this would be October/November - not ideal weather, but that's the time frame that works for me. And all my travel will be via train or bus.)
For example, if I do the school in Modena for 2 weeks, I could do some afternoon/weekend exploring in nearby towns of Parma, Mantua and Ferrara by train/bus. (I've already spent time in Bologna.). Then, for my third week, what other town would be a good base for speaking solely Italian?
Conversely, if I school in Arezzo, I'd be visiting many of the towns in Tuscany and Umbria in which I've previously stayed - and enjoyed - so that certainly wouldn't be a hardship. Maybe the third week could be based in Emilia-Romagna, since I'd only been to Bologna in that region.
Any and all suggestions are most welcome. Thanks for your input.
For example, if I do the school in Modena for 2 weeks, I could do some afternoon/weekend exploring in nearby towns of Parma, Mantua and Ferrara by train/bus. (I've already spent time in Bologna.). Then, for my third week, what other town would be a good base for speaking solely Italian?
Conversely, if I school in Arezzo, I'd be visiting many of the towns in Tuscany and Umbria in which I've previously stayed - and enjoyed - so that certainly wouldn't be a hardship. Maybe the third week could be based in Emilia-Romagna, since I'd only been to Bologna in that region.
Any and all suggestions are most welcome. Thanks for your input.