API in Taormina, Italy: Italian Language and Culture Italian Immersion

API students in Taormina attend courses at Babilonia – Center for Italian Language and Culture. Babilonia was recently voted the top Italian language school in Italy, and consistently ranks in the top 10 in the country in this regard.

Classes are held at “Casa Silva,” a nationally registered historic villa protected by the Sovrintendenza alle Belle Arti (the National Agency for the preservation of Art and Monuments). The villa is hidden from view by an impressive stone wall that separates it from the steps of Via Timoleone, which lead to the Greek Theater.

Babilonia is truly a cultural center, hosting book presentations, painting and sculpture exhibitions and concerts in the botanical gardens. In the net-café located in the WI-FI garden, students can enjoy leisure time under the lush green trees with classmates while sipping a cappuccino from the school’s cafeteria.

This program is open to students of all levels, and is intended to provide a true Italian language and culture immersion experience. In addition to their coursework, students live with Sicilian families that are actively involved in school and city life. This is a perfect program for the serious student who is looking for an off-the-beaten path study abroad experience! Students complete 4 courses and receive 12 credit hours per semester session, or 3 credits per course. Students must take at least TWO Italian language courses per semester. Italian language courses are taught at all levels. API recommends that students obtain pre-approval from their home university for courses that they plan on taking abroad.