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Category: Study Abroad

It is almost summertime, the weather is (finally) getting warmer and Umbra staff is preparing for the arrival of summer students.  We cannot wait for you to be here and explore our beautiful city of Perugia but we know that traveling will be an important part of your stay. If you’re already doing a bit of research and planning, we would like to give you a few suggestions for places to visit in our region! They include medieval hill towns, a surprising national park in the Apennine mountains, a lake with incredible sunsets, and the tallest waterfalls in Italy. So without further ado, here are some gems for your day trip destinations:

Spoiler alert: Assisi and Orvieto are not on the list. Their beauty is famous well beyond Italian borders.

Le Cascate delle Marmore (Marmore Waterfalls)

In need of a refreshing day? Then, Marmore is the right destination! Offering a range of activities including hiking, rafting, and river walking, this man-made waterfall is the perfect way to take a break from the city.

Originally created by the Romans (271 BCE) to redirect the influx of water to other rivers, and later modified by Aristotle Fioravanti (1422) and others, this three-tiered waterfall still impacts water influx to this day. This journey through Italian architectural ingenuity has inspired countless artists and continues to do so. The surrounding area provides a range of ‘mercatini’ (markets) selling paintings, frames, and more local art to enjoy. Just don’t forget to check the opening times before you go so that you know you’ll get to experience the full majesty of the thundering falls.

From Perugia: take a 1 to 1-hour and 30-minute train to Terni then hop on a 20-minute bus from Terni to the Cascate. Total cost: around 9 EUR

Entry fee: 12 EUR

Link: Cascate delle Marmore Website

Lake Trasimeno

Hop on a train to Passignano and… rent a bike here or in any other bike store! The Trasimeno bike path unfolds along the lake perimeter. You will pass through typical villages like Torricella, San Feliciano (famous for its sunsets), and Tuoro, where you can take the ferry to Isola Maggiore. Castiglione del Lago is another great town by the lake, full of history and great restaurants. You can easily get there by train.

From Perugia to Passignano by train: 30 minutes by train. Cost: 5 EUR

General Information: Lago Trasimeno Website

Gubbio

Gubbio is one of the most ancient towns in Umbria, remaining marvelously well-preserved over the centuries, with many monuments that bear witness to its glorious past. Construction began in the early 14th century on the superb complex that includes the Palazzo dei Consoli, a symbol of the town and home of the Picture Gallery and Archeological Museum. Do not miss the Eugubine Tablets (seven bronze tablets written in Umbrian language) at the Civic Museum in Palazzo dei Consoli.

From the Perugia bus terminal in Piazza Partigiani, take the bus E001 to Gubbio: 1 hour and 15 minutes; Cost: 6,50 EUR

Spoleto

Just an hour’s train ride from Perugia you’ll find Spoleto, a beautiful town complete with a functioning Roman Aqueduct/bridge, intact Roman theatres, cathedrals, local markets with artisan products, and an abundance of historical museums showcasing the rich culture and heritage. The most prominent event is the ‘Festival dei 2Mondi’ (Festival of 2Worlds) founded by the Italo-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958. This festival takes place during the last week of June and the first week of July and attendees can browse through exhibitions involving art, dance, music, theatre, and more.

Spoleto’s alluring nature and historical importance have made it the protagonist of numerous films and will undoubtedly leave an impression on every visitor.

From Perugia by direct train: 1 hour. The regional train ticket costs 6,80 EUR.

Monti Sibillini National Park

This National Park is really off the beaten track for international tourists! Tucked away within the Apennine Mountains, Monti Sibillini National Park is a wild and wonderful destination in Umbria. Dotted with medieval villages, lakes, and legends, it’s a popular destination for outdoor adventures, such as hiking, biking, rafting, and canyoneering. Wildflowers and wildlife are abundant in the park, from orchids to wolves and birds of prey.

