USAC Italy: Viterbo-History, Art, Photography, & Journalism

I wrote this while I was abroad, and it felt correct to share in this space for anyone considering Viterbo. What a blessing to be studying abroad in Viterbo. Recently, I have been reflecting on what dropping into a community longterm offers. In having the opportunity and capacity to build a rhythm in a medieval Etruscan town, I am connecting with locals and learning so much about how life moves here in Viterbo. Italy, like the US has a lot of different vibes and paces from town to town and city to city. Viterbo is no different. Study abroad offers a unique opportunity to drop into a region and to feel out what life is like in a space very different than your own. Speaking Italian has offered me an incredibly unique lens to conversations with locals and those who are considered locals from other regions. Overall, they echo the same sentiments about Viterbo, something I have yet been able to see, and will need to process when I am away. Daily, everything closes down in the early afternoon, which is the hottest part of the day. It’s been incredibly hot overall, with some days reaching 38 degrees celcius. I feel I have adapted overall, but today was especially hot and last night was hard to sleep. As an anthropologist and musician, there have been so many opportunities to drop into playing music and connecting with historical sites, stories, and more. It was a bumpy transition into Italy as the student loan changes arrived on July 1st and I have been connecting with students who are expressing how their financial aid packages will be changing this fall. It’s a major moment of change in the world, and I am thankful to be experiencing it from a new space where I am gently adapting and becoming used to how many people enjoy smoking overall. I'll never be the same!

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It was a great experience and I made some good friends. Being in a new culture was very beneficial for me. I miss it already and wish I stayed for longer but I also got way to hot towards the end of the adventure.

I loved living in Viterbo and one of the best parts was the kebab shop I found that was my lunch every other day it’s the thing I miss alongside the place and friends. The experience itself was amazing as well and I wish I could have gone for longer.

Francesca and Luisa were amazing advisors and made this abroad experience so fulfilling and rewarding. They were always there if I needed anything and made sure we were all always taken care of. I felt like I got to experience everything I could and got to get an education as well which was so rewarding and important to me. I felt free yet felt like I had someone to go to if I ever needed anything.

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I was abroad for the yearlong program, and the cultural immersion that Viterbo provides is a strength of the program, food and cost of living were phenomenal also. Though the program directors (there were only two) struggled with organization and communication, though I do think they are trying their best genuinely.

The whole trip feels like a dream! I loved that I was able to become so immersed in the Italian culture and miss being there every single day. I had the opportunity to take some really interesting classes and meet some amazing people, both with the program and in the community as well. The semester went by too fast, and I cannot wait to go back to visit. The city of Viterbo was beautiful and quaint, and right nearby was the amazing city of Rome. I learned a lot of things that I would have never been able to study so hands-on back in the US. I am grateful for my experience abroad!

I loved spending my senior year in Viterbo. I graduated with a degree in biology, but I also loved the various classes I took, including history, anthropology, Italian, and politics. I enjoyed listening to all the professor's lectures and writing papers on topics I would not have otherwise researched. I personally loved the city because it was more homey and quiet. It is busy during the festival around the Macchina di Santa Rosa, but otherwise expect to learn Italian to talk to shopkeepers (it is hard but worth it). Rome is in such close proximity that you can take advantage of the trains to travel. I often spent weekends traveling around Italy and loved it. The airport is very efficient, and it was pleasant flying out of there when I visited some other countries. I met wonderful people. Everyone was smart, kind, and fun. It was an opportunity to meet people from universities across the United States. I look back on the memories I created with everyone in my cohort at least once a week and miss them thoroughly. I made some life-long friends and visit them around the United States with my newfound love of traveling. I would recommend that anyone planning to study abroad plan their trips well in advance. It may feel rushed and hard, but doing so will ensure you spend your time the way you want to. I loved all the adventures I went on! Learning a new language and practicing it can be challenging, especially when you have the option to choose a program where the native population speaks English or simply rely on Google Translate. It feels much more authentic, is extremely rewarding to speak in another language, and it reminds you that you can do hard things.

