Gap Year in Italy: Benvenuti!

Italy Fast Facts

• Capital City: Rome
• Population: 61 million
• Popular Destinations: Rome, Florence, Pisa, Naples
• Currency: Euro

Types of Gap Year Programs

Volunteering:

While Italy is considered a first world country, they are still in need of volunteers in conservation, healthcare, childcare, and education. If you choose to volunteer during your gap year, remember to be open-minded and ready to embrace Italian culture! Volunteering is a mutually beneficial opportunity, where you can learn about Italian culture and language while helping to improve the quality of life for the Italian people. Participating in meaningful community service abroad may be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so don't miss out!

View of Venice at Night

Adventure Travel:

Italy is one of those striking countries where you can spend an entire year learning and traveling and still feel like you've barely scratched the surface. With mind-blowing art and some of the world's most significant cities, it truly takes a lifetime to experience all that Italy has to offer. Imagine ducking into a random church to escape the heat, only to spend two hours staring at an impossibly pure blue in a fresco. Where else in the world is that possible?

Italy has world-renowned cuisine, gorgeous beaches and great skiing up in the Alps. Experience its stunning architecture, mysterious passageways, the gentle canals of Venice and take a moonlit gondola ride smiling as the white light ripples in the water. For the nature explorers out there, Italy offers incredible winter sports programs with perfect powder for skiers and snowboarders to plow through.

Internships:

While learning the ins and out of the business world, interning in Italy will give you the opportunity to develop your language skills and take part in the day-to-day activities of an Italian professional. Many internships are geared towards individuals with intermediate to advanced language skills who want to practice their Italian on a regular basis. Interning in Italy is a great addition to your college career and a huge boost to your resume.

The City of Florence

Many companies that offer internships are looking for enrolled college students and those that have recently graduated. Internships are usually customizable, meaning that you can add what you like and take away what you don't! Many companies are flexible, allowing you arrange your schedule in order to take classes or perform volunteer work simultaneously.

Planning Your Gap Year in Italy

Cost of Living in Italy:

Housing costs in Italy are relatively affordable. For a single unit apartment which includes utilities and water, prepare to pay around 450 Euros a month. Housing isn't what makes living in Italy so expensive. Living in the cities can be very difficult, even for the middle class. This is because Italian taxes rank among the highest in the world. Taxes are present in almost all forms from small purchases to housing and employment. Food costs more than in the United States, as does transportation and most leisure activities.

Culture and Etiquette in Italy:

The family is the center of the social structure in Italy, providing a stabilizing influence for its members. Italians move out of the house at a later age than in America. Remember, appearances matter in Italy. The way you dress can indicate your social status, your family's background, and your education level. Italy is primarily a Roman Catholic country. Always be respectful of Catholic traditions. Greetings are enthusiastic but formal. Italians usually greet a traveler with a handshake and with direct eye contact. Status and hierarchy are important in Italian business settings so be formal until told otherwise.

The Colosseum at Night

Health and Safety in Italy:

Italy's major cities have no more crime than other large cities in Europe. In fact, they are safer than many other European cities, but travelers still need to be cautious about petty crimes. Pickpocketing is the most frequent crime perpetrated against tourists, so be careful in tourist locations, in trains stations, and in any crowded place. Violence against tourists is extremely rare in Rome. In fact, violent crime is very rare around the entire country. Fortunately, the biggest safety risk in cities like Rome is the traffic so be careful crossing streets! Keep your eyes peeled for reckless scooters.

Why Take a Gap Year in Italy?

Italy is an incredibly varied country where you will find countless beautiful towns, unparalleled architecture and stunning works of art. Italy possesses a diverse landscape of rolling green hills, ice-capped mountains and island archipelagos. Some say that Italy is the mecca for world travelers, artists and idealists. Spending your gap year in Italy may be a life changing experience!

View of Cinque Terre

Photo Credit: Venice - Florence - The Colosseum - Cinque Terre.