CIS Abroad Summer Study in Italy

My experience with CIS Abroad on the Italian Coast was more than I could have ever imagined. The summer study abroad program provided a perfect blend of fun, engaging classes, cultural immersion, and breathtaking coastal views. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by the charm of the local towns, the vibrant culture, and the welcoming community.
The courses were taught by passionate professors who truly cared about their students. I was always excited to attend my classes, History of the Mafia and Drawing on Location, as they were immersive and intriguing. My professors were personable, knew everyone by name, and spent one-on-one time with me to help with assignments. They incorporated humor and excitement that made learning fun and enjoyable. They also provided multiple class field trips where they took us to various beautiful spots around Sorrento, including hidden gems that weren't widely known!
CIS Abroad did an excellent job of integrating cultural activities into the program. We were provided with gelato and pizza-making classes, wine tasting, Italian dinners, a boat trip to Amalfi, beach club day, and a farewell party including a cultural tarantella dance. I was highly impressed with the amount of activities provided included in the program fee. The program coordinators, Frankie and Emma, attended all events and were fantastic. They were fun and genuinely cared about all the students, always wanting to get to know us better.
The support from CIS Abroad staff was exceptional. They were always available to assist with questions or concerns making living in Sorrento feel safe and comfortable. I made a great decision to stay in the Sant'Anna Dorms that were in the school as I loved being able to walk right downstairs to class. Living with other international students made it easy to form lasting friendships and share unique experiences. There was always one or more staff members on sight available to assist us with anything, including a night guard that made me and my parents feel safe. Sant'Anna is located minutes from the town square with a wide range of unique restaurants, shops, and bars, minutes from the beach at Marina Grande, and minutes to the train and ferry stations with popular tourist spots nearby making travel easily accessible.
My summer with CIS Abroad on the Italian coast was a transformative experience that exceeded all my expectations. I came away with not only a deeper appreciation for Italian culture and history but also lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a perfect mix of academics, culture, and coastal beauty!

Without CIS Abroad I would have had a difficult time adjusting to life in Europe. Their transportation and wonderful team helped me adjust and explore the country in a way that I would have never imagined. They made my first study abroad experience wonderful and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a program overseas! Every encounter I had with my site supervisor was informational and supportive wether it was for travel or education. I left with education about a new city as well as inside the classroom that I applied to my life back at my home University.

I absolutely loved my time at the CIS Summer on the Italian Coast program. Sorrento is a beautiful town and we really got to know the locals over the two months. Sorrento is a short train ride away from Pompeii where you can really dive into the history and walk through the ancient city. I was able to travel around Europe while maintaining good standing in my courses. Sorrento has fabulous restaurants and is a short walk from the Bagni Regina Giovanna. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again I would!

All over amazing! I chose to do the apartment, and we got a spacious, clean apartment in the heart of Sorrento. They did an amazing job matching roommates based on our preferences. The class I took was fairly easy, but i’m not complaining because I had so much time to adventure and explore! The activities CIS had were the highlight of my trip including wine tastings, boat tours, and multiple dinners. The environment was great, they were there for me before, during, and after, and I would go again with CIS abroad in a heartbeat!

My summer studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy with CIS Abroad has been the best experience of my life. CIS Abroad made everything easy for me, through answering application and program questions, airport pick up and drop off after arriving in Italy, and through the support of the program staff while abroad. CIS Abroad planned excursions like a boat tour of the Amalfi Coast, authentic dinners, tour of an olive oil farm, and wine tastings. These gave me the opportunity to experience local culture and experience new things I wouldn't have tried myself. My summer abroad with CIS Abroad allowed me to learn more about myself, grow as a person and a student, take classes I couldn't at my home university, learn more about the world, and have the best experiences.

Going into this experience I was not sure how I was going to feel about being in a different country without my family helping. However, the people that I met, have become some of my best friends and I would go back and do it all over again if I could to relive the memories I made. All of the advisors and faculty were very helpful with everything and were always easy to reach if I had something to talk about or I had a problem going on. Overall, it was amazing and I am glad I did it. If I am able to study abroad again it will definitely be with one of the programs through CIS.

I absolutely loved my Maymester abroad in Florence. I made so many new friends, tried new food, saw new cities, and took a class I could never take at home. I also loved being able to immerse myself in the communities and become friends with the locals around me. CIS made the transition so easy and I could not be more grateful for this experience. I spent every day for three weeks seeing something new in both my class and in my own spare time. My teacher made it so easy to navigate the city for when we were exploring on our own.

I loved my CIS Abroad experience in Italy! They made connecting my home university to Florence University of the Arts super easy. The on-site guides were helpful in answering any questions and hosting fun events for the students. Housing was convenient, and it was nice to be in the same building as the rest of the students in the program. Florence as a city is a great choice for studying abroad as there are multiple schools there, so you get to know so many people. The food in Florence is also top-notch, so can't go wrong there. I highly recommend it!