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I studied in the spring of 2025 and had a great time. The people in the program as well as the staff were al amazing, kind, and supportive. The city itself was really quaint however looking back I do wish I choose a bigger city just because it would have been more my vibe. That being said I did also enjoy the small town vibes a bit in terms of the food and the people. I became really close friends with a couple locals and still talk to them almost everyday now and for that reason alone I am thankful for my experience. The one thing I would point out is that if you go in the spring it is not going to be the Mediterranean weather you might be expecting it will be cold and very rainy. Very happy I experienced this and this program will be great for anyone interested in photography, history, food, or just likes the small town feel.

I wouldn't trade my time in Viterbo for anything. The classes were engaging, and the city itself was safe and exciting. As the weather warmed up, the shops and restaurants welcomed us in. The locals were all very kind and wanted to get to know us. The people were also amazing, and the ability to immerse ourselves in the culture was incredible.

Leaving for my study abroad experience was my first time leaving the United States in general. Understandably I was excited, but also a bit scared. When I first arrived I was tired, homesick, and just overall nervous. However, once I met up with our program directors these feelings were instantly relieved. Instead I was now beside myself with excitement for what each day had to offer. This program supported me and helped me feel safe in my new home, while also allowing me to go out and explore not just Italy, but the world. As someone who is more reserved I was worried I wouldn't live life to the fullest while studying abroad, but it was thanks to the support of the staff and friends I made along the way that I was able to branch out and learn more about who I am. The professors I had were exceptional. The amount I learned in that one semester surpassed any other semester before it. The first hand knowledge of my professors and the first hand experiences they granted me gave me a new passion for my degree. Along with the academics, I found confidence to not only travel to new countries, but to do it on my own, which led me to visit 4 other countries, some with friends and some without. Additionally, because of Viterbo's proximity to Rome, Rome became like a second home to me. The day trips we took to explore less traveled streets gave me a more in depth experience of urban livng in Italy. Study abroad is something I miss every day, and I am already planning a return trip to visit the places I came to love.

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Viterbo Italy was unreal. The people in the city were some of the nicest individuals I have ever met. Once we were feeding the cats that roamed around and the man that owned the kabob shop, Ali, gave us free kabob meet to help feed them. The kindness or the people who lived there seeped into our little apartment, and me and all of my roommates were living in what felt like a movie. Our apartment view was unlike anything i had seen before and i never got sick of it. truly a once in a lifetime experience that i wouldn’t trade for anything. Thank you to Viterbo and its people.

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I registered to take Food and Culture to learn about Italian food and culture, but instead I learned about food sciences around the world because the professor for the class was a Food Science professor in California and had never been to Italy. I was very disappointed in what I "learned". We never talked about Italian Culture in depth, we talked about our culture from back in the US, but never learned why Italians have a different culture than us. The course had a heavy load of eight papers, two exams, five journals, three presentations, and many readings over the course of four weeks, this class stressed me and my classmates out so much that it became all we worried about and talked about when we should have been able to focus on the Italian food and culture.

My study abroad experience in Viterbo was amazing! I absolutely loved it! I felt very comfortable and safe there. Along with getting an authentic experience being immersed in the Italian culture. I also enjoyed my classes; the professors were great. Did have some complications with one, but it got taken care of. Having the capability to travel anywhere on the weekends and long breaks was one of my favorite parts! I got to experience and explore 13 cities and two countries during my semester. I also loved being able to meet new people within the program and travel with them and doing everything! And with any new experience, especially living in a new country for a semester, there’s always going to be ups and downs; I definitely had my down moments, but there were a whole lot more ups. One thing that I didn’t really like was having classes on Fridays. It made it a little more difficult to travel for the weekends, but I still managed. I would have preferred a Monday through Thursday school week and have Fridays open to leave early to make most of the trip. I got lucky with having an Italian roommate at my apartment. She was awesome! We were able to converse a little in Italian, but mostly in English because I was still learning. She was so helpful when I had questions about my Italian homework and the language itself. Overall the experience was amazing! I learned a lot of new things about myself, met awesome people who I’m still connected with today, and so many more things. I highly recommend studying abroad if you’re able to. It really is an experience of a life time.

Definitely aspects I loved about the program but definitely parts i wasn't expecting and didn't like. We got an authentic italian experience being in a smaller city but that also made it hard to integrate. We only befriended the others in the program and had a hard time getting close to locals. Also was no impressed by the classes and the strict rules you HAD to be in class every class or you failed. I think it was a good town to be comfortable in if you have never really traveled before though and it was a good location for traveling since its in the middle of the country.

