Welcome Wisconsin students! Last summer a group of Madison students took advantage of the Umbra Institute’s incredible location in Perugia, Italy to complete courses that count towards their majors, all while studying abroad and living in the real Italy. The course was taught by Madison professor Ernesto Livorni, who this summer will be teaching both “Food in the History of Italian Literature and Culture” and “Leonardo da Vinci: Renaissance Man and Modern Myth.” While the courses last year were engaging, students also had ample time on the weekend to travel elsewhere in Europe. Are you ready to experience Perugia for yourself?

Academics. Wisconsin students can either take one or both of Professor Livorni’s course, or opt to take a second 3-credit course for no extra charge. The summer session lasts 5 weeks of May and June in 2014. Courses are in English, so no Italian language proficiency is required. Courses are twice a week, with no classes on Friday. See a list of standard summer courses here: Summer course offerings.

“I had such an amazing experience teaching in Perugia in summer 2013 and I’m so excited to return this summer! It was a pleasure sharing those weeks with students from the University of Wisconsin and other universities in the States. Living in Italy together helped us all to create such bonding memories of that country’s beautiful landscape, its fantastic food, its rich history and culture, and, of course, its amazing people!” – Prof. Livorni

Course description: LIAH 370: Leonardo da Vinci: Renaissance Man and Modern Myth

Leonardo da Vinci: Renaissance Man and Modern Myth

Course Description

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) is the last great figure of Western history that masterfully fills the role of both artist and scientist. In light of this achievement, the course will discuss the artistic and scientific endeavors of Leonardo and the impact he had on the shaping of modernity. His legendary figure will be examined through the lens of 19th and 20th century thinkers such as John Ruskin, Walter Pater, Sigmund Freud, Paul Valéry, Gabriele D’Annunzio, all the way to 20th century Avant-garde and Pop Art.

Course Objectives

The course aims to explore the relationship between art and science in Leonardo’s oeuvre. It will provide insights into the master’s process of elaborating art from his scientific experiments and discoveries and how he cultivated scientific aspects in his artistic creations. Furthermore, Leonardo’s endeavors in painting and in the study of anatomy and physics will be analyzed in light of their impact in the centuries to come: the interpretations of some of the aforementioned thinkers and artists will be discussed in regard to specific aspects of Leonardo’s work.

The course will be supported with audio-visual material illustrating Leonardo da Vinci’s artistic and scientific achievements. Also included is a one-day field trip to Florence with a tour of the city and the main sites in which Leonardo’s art is displayed, notably the Uffizi Gallery.

Course description: ENLI 340: Grand Touring Italy with US Writers

Grand Touring Italy with US Writers

Instructor: Ph.D., Ernesto Livorni

Credits: 3
Course/Lab Fee: 55 euros for field trips (course reader fee announced during orientation)

Course Description:
US writers and artists became more and more interested in the historical Grand Tour in the nineteenth century, often privileging Italy. In this course, we will read some US writers (Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Henry James) who traveled to Italy or sojourned for years there. The focus will be on writings on the cities of Rome, Florence and Perugia.

Course Objectives:
The course wants to explore the similarities and the differences between the experience of Italy that students have nowadays with that lived by the first promoters of the tour to Italy. The readings will provide both a map of the cultural places that were dear to the the first visitors of Italy and an itinerary that students may want to follow themselves today. Furthermore, it will be possible to appreciate not only what remained constant in the enjoyment of Italy as a spectacle, but also the innovative perspective that throughout the nineteenth century and since then developed.

Student Life. The Umbra Institute hosts between 100 and 150 American and Italian college students each semester from colleges & universities across the U.S. and in Perugia. Housing is provided for all students in shared apartments within a 5-minute walk of the Institute. There is no meal plan, but apartments are furnished with full kitchens. They also have WiFi access and wireless internet is provided for free at the Umbra Institute and in many locations around Perugia.

Want to know how to apply? The Umbra Institute is an affordable option for Wisconsin students. To learn more about the fees for studying abroad, fill out this form for more information, with no obligation. It will go directly to Professor Livorni.

Student Profiles

Kimberly Goldman
Wisconsin at Umbra Spring’12

“I didn’t know it was possible to fall in love with a place until I studied abroad in Perugia. Everything from the city itself to the wonderful people in it made my experience better than I could have ever imagined. I really couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”

Please feel free to contact Kim to ask about her experience!

Ryan Foley
Perugia – Italy Fall ’11

“Trust me: Perugia is the PERFECT Italian study abroad destination, and the Umbra Institute gives you all the tools you need to make the most of your study abroad experience.”

Please feel free to email Ryan to ask about his experience!