mama_mia

My sweet husband gave me two weeks at a language school for 2014. I will likely go in May and am looking mainly at Lucca Italian School or Il Sasso (Montepulciano). I have several years of Italian lessons in the U.S. behind me and am hoping to work on conversation. As a third option, I am also considering Athena-It in Lanciano (Abruzzo). (I have visited Lanciano before and would compare it in some ways to Montepulciano.)

Any thoughts? My main concerns:

I will not have a car, so will I be bored in Montepulciano? Do students sometimes "carpool" for afternoon trips?

Will I have the opportunity to speak Italian in Lucca or Montepulciano, or will shopkeepers and others automatically switch to English? (In Lanciano, I heard no English in 4 days, so that is part of the appeal.)

Thanks for any insights or personal recommendations. I have not been to Lucca amd so am leaning slightly that way. However, I have stayed in Montepulciano and Lanciano and loved both of those towns and dreamed of returning.

http://www.luccaitalianschool.com/
http://www.ilsasso.com/eng/
http://www.athena-it.com/

bvlenci

Personal tastes are hard to understand, but for a two-week stay I would prefer Lucca to Montepulciano. It's a very pleasant little city, and, while it has its share of tourists, it's not as overwhelmed by them as Montepulciano can be. It also has good bus and train connections to other places. I've been there several times, and it's a city where I wouldn't mind living.

I don't know if people will automatically switch to English when you try to speak Italian. It's a risk anywhere you go, even in out-of-the-way places. Some Italians are just thrilled for a chance to practice their English, even if they can't speak it very well!

PalenQ

Luca would be my choice for what I want - a larger city with all the amenities vs a museum-type town overrun in season with tourists.

Lucca is well located - day trips to Pisa and most importantly Florence is but a short enough train ride - Lucca for me but maybe not for you?

greg

That is interesting. I was just in Montepulciano and noticed the Il Sasso sign, so I stepped in to see what kind of place it was. The shopkeepers didn't switch to English as readily as in Rome, Florence, Venice, or in Milan. As others indicated, Montepulciano is more isolated than Lucca.

Aramis

For the same reasons - isolation and activity outside of class - I would choose Lucca

Aramis

Not to mention it's way FLATTER

mama_mia

Thanks for the replies and confirming what I thought--Lucca probably is a better choice for me without a car. I will have to revisit wonderful Montepulciano and Lanciano some other time.

Aramis - I am kind of fond of hilly terrain. I managed to lose 3 pounds on the trip that included Montepulciano. Those hills have their upsides!

cruiseluv

Hi Mama mia,

First off you have a very sweet husband indeed!

I have been to Italian language school at both, Lucca for two weeks (at Koine from which the owners/teachers of LIS come from) and at Il Sasso in Montepulciano for one week. I love both cities, but I've decided to go back to Il Sasso for two weeks in Sept 2014 . I debated between Lucca and Montepulciano for my return visit and decided on Montepulciano because a) loved the school and b) adored Montepulciano. Also with just one week there, I didnt get the opportunity to visit some of the nearby towns , some of which you can even get to walking ( i like to hike/ walk). I didnt have a car and never felt bored, but it was just one week.

I'm very torn about what to recommend. Since you havent been to Lucca (and its such a fantastic city with so much to offer) I would probably give my vote to that. But frankly I dont think you can go wrong with either.

I found that in both towns the locals were very happy to engage me in Italian, contrary to what has happened to me in bigger cites like Rome or Florence.

Good luck! Please write again and let us know how you did. Are you planning to rent an apartment?

cruiseluv

Yes, Mama mia, indeed those hills and natural inclines are great to work out all that pasta! I called it Montepulciano's version of the Stairmaster!

jamikins

You may want to do a search for Annhig on this board as she has done a number of language courses and written trip reports. I dont think she went to either location you are considering but it may give you some ideas about what to expect.

jamikins

Here is one she did on Rome:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...an-in-rome.cfm

jamikins

And another from a small town in Tuscany along the coast I believe:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-tuscany.cfm

mama_mia

Jamikins--Thanks for the links to Annhig's reports. I missed the Rome report but had seen her Tuscan adventure. I know I would not be bored in Rome (which I love) but feel I would have less opportunity to practice (maybe?).

Cruiseluv--now you have me thinking of Montepulciano again! I loved our view of the countryside from the Politan apartment. That area is so lovely.