Here in Viterbo I have got to experience a true Italian culture/society. The community is friendly and welcoming. The classes are challenging enough to get my mind flowing while still having all the time in the world to do what I would like while being here. The city is charming and has its perks. The best part is getting becoming part of the community from local cafes and restaurants.

I had an amazing summer in Viterbo. The classes were amazing. I studied Italian Language and Italian Cuisine. Unfortunately some of the classes, like paintings and drawing, were cancelled due to low enrollment. The classes were fun and I learned a lot. The experience of living in a new country was new and different. Any problems or worries I had were quickly addressed by the USAC staff. I met amazing peers and staff in the Viterbo program. I made life long friends. I was able to see things I’ve only read about in books. I saw history come to life. Spending the summer in Viterbo was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget.

I had such a good time in Viterbo! I got really lucky with my group being so small; we all got to know each other very well and had a lot of fun together. It was definitely out of my comfort zone at the start, but it was so worth it. Being from a small town in New England, Viterbo was so different from what I was used to, but I loved it, and I will definitely be going back at some point. To anyone thinking of studying abroad, do it, it is so worth it, and you get to make so many good memories.

I loved my whole experience of studying abroad with USAC in Viterbo, Italy. The things I loved most was living in the center of the historical midtown, the espressos and pistachio croissants, and the wonderful staff and teacher, Marco Pacioni. I would only change a few things, such as transportation back to the Rome airport (we had to buy a bus ticket ourselves) and possibly having more things to do socially - we were there during the summer, so I understand campus wasn't as busy. Primarily we only talked to other English-speaking students on the trip, but there was quite a few chances to meet the locals and converse in Italian. Hanging with Italian students would have also been fun, but there was few of them at the time on campus during July. Altogether, the trip was amazing and full of great food, people, destinations, and museums. I would 100% recommend USAC and Viterbo!!

Studying abroad in Viterbo,Italy was one of the best experiences of my life. This was my first time traveling outside the country so I was homesick most of the time but I learned many things. I learned some Italian from taking the Intro to Italian course that is offered. This helped me outside of class because I was able to better communicate with people in the community. It was helpful to know while I was there that I was not alone. There were many resources for people who may struggle with their mental health and there is always someone available to talk to you if you ever need anything. This trip positively changed the way I view the world and I am grateful that I went!

I studied abroad in Viterbo as part of a six week program. My program had about 20 students from all across the US, most of whom did not know anyone else in the program. I think this allowed us all to get to know each other better and be more open to trying new things. Viterbo is a pretty small town in a rural part of the Lazio region and its downtown core is one of the most well-preserved medieval sections in all of Europe. Our apartment was inside the city walls and walkable to many restaurants, a small grocery store, a produce vendor, and the Corso Italia, which is the main drag for shopping in Viterbo. Overall, the apartment was nice and furnished well enough, but it did not have AC. This is standard for many residences in Italy, but it was rather hot while we were there and leaving the windows open did result in a lot of bug bites. The class schedule was a little unusual in that it was not the same every week, so one week you might have a class on Monday and Wednesday, and the next on Tuesday and Thursday. I took the photography class, the cuisine class, and intro to Italian. I would highly recommend taking the intro to Italian class if you are not familiar with the language as many of the shopkeepers and restauranteurs in Viterbo do not speak English, and knowing some Italian will make your interactions smoother. The cuisine class is a great way to learn more about Italian culture, and you do get copies of the recipes to make at home if you so choose. I really enjoyed the photography class, which is the one I needed for credit at my home university. Aside from the very good instruction in the mechanics of photography, I enjoyed how this class got us out into the city and seeing different parts. It was not listed in the class description and is not necessarily required, but it will be easier if you bring your own camera. In addition to the great experience in Viterbo, the town is accessible to both Rome and Florence by rail, and from there you can go onwards to Milan, Naples, etc. In the six weeks we were there, we had time on weekends to go to both Rome and Florence, as well as Positano on the Amalfi coast, and a beach in the nearby town of Tarquinia. I would also highly recommend going to Lago di Bolsena! The program also offered multiple field trips that students could go on to different lesser known places near Viterbo - the two I remember were Civita di Bagnoregio and Marmore Falls. Overall it was a really great experience during which I felt like I got a window into a realistic lifestyle in Italy while also getting to see many of the places I wanted to visit.

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