High School Gap Year Programs in Italy

7 Gap Year Programs in Italy for High School Students

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

9.68

GoEco - Top Rated & Award Winning Volunteer Programs Abroad

GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with award-winning and ethical programs selected by sustainable travel experts. Since 2006, tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in projects and internships worldwide, focusing on wildlife and marine conservation, education, and medical initiatives. GoEco operates in over 50 countries, providing unique cultural immersive experiences that aim to make a positive impact on the environment and society. The organization also offers internships and academic programs for students. GoEco provides safe and meaningful experiences while promoting sustainable travel and reducing carbon emissions.

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Greenheart Travel

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Study Abroad in Italy with Greenheart Travel

Spend a trimester, semester, or year studying abroad in Italy as a high school student, and live like a local while perfecting your Italian language skills. You are matched with a carefully screened host family and attend a local high school for a full immersion experience abroad. Now is your chance to explore Italy's history, art, language, and literature while boosting your college application and having the high school experience of a lifetime! Program at a glance: -- Host family accommodation provides full language and cultural immersion -- No previous Italian experience is required; beginners are welcome! -- You can choose from trimester, semester, or academic year lengths -- Start dates available in spring and fall -- Straightforward online application process

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World Class Programs

9.88

Western Civilization: Athens, The Greek Isles, and Italy

There is no better place to have an amazing adventure abroad and experience the world outside your home than the birthplace of Western Culture itself! If you're interested in history, architecture, art, culture, and adventures, our Greece & Italy: Western Civilization program is the perfect destination to put on your summer calendar. Our high school summer program in the Greek Isles and southern Italy is the educational adventure you have been looking for. Historical and cultural treasures dating back over 3000 years await you to explore them. Few other European destinations can rival Greece and southern Italy for historical and cultural relevance. Come join us this summer and experience this enchanting journey for yourself! Live with other participants in shared accommodations within walking distance of the city's most famous landmarks! “Homestays” are not a part of our programs; our trips are designed to give students a “pre-college” dorm life experience. Studying abroad with World Class Programs isn't about 'visiting' the Greek Isles or southern Italy, but experiencing the Mediterranean world like a real local!

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Forum-Nexus Study Abroad

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Pre-College Summer Study in Europe: 5 Countries in 1 Month

Jump-start your college experience by studying abroad! Forum-Nexus offers European programs, perfect for traveling and earning credits before university studies. During the program, you will take courses taught by a team of international professors who travel with you to explore top cities and destinations. Together with students worldwide, participate in various courses and earn 3, 6, or 9 credits. Join professional visits to leading companies in the afternoons and spend your evenings and weekends sightseeing. This is Forum-Nexus! Ultimate Summer in Europe: 8 Cities in 1 Month Program itinerary: Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Milan, Lugano, Paris, Verona, Lake Garda Program dates: June 28 - July 25, 2026 Shorter sessions are also available. Visit our website for more details, including how to apply for free.

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ASSE International Student Exchange

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Italy High School Exchange - Academic Year & Semester

Discover the magic of Italy, the birthplace of the Roman Empire and home to the Vatican, where history meets cutting-edge fashion and modern technology. Spend an unforgettable exchange year or semester in a country with the world’s most UNESCO World Heritage sites. Marvel at ancient Roman ruins, stunning architecture, and iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Pompeii, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Venice's enchanting canals. Immerse yourself in Italian culture, where strong family bonds and warm hospitality make you feel right at home. Italians treasure friendships, love to socialize, and embrace life passionately—whether sharing meals around the table or strolling through vibrant piazzas. Whether for a school year or semester, experience Italy’s incredible cuisine while perfecting your language skills. You don't have to be fluent in Italian. As you embark on this exciting adventure, you will gradually learn the language while immersing in your host country’s culture. The essential aspects that make you an eligible exchange student are motivation, hard work, flexibility, and open-mindedness. You must have good academic grades and school/community members' recommendations.

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Latest Program Reviews

Such a wonderful summer!

July 27, 2025by: Eva Issen - United StatesProgram: Western Civilization: Athens, The Greek Isles, and Italy

It is truly hard to describe just how much I loved this trip and just how much it meant to me. First of all, the staff turned the group international flight from something stressful to something easy and straight forward. As someone who finds flying quite difficult at times, I was so grateful. The first place we went to was Athens. We stayed in an air bnb a short walk away from the ruins of the Greek Agora and the Acropolis of Athens. From there we joined a cruise for a week, where we spent the days hopping between Thessaloniki, Ephesus, Heraklion, Santorini, Milos and Mykonos. We saw beautiful churches, ancient ruins, traditional rug making, and where the Venus statue was originally discovered. We even spent a whole day at the beach on Mykonos. We spent the last week in Naples and Rome seeing Herculaneum, Pompeii, the Vatican, and eating an immense amount of gelato to escape the heat. It truly was an incredible collection of adventures. The beautiful sights were wonderful, but at the end of the day the staff were what made this trip wonderful. The classes were interesting and genuinely got me more excited than any class ever has. I came away with a better understanding of ancient western architecture, art and culture as well as just plain history. It taught me that hands-on learning is what really works for me. I learned how to learn. Going to a foreign country with people you don't know beforehand is nerveracking. There is no way around it. Derek and the rest of the World Class Programs staff helped me and my family through every single step leading up to the trip. They got to know us, answered every question and soothed every worry we had. They laid out every step of the program beforehand and walked us through all the safety precautions. By the time the trip was around the corner, I was well prepared. The staff continued to be wonderful on the trip. They hit the perfect balance of keeping things fun and safe while also treating us like young adults. The gap between high school and college seems very big. I have to go from being entirely reliant on my family and community, to being mostly self sufficient. It's a big jump. What I love about World Class Programs is that they have helped college feel less daunting. Yes I got to take cool classes and see fun things, but I also learned what its like to live away from home. I learned how to live with roommates and how to manage my own time responsibly. I learned how and when to ask for help and that asking for help isn't always as scary as it once felt. On top of that, I learned basic skills like how to use a washer and dryer in a different country and how to manage language barriers. World Class Programs gave me an opportunity to work on important life skills and strengthen the ones I already have. Long story short, this has been the best summer of my life. It's been fun and exciting as well as educational and meaningful. I know this review is cheesy but I genuinely don’t know how else to describe how wonderful this program has been. If you are looking to see if a gap year program is for you, taking a step towards living on your own or simply want a fun summer adventure, this trip is really perfect. Thank you so much Derek and Ellen, and the rest of the World Class Program team.

Amazing experience!

July 05, 2025by: Hayden Steffens - United StatesProgram: Western Civilization: Athens, The Greek Isles, and Italy

The Greece and Italy trip was unforgettable! This was my first time studying abroad and my experience was amazing. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable on each of the subjects we studied. If the price seems steep just know that you get what you pay for; all meals are included on the trip including a sweet treats after dinner. The cruise we took on the second week was amazing and felt like a little vacation in between classes. I have nothing but good things to say about this trip let alone World Class Programs as a whole. If you are on the edge of picking this trip, I say do it! I had sooo much fun and made memories that will last a lifetime.