I suppose my hesitation now is that the town of Lucca gets such mixed reviews. I love winding medieval streets and Romanesque architecture. I have seen the major sites and art in Italy and am equally charmed by the lesser sites and the joy of doing nothing. I should be okay, right?

jamikins

We loved the week we spend in Lucca this past July - you can see our pics here, most are of Lucca

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gir...7637218522244/

Lucca was charming and a great base, easy access to lots of things. But the best thing about it is that it felt like a real town. Yes there were tourists, but there were also normal people going about their business. And it felt like a prosperous town as well. I would highly recommend it.

We are staying in Montepulciano right now and just walked by the school. Very well located. But if you dont have a car you just dont have as many options here as you would in Lucca.

Lets be honest - you cant really go wrong!

mama_mia

Thanks, Jamikins.

I always enjoy your trip reports and photos and your Lucca shots have helped convince me to go there. Of course, you take such great photos that you could sell me on any place.

macanimals

We've stayed in both towns for extended periods and like both. For your purposes and without a car, I definitely agree that Lucca would be best. The lack of cars in the rather flat town makes the whole place feel like a village with local spots catering to neighbors and friends. Even more important is the easy access to trains and buses. Enjoy.

cruiseluv

Mamma Mia,

I also stayed at Politian apts. Actually , I stayed at two of them, one of them on the higher floor with those killer views. I'll be staying again at one of his apts and cant wait!

I strongly urge you to continue with your plans to go to a small city for Italian classes. Having gone to language school in Italy three different times, all times staying at smaller cities, I think its a much more rewarding experience that if you did it in a big city. I also love Rome but frankly cant see myself going to language school there, not as many opportunities to practice my Italian as people tended to respond in English. I'm reasonably fluent in Italian so it was a bit frustrating to encounter this. In my experience you will not have that happen in Montepulciano or Lucca. I also attended school at Saena Iulia in Siena, which I also like a lot (but for whatever reason liked Lucca and Montepulciano better).

Buona fortuna!!

mama_mia

I think I have settled on Lucca and will report back on the experience.

Cruiseluv--enjoy your classes and Politian apts. I will have to try Il Sasso once my husband retires and can shepherd me around (I can't drive stick).

IrishMartina

Hi to anyone researching language schools in Italy!
I first decided to go to Italy to begin learning the language in May 2013. Based on various reviews I had read I had also narrowed my choice to Montepulciano or Lucca. One review in particular about Il Sasso and the full immersion homestay experience convinced me to choose this option and I signed up for 4 weeks.

That was back in May 2013. I arrived having no previous language experience and started in the beginners class with 5 other intrepid travelers. The teachers at Il Sasso were incredibly skilled,kind and patient and made the classes so fun and enjoyable with a mix of vocabulary, grammar, listening and most importantly speaking exercises so that our confidence grew day by day.

The school also organised a programme of varied afternoon activities including trips to nearby towns Siena, Cortona, Assisi, Montalcino, to cooking classes, watching Italian movies and of course visits to local Cantina's to sample the famous 'vino nobile'.

Montepulciano itself is a secret gem, the people in the shops, bars, restaurants, cafe's are very welcoming and appreciative of the visitors Il Sasso bring to their town and are very happy to allow you to practice and help you with your Italian language skills.

It was wonderful to receive a 'Buongiorno" on the way to school from the locals you had interacted with - you really began to feel part of the community.

I personally loved the homestay experience. My hostess was not only a wonderful lady, happy to share her Italian way of life and language with you, but her wonderful food!!!

I traveled from Rome where you can take a train from Termini and arrive in Chiusi in 1hr50m or less depending on which of the many daily services you choose. You can then take a bus from right outside the station to Montepulciano (50 mins in the beautiful Tuscan countryside) and all for a total .of as little as €13. If you prefer you can take a taxi from Chiusi Station. If you do not wish to use public transport then the school are happy to arrange for one of the drivers they use to pick you up from whichever airport 6ou choose.

I subsequently returned to Il Sasso and Montepulciano in Feb/Mar this year for 6 weeks and again had an incredible experience!
I am currently writing this while sitting on the terrace of the apartment I have rented, having been lucky enough to return to Montepulciano for the Summer.
I guess that last comment says it all - I wholeheartedly recommend that you come to Il Sasso and Montepulciano - what do you have to lose - well from my experience perhaps a little bit of your heart!!