Purchase College, SUNY conducts a five-week summer program in Italy offering classes in Italian Language and also courses such as: Art History, Drawing, Anthropology, Italian Drama Studies, and Marine Biology. The program is located in Pisciotta, a small town on the Mediterranean coast about ninety miles south of Naples and even closer to the world-famous Roman and Greek monuments of Pompeii and Paestum. Students will pursue the intensive study of Italian language and culture in a beautiful and historic setting, while earning full undergraduate, graduate and in-service credit. Class size is small and students receive individual attention. With the exception of Italian language, all classes are taught in English.

Pisciotta is located in the recently established Cilento National Park, the Columns in Italysecond largest in Italy. Famed for its unspoiled mountains, forests and spectacular beaches, the National Park also features ancient and medieval archaeological sites, beautifully preserved hill-towns, and some of Italy's oldest groves of olive trees. Pisciotta is also within easy reach of the stunning Greek temples at Paestum and the historic and wildly picturesque medieval towns of Amalfi and Ravello. The unique buried city of Pompeii and the outstanding art collections of Naples are only two hours away. The program includes a two day excursion to Florence and concludes with three days devoted to the monuments of Rome and the Vatican.

Though the academic program is a demanding one, students will also have time to enjoy the slower pace of life in Pisciotta. The outdoor cafés and restaurants are delightful, and the nearest beach is just a fifteen minute walk down the hill. Hiking in the National Park is another option, and there is some nightlife in the area too.

FOR SUMMER 2014, students will choose from one of the following electives:

1. Contemporary Italian Drama and Street Theatre

An introduction to adaptation and ensemble creation, using texts by major authors of Italian literature (Pirandello, Fo, and Calvino.) Students explore non-naturalistic acting, mask, and puppet work as they devise a culminating performance in a medieval piazza. This course also introduces the genre of street theatre, including Bread and Puppet Theatre–style pageants, placing performance in the context of community and public space.

2. The Photographic Artist’s Book

VIS 2025 / 4 credits / Summer (offered in Italy)
Students create a photographic essay that is inspired by their observations and experiences of Pisciotta. The development of content and narrative strategies, along with a consideration of sequence, rhythm, and layout in books, is discussed. Working with digital cameras (a simple one is fine) and Internet publishing, each student creates a self-published book. Offered as SOA 2025 for students in other disciplines.