About The Program
Bring your passion for the environment and concern for the natural world to the largest island of the Mediterranean, where the influences of many cultures, including Arabic, Greek, Norman, Roman and Spanish are on display. The island of Sicily, located just off the most southern point of Italy, offers plenty of new ecosystems to explore—from diverse coastlines to active volcanoes to centuries-old agricultural sites. Studying here is an unparalleled opportunity to discover a region where both ancient environmental traditions and modern sustainability initiatives thrive side by side. This program focuses on topics like marine conservation, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and climate change, so it’s suited to environmental studies as well as a variety of science majors. You will engage in hands-on learning through field research and with guided academic excursions. Opportunities to interact with local communities and environmental organizations are built into the curriculum. Syracuse, a historic city and the capital of the province of Sicily, acts as a convenient base for travel to other locations in Italy, framing the study abroad experience in a broader geographical and cultural context.
WHERE YOU'LL STUDY
Courses are held at the Sicily Center for Field Studies in a beautiful baroque-style palazzo in the heart of Syracuse's historic center on the island of Ortigia. The Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco, built in the 14th-century, comes with a significant history. It was the seat of local government when Italy was invaded by Spain. In 1798 it hosted English admiral Horatio Nelson and in 1806, Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies. An epigraph above the main entrance reminds visitors about the building's illustrious heritage. Enclosing a charming courtyard paved with ornate cobblestones, the Palazzo is a perfect example of late baroque architecture in the historic Piazza Duomo. Walk inside and you'll find large light-filled studio spaces, a computer lab, modern classrooms, student and faculty lounge areas, and a desk for student services. You will find the surrounding district a rich and colorful tapestry of street markets, delightful cafés, and the majestic Temples of Apollo and Athena, constructed to celebrate the victory over Athens and used over the centuries as a place of worship by Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Christians.
