Summer Program in Pisciotta, Italy
June 27 - August 1, 2008

Download the Pisciotta Brochure (PDF)

Purchase College, SUNY conducts a five-week summer program in Italy offering classes in Italian Language, Art History, Drawing, Anthropology, Italian Drama Studies, and Marine Biology. The program is located in Pisciotta, a small town on the Mediterranean coast about ninety miles south of Naples and even closer to the world-famous Roman and Greek monuments of Pompeii and Paestum. Students will pursue the intensive study of Italian language and culture in a beautiful and historic setting, while earning full undergraduate, graduate and in-service credit. Class size is small and students receive individual attention. With the exception of Italian language, all classes are taught in English. 

Pisciotta is located in the recently established Cilento National Park, the second largest in Italy. Famed for its unspoiled mountains, forests and spectacular beaches, the National Park also features ancient and medieval archaeological sites, beautifully preserved hill-towns, and some of Italy's oldest groves of olive trees. Pisciotta is also within easy reach of the stunning Greek temples at Paestum and the historic and wildly picturesque medieval towns of Amalfi and Ravello. The unique buried city of Pompeii and the outstanding art collections of Naples are only two hours away. The program includes a two day excursion to Florence and concludes with three days devoted to the monuments of Rome and the Vatican.

Though the academic program is a demanding one, students will also have time to enjoy the slower pace of life in Pisciotta. The outdoor cafés and restaurants are delightful, and the nearest beach is just a fifteen minute walk down the hill. Hiking in the National Park is another option, and there is some nightlife in the area too.