Norcia is the main town in the area, and although it was damaged during the 2016 earthquake, it still preserves its medieval charm. Norcia is also famous for its cuisine, hams, and cheeses, and you will find plenty of affordable shops and trattorie. However,  if you decide to invest some more money in a unique food experience, bear in mind that Norcia is home to one of the three Michelin-starred restaurants in Umbria, the Vespasia.

It is not very easy to get to Norcia from Perugia. That is why you might opt for a weekend trip. However, a direct bus connects Spoleto with Norcia in less than an hour at a very low fare.

General information: Monti Sibillini National Park website

If you are looking for more destinations, please refer to our QR handout guides on the second floor once you’re here! Safe travels!

By Kenna Haverkamp, University of Colorado, Boulder 

Studying abroad in Perugia holds what seems to be an endless amount of perks, but one of the most educational and enjoyable is being able to get to know locals. This is specifically true for meeting other college students, both from Perugia and other cities within Italy. I have recently become friends with Laura, a student at the University of Perugia from Antrodoco, Lazio. Like me, she is studying Psychology. Before coming to Perugia I was aware of the fact that a university-level education from an institution in Europe is quite different than that from the American university system, but speaking with Laura and witnessing her daily schedule has helped illuminate for me the differences between studying in Italy and studying in America.  

I recently met with Laura to speak more in-depth about these differences. To begin, she explained that one of the most fundamental differences between an Italian and American university education is the length of each program. Instead of having a standard four-year length of study, the time that one is enrolled at a university depends upon your major (most take between 3-5 years). These years do not ‘start’ in the fall and ‘end’ before a summer break as they do in America, and instead, happen for the majority of the year except for holidays such as Christmas and Easter (Pasqua), and a short break in August. Students also must choose the topic or course that they want to study before enrolling and stick with this subject more rigidly than the typical American undergraduate student. Italian students typically take fewer ‘elective’ classes. Therefore, while their class terms take place over a longer period than ours, in many ways, their path through the declared major is more streamlined. 

There are many social differences as well, as Italian student life often looks quite different than that of American college students. To begin, Italian universities place far less focus on dorm life and therefore have an entirely different culture around student living. It is much more normal for students to live at home while attending university and therefore there is less of a ‘move out when you turn 18’ lifestyle. Furthermore, during their time studying at a university, the lives of American students typically revolve around their campus- this includes extracurriculars, non-academic socialization, and so on. For Italian students, life typically centers around the city they are studying in and the culture within the wider location of their university. 

Living in Perugia and becoming friends with local students helped me to compare academic life between Italian and American universities. Both contain different advantages and disadvantages and comparing the two has been a fun part of studying abroad and learning more about Italian culture! 

by Brooke Duda, University of Connecticut 

I chose to take the Critical Disabilities course at Umbra because it aligned well with my previous involvement with special needs communities at home. This course allows students to work closely with VIVA Sports Association, which is the first athletic program for children and young adults with motor and/or intellectual disabilities in Perugia.

I have a lot of experience interacting and working with disabled individuals. In high school, I coached Unified Sports and helped teach American Sign Language, integrating students with and without disabilities. I helped run an annual campaign called ‘Spread the Word: Inclusion’ to eliminate the use of hateful vocabulary. This past summer, I worked as an Inclusion Coach, providing support to individuals with special needs so they could participate with their non-disabled peers in a variety of Park System programs.

I thought that learning about how disability is handled and viewed in another culture would be extremely valuable for my career interest in speech pathology. I wanted to become more cognizant of cultural differences and learn new ways to view disabilities. This course met and exceeded my expectations. Viva was the place where I felt most integrated into the local community during my time in Perugia. Each Monday we met in the classroom and every Wednesday we took a bus to the gym that Viva uses.

The greatest challenge was the language barrier. Our class has five students and none of us are fluent in Italian, so communication was difficult, particularly in the first few weeks of the course. However, playing sports allowed us to communicate in a more physical way. We could observe and learn the rules by example from the other players. As we came each week, the volunteers and participants started to recognize us, say hello, and invite us to participate. Even though I couldn’t hold long conversations, my introductory Italian class helped me recognize some words and be able to ask and answer basic questions.

