The Pro's of Blogging

So although I'd like to believe that my blog has all the latest and greatest on Italy but in all reality it's not! I find that some of the most valuable blogs are from those who have been to Italy, live in Italy, etc. So here is a little compilation of what I have found to be some pretty valuable blogs. They include things like what to do while you are there, food, music, news, etc. I also find some of the personal accounts that these blog owners have shared to be quite helpful. So check it out and hopefully you find something that helps you out!

http://wanderingitaly.com/blog/

http://www.blogfromitaly.com/

http://www.blogfromitaly.com/

http://www.msadventuresinitaly.com/blog/

Here is also a compilation of great blogs to view from Blogs.com

http://www.blogs.com/topten/10-great-blogs-for-exploring-italy/

Picture Courtesy of ExcelSports.net

Above is the beautiful city of Venice!

Italy is one of the Top Places to Study Abroad!

According to Courier Journal, Italy is among one of the top rated countries in the world to study abroad!

Read the article about how study abroad offers students a unique and driven perspective on academics.



Cinque Terre

It's a hidden treasure. I've just recently come upon this city and area in my research. 

Picture courtesy of Giada Velenti

The beautiful pictures of this region are little of what what makes this small little city so attractive. Reviews about the friendly villagers, food, and sites are enticing travelers from all around the world to make their way to this rocky beauty. The region has it's very own website which features a little more information about each of the cities and what they have to offer to you.

If you are wondering about the food, read about it with Giada Valenti on her blog.

Visit InItaly.com to read about this areas history and modern features.

If you prefer to read an overall review of the area, visit the NY Times online article titled "36 Hours in the Cinque Terre."

There is a multitude of sites out there that provide different information on Cinque Terre, these are just a few. Feel free to scope out the area on your own!

What about $$$

As a student, I know you've thought about it. How in the world am I going to pay for myself to go to the other side of the world?! It's an intimidating thought. And although college programs usually have aid to help you along your way, it's usually just enough to cover the basics. What about meals, shopping, site seeing, traveling? You're gonna need a plan. Lucky for you a found a really neat slide show that presents some of the most basic yet crucial information on planning a budget.

Photo Courtesy of PinellasNewsboy.com

Visit DIWYY again to view their Financing a Trip Abroad slide show presentation. It's cute and quirky and just what you need to get a feel for how to plan your budget.

In addition to this little slide show, I've also come upon a website called Drexxel which provides some pretty simple but thorough tips on how to cover the costs of going abroad.

Cutest Little Place!

I found the most adorable little bed and breakfast called Le Stanze dei Medici located in Florence. It's not the most extravagant of places to stay but it's the essence of what you think of (or at least what I think of) when you think of Italy. It's cute, dainty, and modern. Check it out!

Study abroad in Portovenere, Italy.

For some the cities of Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and Milan are very obvious and perfect choices when choosing where they want to stay during their time abroad. While these cities offer a multitude of opportunities, there are also many small towns, such as Portovenere, that can do the same.

Photo Courtesy of Grassroots Gourmet Blog

This beautiful ocean-side city may be just what you are looking for on your visit abroad. It's a very small town that offers a very locally focused experience. You will eventually be able to interact with the locals on a personal level very soon after the beginning of your stay. 

I found a pretty cool blog for girls called DIWYY which stands for Do It While You're Young. The admin of the site blogged about her experience at Portovenere and offers some inspiring words about choosing a smaller city over the large ones.

Why Go Italy?

Through all my searching for the best of Italy I keep finding myself back at Why Go Italy?. It is a comprehensive website featuring news articles, blogs, and the latest on what's happening in Italy.

I found a really great link on where to go holiday shopping while in Italy. If you're like me, you can't get enough of shopping! This article provides information on all the neatest places to go to buy gifts for people back where you live or even for yourself!

From leather markets in Florence to Carthusia on the Island of Capri, you'll be able to find just what you are looking for.

Study Abroad Hub

Being a student at Colorado State University has provided me with some pretty valuable resources concerning study abroad. The Office for International Studies provides a website solely focused on the Study Abroad Program.

This website is very helpful in it's abilities to accurately search for study abroad programs that fit your specific needs. If you click on the "Program Search" tab on the site, you will be taken to this search engine.

You can then choose which city, country, or region that interests you the most. You can also sort by choosing whether you want a semester, summer, or academic year long program. Another cool feature that this search engine provides is the ability to search by language. If you are wanting to go to a country which has a language different than that of english, you can find schools that will teach courses in english so you are not completely SOL.

Finding a program or school that has courses that will be able to transfer back to your specific university can be a difficult process. While the experience itself is worth more than the ability for your credits to transfer, having credits that will transfer back will assist you in pursing your degree. This search engine helps aid this process by allowing you to search programs based on your area of study! This is extremely helpful for students (like myself) who are on a strict academic schedule.

Even if you aren't a student at CSU I strongly urge you to look into this search engine. It has a multitude of programs in its database... you are sure to find something!

Adios for now!

Study Abroad Programs

After doing a little research for my own potential travel I came upon some really reliable and fun programs that you can use as your host to go to Italy!

Panrimo.com is a great site providing exceptional information to it's potential students and their parents alike. It is a site not only organized in an aesthetic way, it's very easy to navigate.  In addition to finding information like you would on most study abroad program sites including program fees, housing options, academic programs, etc., you will find pictures and a 'program builder' feature.

This feature is really handy in figuring the exact cost of what your program will look like as well as what features, amenities, courses, etc. that you can select. Since every one of us wants to get something different out of studying abroad, this is a very valuable resource.

API Study Abroad is also a really great resource to use if you are looking to go through a program in order to study abroad. This website is a very informational resource about what the program itself has to offer. Nearly all of your questions can be answered just by looking through this website's resources. This is really nice considering some websites do not fully give you all the information you need which then requires you to set up a phone appointment or something of the sort.

SAI or Study Abroad Italy is a program strictly dedicated to studying abroad in Italy (how ironic? ha). This makes it really specific to the area itself which is really handy. They seem to have developed an expert plan for you as a student if you choose their program. They have pictures, information on pricing, lists of courses offered by semester, etc.

I recommend that you visit the video tab of their website in order to really get a sense for what they have to offer. There is one beautifully made video that I feel really encompasses the experience that SAI is trying to offer.

Well that's it for now... happy travel searching!

Long time no blog

Hello my fellow bloggers!

I apologize for my lack of posts the past few weeks! School plus working 30 hours a week is something I would highly not recommend!

But back to the Italy business... I found a really great book that you can buy that has all the little tips and secrets to a successful trip to Italy. Florence is highlighted the most in this book by Suzanne Morrison. She is a frequent traveler to land of pasta and wine which has made her an expert on all the little spots you don't want to miss while you are there.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who is looking to travel to Italy after he graduates. After doing a bit of research I have found that it is recommended by a decent amount of bloggers who have also traveled to Italy!

I have also been considering more universities in the Florence area. Below is a short clip on Study Abroad Italy, Florence University of the Arts. This is a great school for anyone in a liberal arts area of study. So take a look and I'll be back with more helpful hints when it comes to studying abroad in Italy!