About the Program
Learn about beauty, its meaning, its history, and its connection to innovation, community-building, and economics in two of Italy’s most fascinating cities. Study aesthetics, art, cultural economics, smart cities, storytelling, fiction, Italian film, fashion, as indispensable vehicles for social change, sustainable development, and the creation of value and well-being.
Program Structure
The program includes daily course classes, sections, and guest lectures during the week, as well as numerous field trips, excursions, and activities that allow you to delve into Italy’s artistic heritage and contemporary society. No knowledge of Italian or prior courses in the humanities or economics are required to apply to this program.
Note: Non-credit Italian language instruction is available for interested students.
To learn more, visit the Milan and Siena program website.
ITAL S-190 counts as one full-year course (8 credits) of degree credit.
Courses
ITAL S-190 Study Abroad in Milan and Siena, Italy: Beauty, Innovation, and Sustainability
Francesco Erspamer, Laurea in lettere e filosofia, Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
8 credits
UN, GR Limited enrollment.
Where You'll Live and Study
You will spend one month in Milan, a world capital of fashion and design, and one in Siena, a perfectly preserved medieval city that included the creation of beauty as part of its original constitution. These contrasting Italian cities are the ideal context for experiencing and examining beauty.
You also have the opportunity to:
- Watch the Palio, the horse race that for centuries has taken place annually in Siena, and participate in the momentous preparation for it.
- Visit Monte dei Paschi, the oldest surviving bank in the world.
- Work with Inarea, a cutting-edge network specializing in the creation and management of identity systems.
- Explore poet Gabriele d’Annuzio’s eccentric house-museum overlooking Lake Garda.
- Tour fashion studios, concept stores, and spaces dedicated to the production, exhibition, and enhancement of contemporary culture such as the Armani Museum, HangarBicocca, and the Vespa scooter collection of the Piaggio Museum.
Accommodations
In Milan, you will stay at the Residence Zara, less than a mile from the city’s main train station and a forty-minute walk to Piazza del Duomo, the very center of the city. All double rooms will have a private bathroom, free wi-fi, TV, air conditioning, and a fully equipped kitchenette. Classes will be held at IULM University, which can be reached via a twenty-minute subway ride.
In Siena, you will stay in double rooms with private bathrooms at the Refugio, a 16-century former convent located in the historic center of the city—a five-minute walk from Piazza del Campo. Classes will be held in a nearby building.
Application
You may apply to no more than two programs; if applying to two programs, you will be asked to rank your two applications in order of preference (first and second choice). Any applications submitted in excess of the maximum of two will be automatically withdrawn. You will be notified of your admissions status in each program by late February.
A complete online application includes:
- Basic personal information
- A statement of interest
- Your most recent transcript
- Program-specific requirements (if applicable; may include letters of recommendation, etc.)
Interviews may be requested at the discretion of the program.
Harvard College students applying for funding from the Office of Career Services (OCS): Please note that the OCS funding application is separate. OCS funding awards are tied to a specific program, and cannot be transferred to another program.
If you have questions about the application, please contact the Harvard Summer School Study Abroad Office by email at summerabroad@summer.harvard.edu.
Cost & Expenses
The program fee includes:
- Tuition
- Accommodations
- Scheduled program activities
- Some meals (the program will provide further details)
You will also need to budget for a number of expenses not covered by the program fee. The amounts listed below for these out-of-pocket expenses are approximate, and you may incur additional expenses not noted here. Your actual expenses will depend on a number of factors, including personal spending habits and currency exchange rates. Note that expense categories–especially airfare–may be subject to significant fluctuations.
- International airfare ($1,300 – $1,600)
- Ground transportation ($200)
- Meals ($1,500)
- Personal expenditures, communications, course materials, and miscellaneous ($500)
If you have specific questions about personal budgeting, please contact the program directly.
See Funding and Payment for information on how to submit payments and funding options.
Additional Information
- Questions? Contact Francesco Erspamer at erspamer@fas.harvard.edu.
- Need an accommodation? See Students in Need of Accommodations to request one through the Accessibility Services Office.
- Accepted to the program? See Admitted Students for information about predeparture requirements.