The students in our class alternated between two three-hour shifts. I had another class afterward, so I was always on the early shift. The first few hours at Viva were more structured than the second half, so we played basketball every week as a team. The players were mostly young adult men with various disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. Those who had a harder time keeping up with the fast-paced games would stand on the side, where they would occasionally get the chance to shoot the ball and earn points for their team.

Later in the day, more people came, including people with visual or physical impairments like wheelchairs, as well as some younger participants. After the more structured, high-level games ended, the environment became much more relaxed. The students in the second shift got the chance to interact more one-on-one with Viva participants, walking with them, and helping them complete obstacle courses and other games like Ping Pong.

This course allowed us to apply what we learned in class to an environment outside the classroom. We discussed the connection between sports and disability and how all children have similar motivations to be active. This was clear to see at Viva, where everyone seemed very excited to participate and be part of a team. Disabled children are unfortunately less active, on average than non-disabled children. Inclusive sports programs are very impactful to help close that gap. Sports are beneficial in many ways, including health, problem-solving, teamwork, social skills, goals, learning, empathy, and communication. The biggest benefit I saw at Viva was social inclusion. I could see friendships form and evolve over the semester between participants, in addition to feeling valued as part of a team.

This course helped us see the benefit of programs to include people with disabilities, who are often excluded from mainstream society. I enjoyed making connections between my experiences in the States to my experience at Viva. I learned how to communicate with a language barrier and saw the value of inclusion in a new context.

By Jessica Morgan, Binghamton University

Living in a new country always has an adjustment period. There are certain things that we get used to living in one place, and it’s natural to be surprised when adjusting to a new culture. Studying abroad is no exception! As a current student studying at the Umbra Institute, I have learned a few new things about living abroad in Perugia, Italy. If you’re anything like me, you have probably researched the program, city, and “top things you need to know about studying abroad”. However, there are little things that I’ve noticed that took me by surprise. So, to help clear the way for future students and curious friends and family, I came up with a list of top things that surprised me about studying in Perugia. 

1. Big grocery stores are swapped out for small markets

In the US, it’s normal to head to a huge grocery store every week or two to get a cart full of groceries, brought back in your car. Well, things work differently in Perugia. Living in the city center, the stores are very small and localized. It’s more normal to stop in to grab what you need for dinner that night or for a few days. This is preferred especially due to the size of the store, and because you will be carrying it by foot!

2. Winter in Perugia still exists!

Now, I know we all may have a concept of Italy as being quite warm and Mediterranean. Although this isn’t false, it’s important to know that it also gets to be cold in the winter. This is important to know when you are packing because you will need your layers! Also, the temperatures of apartments and buildings in Italy are kept lower due to laws tackling climate change, so they tend to reflect the temperature outside more. 

3. You will be getting in your steps

Perugia has a very nice city center that looks out to the Umbrian countryside. However, like many other towns in the area, it was built on a hill that has lots of stairs and roads going up and down. It makes for a great view and beautiful walking paths, but be ready to take on some steps, and a good pair of sneakers is essential!

4. Perugia is known as the “university city”

The Umbra Institute is just one, and probably the smallest, of multiple universities in Perugia. What I was surprised about was how many students there were from the other universities. The University of Perugia and the University for Foreigners together have around 30,000 students. This means you’re bound to meet some college students who are Italian or from other countries. Umbra even hosts some events and has classes that these students can attend.

5. Coffee is essential to Italian life

If there is one thing that Italians are always passionate about, it’s coffee. Coming from the US, most of us are used to drinking big cups of coffee, often iced. If you try to drink coffee this way in Italy, you’ll struggle. Don’t worry- there are ways to get your iced coffee fix (my favorite spot is Pinturrichio’s), but it is much more common to order an espresso or cappuccino in the morning. Umbra conveniently has 2 vending machines where you can get whichever hot coffee you prefer! 

