Italy: Viterbo - Intensive Italian Language, History, and the Arts

This was such an amazing program and I couldn’t recommend it enough. If you go into the program looking for a super populated city like Rome…you will be disappointed. However, if you want to treasure an authentic experience in an amazing walled city – Viterbo is your place.
The program had wonderful language immersion. I recommend either knowing Italian prior to starting the program or taking one of the program’s Italian classes. It will make your life so much easier!
Viterbo has a train station so you can reach other Italian cities relatively easily but travel can still be tricky.
However, Viterbo itself has lots to offer and I personally recommend the Etruscan museum.
I loved my program and I wish everyone could have the same wonderful experience.

Overall, Viterbo was an amazing town to live in. While I lived with other American students, we were in an apartment building with Italians and so we were forced to use the language as much as possible. Additionally, Viterbo is not as touristy compared to other cities such as Florence or Rome, which forced us to utilize our knowledge of the Italian language which I think was wonderful and helped us get the full study abroad experience! The people of Viterbo are polite, the program's staff are delightful, and the food is amazing! The program itself was a great learning experience. The workload was to be expected while abroad. Professors expected us to attend class and put forth effort but classes were not overly challenging. They were enjoyable and allowed us to take the knowledge we gathered to immerse ourselves in the Italian culture.

I'm not sure how accurate my review will be since my program was still largely affected by covid. If you want to study abroad, do it and do it with whatever program fits your degree best. For me, this program was the best way to get the Italian and gened credits that I needed, but I didn't particularly like who ran the program. They did their best they could with the situation they were given. Classes are at most 4 days a week, but you can always arrange them to be less. There's barely any homework, and a lot of the classes go outside the classroom. The teachers are really nice too. This program is probably best for people looking more into the travel side of study abroad than the cultural or language. I had a great time using all my travel time, but I do wish I would've learned more Italian.

My time studying abroad in Viterbo was one of the best times of my life! Highly highly recommend if you get a chance to study abroad you take it! It was very beneficial to take the language classes if you are studying in a smaller/less touristy town but it was the most rewarding part. Viterbo was a quiet town, but the USAC program made sure we got to experience all that Italy had to offer through field trips and tours around town. Great program, great staff and a wonderful time abroad. Thank you Chico for the great memories!

Studying abroad was always something that I had dreamed of and I am so happy that I chose to go. Viterbo, Italy is very much one of a kind; from the people to the architecture to the food (read, AMAZING). The experiences that I had while in living in Italy is something that I think about almost every day, the experience is just that powerful. It takes guts to travel to a foreign country let alone to decide to live and study there. Meeting people in the program who also had that mindset, that zest for life, was incredible. The program staff and teachers were so kind and welcoming to a loud bunch of Americans. Take the chance, seriously, you will not regret it.

As a Political Science and International Affairs double major, I knew that I wanted to study abroad in a place that has a rich culture, has the ability to enhance my current understanding of politics and society, and could give me a hands-on learning experience. On top of that, as a requirement for my International Affairs major, I had to learn a language for my planned country of study. Italy’s preserved history, roots in the foundations of government and politics, and intricate cultural facets made it the obvious choice for me.
Six semesters of Italian language, countless hours planning my academic schedule ahead, and many visits to the Global Education Center shifted my focus away from the traditional Rome or Florence experience to a program that could give me the language practice and intimate cultural experience that I wanted. The affordability, proximity to Rome, and program size ultimately made me choose Viterbo, Italy. As a first-generation student with little travel experience, I was intimidated of the study abroad process. However, after visiting an info session, being in contact with the GEC advisors through appointments and emails, and going through the step-by-step UNH Approved Program checklist, I can say that the process was so much easier than I had anticipated. Additionally, the accessibility to education abroad scholarships through UNH and USAC made that semester the most inexpensive one during my time in college.
I loved my time abroad because Viterbo gave me the most authentic Italian experience that I could have asked for. Viterbo is a medieval city, lined with cobblestone, with history in every single nook and cranny. One of the classes I took for a Humanities Discovery, Medieval Italian History, entailed walking around the city and taking field trips to nearby places and then having a discussion about the stories behind what we observed. The contemporary Italian lifestyle combined with an ancient landscape was so unique to itself. Additionally, the central location of Viterbo allowed me to travel to cities and towns throughout three different regions in Italy, as well as six other countries outside of Italy. Before this semester, I had never been to Europe and had only been on a plane a handful of times. After this semester, I have become more confident, independent, and am now finding ways to incorporate more travel into my personal life and career path.
My advice to any student considering an international study is: do not be afraid to travel off the beaten path! Try and identify what you would like to achieve from your study abroad experience and be open to options that are different compared to what you’ve heard people do. For me, it was mastering a language and having an authentic cultural experience. If you have your heart set on something, great- pursue it! But if you are on the fence and are open to something different, there are countless, unexpected possibilities waiting to be sought.

