New College for Interdisciplinary Studies

The Italian Odyssey

The Italian Odyssey explores the cultural and intellectual history of Italy in an exciting interdisciplinary program, which is held during June in Summer Session I. The learning adventure begins with two weeks in the picturesque town of Sorrento, Italy, located on western Italy’s Amalfi Coast at the southern tip of the Bay of Naples. The stay in Sorrento includes excursions to the Greek ruins at Paestum, the buried cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum (Ercolano), and the wondrous island of Capri. Next, the Italian Odyssey moves on to the Eternal City of Rome, where it explores the crossroads of the ancient, medieval and Renaissance ages, visiting the Coliseum, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, as well as St. Peter's and the Vatican Museums. The Program concludes in Florence with an exploration of Renaissance ideas, art, and architecture. The Italian Odyssey Program also takes time to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding Tuscan countryside during several scheduled day trips.

The six s.h. Italian Odyssey Program is composed of two three-credit Hofstra University courses (both taught in English): "From Rome to Renaissance: An Intellectual Odyssey" and "From Classical Forms to Renaissance Ideals: Dramatic Imagination in Italy." The Italian Odyssey group flies to and from Rome, and then travels by private vans throughout to other locations. In Sorrento students are housed in lovely apartments with full kitchen facilities and double rooms. In Rome and Florence participants are housed in youth hostels where they have an opportunity to meet other students from around the world.

For more information or to apply for the Italian Odyssey, please contact Professor Linda Longmire at (516) 463-5828 or via E-mail