Reading and Writing Italy Program of Study Field Trips Student Life Program Costs Applying
Reading and Writing Italy
Each summer, Georgetown offers a six-credit creative writing program at the Villa Le Balze. Taught in English by Professor John Pfordresher, the program, now more than twelve years old, provides students with the opportunity to explore and reflect on contemporary Italian culture while improving their writing skills. Enrollment is limited to twenty one students who live and study together in a small, closely-knit community and participate together in several trips and activities, continuing the shared learning experience that students are able to enjoy at the Villa during the academic year. Working with Professor Pfordresher, students have the opportunity to improve their critical reading skills and to enhance their abilities in creative and analytic writing.
In addition to the traditional coursework, students are asked to keep a journal in which they are encouraged to reflect on their impressions as they explore the city of Florence. As a class, the students visit some of Florence's better known monuments and museums, but, as they become more familiar with the city, they are encouraged to search out and write on whatever in the city engages them.
Sant'Antimo
Program of Study
The program combines literature, writing, travel, and cultural studies. Among the several major works the students read and discuss are Barbara Grizzuti Harrison's Italian Days, an account of the author's year long travels through Italy in search of her home and Giuseppe Di Lampedusa's The Leopard, a novel set during the unification of Italy in the 1860's. Students also attend lectures on the art and architecture of Florence and on contemporary Italian society. Classes meet Monday through Thursday, either in a classroom, the Villa library, the Villa gardens, or in Florence itself.
Program Costs
The cost of the program includes tuition for six credits, room and board at the Villa, museum fees, and field trips. Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Italy.
The Ilex Grove at the Villa
The Summer 2008 Participants
Summer program participants on a weekend trip
Student Life at the Villa
In the evenings, students enjoy conversation over meals and sample la cucina italiana, some of the many pleasures of living at the Villa. On at least one evening a week, current films on Italy and its lifestyles and culture are shown. A poetry reading and workshop, as well as an evening of wine tasting, are also part of the program.
Field Trips
Another unique component of the summer session is the field trip program, which includes two overnight trips on the weekends. The first trip is to San Gimignano, the most famous hilltown in Tuscany, and Siena, a city thought by some to be even more beautiful than Florence. The second trip is to the Val d'Orcia, one of the most celebrated examples of Tuscan landscape, where students will have a chance to become acquainted with the simpler lifestyle of the countryside.
The Duomo in Siena
Application Procedure
While ideally suited to students interested in creative writing and Italian language and culture, the program is open to all undergraduate students with a serious interest in writing and literature. Interested applicants for the summer program should visit the how to apply page to find out more details.