USAC Viterbo was a wonderful program that gave me the opportunity to study not just in Italy, but in the loveliest little Italian city. My host family was absolutely fantastic as was my Italian professor—my experience in Viterbo wouldn’t have been the same without them. The city itself is an unforgettable place full of cobblestone streets, medieval history, and delicious cappuccinos. It’s also ideally located close to Rome for any European travel adventures you plan. Any student lucky enough to study in Viterbo will be able to appreciate the genuine Italian culture it maintains and the beauty of a true Italian lifestyle. My only regret is that I was only able to study in Viterbo for a semester rather than a full year! Grazie mille, Viterbo—ti adoro!

I consider studying abroad in Viterbo the best choice I could have made to fulfill the wanderlust of my adventurous soul. Besides, all the typical things that make Italy one of the best and most beautiful places in the world, Viterbo is unique in its own admirable way. I was drawn to this small medieval town because of everything that it had to offer. Not only does the city have an intricate and interesting history, but there was also always something to do; there was a constant calm buzz within the city. Whether it was seeing the magnificent transportation of the Macchina di Santa Rosa, or drinking some fresh vino from wine pouring out of a fountain, or enjoying the lively nights at bars and restaurants with friends, there was always something going on.

What made my experience so amazing was the locals, my wonderful host mom, finding small hidden corners, visiting the charming and romantic small towns around the region, and of course, the food. I fell completely in love with everything there – the people, the experiences, the moments, and even an Italian boy... Maybe you’ll also be able to live out your Lizzie Mcguire dream of riding on the back of an Italian boy’s vespa, just like I did.

I have been back to Viterbo four times since I studied there and that within itself shows just how much this trip has impacted my life. It has inspired me to travel more and has impacted my future aspirations. USAC’s motto is learning without borders and I feel I had embodied that completely (and continue to do so) because my experience has transformed the way I perceive myself and the world. I will always feel at home in Viterbo.

Some tips:

My number one recommendation is to connect with the locals because it helps you to understand the culture more and also gives you an opportunity to speak and practice the language. Along with that, make an effort: Italians love Americans, they will love talking to you! They are very friendly and welcoming. One of the things I loved about Viterbo was the close knit community. Everyone in town knew each other or would recognize you if they saw you out and about and would happily greet you.

Also, stay connected with friends and family from home. Communication is super important and everyone has loved ones back home thinking about them. I know my mom was always worried for my safety and wanting to know if I was o.k., a simple text saying ‘I’m alive’ was all she needed to feel at ease.

My biggest advice I have is to take each breath as new and stay present. Being abroad is hard – you’re doing things on your own and living in a completely different environment than you’re used to. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself to enjoy events, outings, and interactions in the present moment. I had many friends that would be sad to be missing out in things back home and sometimes I had to tell them to snap out of it! I would tell them, remember what you wanted what you currently have? Try to remain present.