Study Abroad in Italy: History of Art & Italian Studies in Siena – City & Daily Life

Siena, Italy

Siena, a small city in the central Italian region of Tuscany, doesn’t flaunt its medieval treasures. It simply lives them. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the city was an artistic center. Sienese artists took the lead in exploring new concepts in painting and sculpture, contributing to the rise of the Renaissance. The city’s golden age passed in the calamitous 14th century, but not before its artists had created their most impressive achievement: the city itself.

Indeed, today Siena’s great attraction is its cityscape. Students live in this postcard, where they can walk from city wall to city wall in 30 minutes, do homework in the campo, and study art and architecture the way they should be studied—up close.

University of Virginia

CET and University of Virginia have cooperated for almost a decade to administer the CET Siena program. In 2011, the two parties redefined their relationship, bringing mutually beneficial cooperation to official partnership.

Currently, CET handles all non-academic facets of the Siena program—housing, excursions, roommates, health and safety. CET also manages day-to-day academics: class monitoring, faculty training, student academic needs. The University of Virginia serves as the program’s “academic sponsor.” It provides academic oversight and acts as the “school of record,” administering course registration and transcripts for program participants.

CET Center in Siena

The CET center is located in the heart of Siena. The center houses the CET office, classrooms, and a small library and computer lab. Wifi is available throughout the building.

Siena Housing & Meals

CET Siena students share apartments with Italian roommates. Apartments are centrally located and an easy commute to the CET Center. Apartments are fully furnished and provide internet access, a washer, cooking utensils and limited towels and linens. As typical Italian apartments, air conditioning is not provided.

For students who choose apartments: meals are not included in the program fee. Students cook meals in their apartment kitchens. They can also eat in the University’s cafeteria or at local cafés.

Students may opt for a homestay with an Italian family instead. Homestays are a good fit for students dedicated to improving Italian language skills. Students live as the locals do, and better yet, eat as the locals do!

For students who choose homestays: a housing fee, in addition to the regular program fee, is required. Breakfast and dinner are included.

Italian Roommates

Students frequently tell us that sharing an apartment with a local roommate is one of “the best parts of the program.”

Most Italian roommates are University of Siena students. They are selected by CET for their enthusiasm for cultural exchange. Many students become fast friends with their roommates. They stroll the markets together, tour museums together, lunch in the piazza together. Some students and roommates choose to make their apartment an all-Italian environment. Are you up for the challenge?