There’s nothing like leaving your country and comfort zone behind to improve your level in another language. With Italian communities present throughout the Mediterranean and even seeping into landlocked Europe, Italian language programs offer no short of geographic beauty and cultural richness.

Allora….the obvious place to learn Italian abroad is Italy: the land of Neapolitan pizza, the world’s best coffee, and too many (or not enough?!) Vespas. You certainly can’t go wrong with Rome, with its architectural feats and gladiator ghosts roaming cobblestones piazzas. However, you may find that spending time in Florence would be more beneficial for the language experience. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, this Tuscan gem hosts many famous works of art and sculpture (Michelangelo’s David statue, anyone?). In addition to backyard vineyards and a hip art scene, Florence lets you truly immerse yourself in Italian. After all, it’s better to avoid places full of English speakers that make you resort back to your mother tongue!

Alternatively, you may allow the beautiful beaches and temples of Sicily to draw you in for Italian language schools. This stunning island is becoming an increasingly popular destination for language learning, so you will not be short of choice for whereabouts you would like to study. Sicily also boasts a huge amount of history and culture of its own, from the remnants of repeated invasions to Europe’s largest active volcano.

If the la dolce vita in Italy sounds too sexy for you, choose to learn Italian abroad in Switzerland. Surrounded by mountains and world-famous chocolate, the southern region of the country is actually filled with native Italian speakers. Its small towns are the perfect place to go to avoid other English speakers, and given that they’re in the middle of the Alps, they’re definitely not short of beauty!