6. The double meaning for a “bar”

Did you know that a bar in Italy does not just mean a pub? This one really surprised me! Practically every bar- which is known in the US as a cafe, transitions into a bar for drinks at night. I guess it makes sense that they use the same word for both!

7. Clotheslines are the natural dryers of Italy

Okay, this one I knew before coming to Perugia, and it made me nervous. Although I wasn’t surprised by it, there is a learning curve to the art of getting your laundry done. Planning ahead and communicating when you need to use the drying racks or clothesline with your roommates are essential. But in no time, you’ll get the hang of it and it will become “the new norm”. 

8. Perugia is part of the “green heart” of Italy

The Umbria region is the furthest south-landlocked region of Italy. They embrace the beauty that is shown throughout the region and are nicknamed the “green heart” of Italy. There are lots of fields and hiking trails around- which if you love the outdoors like I do, will make you feel at home. The Apennine Mountain Range can also be seen from Perugia as well, showing great views of snow-capped mountains in the region.

9. From Baci, to Perugina, to Nutella, Perugia has your chocolate

Among many specialty foods, chocolate is one of the biggest products in Perugia. Throughout Italy, people adore a good chocolate cornetto, or practically anything topped with Nutella. I found out that Nutella was first invented in Italy, making it very popular. In Perugia, Perugina chocolate is supreme, and chocolate stores selling ‘Baci’ can be found everywhere. For chocolate lovers, you’re headed to a great place!  You can even participate in chocolate-making classes, and yearly chocolate festivals.

10. Perugia is an Etruscan city, with a history that is over 2300 years old

You may have noticed in pictures that the Umbra Institute is located in a historical city center. However, you may not know that Perugia is one of the oldest cities in Italy. It started as an Etruscan town, which is still represented through the walls surrounding the city and a huge arch in the center. There are many hidden historical facts and architectural finds within the old city, which you will have to find for yourself!

11. There are train lines that connect to the major cities

Perugia is located in central Italy, between Florence and Rome. Although it may not be a town that Americans have heard of before, it is located in the central area of Italy and works as a travel hub both north and south. There are easily navigable trains and buses that can take you to Florence or Rome, as well as many other Italian cities, as you wish. I quickly became accustomed to the trains and how to get places, and I’m sure you will too. 

12. Italian is heard throughout Perugia

Because Perugia is less exposed to international tourism, Italian can be heard everywhere. It might be a bit nerve-wracking to take on a new language, but it truly makes the experience so much more authentic and exciting! Don’t worry- community members are happy to speak slowly, and we are always encouraged to go to the staff at Umbra with any questions we might have. I was surprised by how quickly I was able to adjust to living somewhere where I had no language experience prior. 

13. The Umbra Institute is a small university with a big community

Coming from a larger American university, I was so surprised when I found out there were only 96 people in my program. However, once we got to Perugia, it made sense that our program was small in order to provide a bigger sense of community. With small classes, it’s been easy to make friends and get to know the professors and staff. I was so surprised when they had all of our names memorized within a week! They want to get to know the students, and with all the community outreach and field trips that happen, it’s easy to become close with everyone. Even though the program is small, Umbra has a surprisingly large network of connections throughout the region as well, making the little university more known by the community.

14. Buying a slice of pizza using a coin… 

Coming from the US, we all noticed how the food costs less in Perugia. Local products are known to be especially cheap which makes it easier to go out to eat and taste some Italian foods. Another small thing that surprised me about this also was that people are a lot more likely to pay using coins and cash. So when you’re going to grab that slice of pizza for a euro, grab a coin to pay and the owner will be appreciative!

As someone who insisted on researching everything I could before studying abroad, I didn’t expect to have so many cultural differences that would catch me by surprise. Don’t worry though, there is nothing on this list to be afraid of. Each new unexpected thing we experience while studying abroad can lead to exciting new adventures, a funny story to tell, or something that can even remind you of home. I hope this list gives future students, families, and friends a peace of mind and sparks excitement about studying abroad. And although I can speak on my own experiences, there are so many things out there for you to discover, so get out there and enjoy studying abroad!