Homestays are carefully selected and offer students the opportunity to learn more about the local culture in a comfortable setting while studying Italian in Otranto. These homes are often between 5 - 5 minutes away from the school by public transport. Families usually offer affordable meal plans that allow you to sample the local cuisine. If you have special requests or diet restrictions (because of religion or health reasons), please let us know in advance. Your housing starts on the Sunday before your first day of class and ends on the Saturday after your last day of class, unless otherwise noted. Learn more about homestay housing
It is possible to live in a rented apartment during your study in Otranto, but this tends to be more expensive. Scuola Porta d'Oriente (Lecce) provides some assistance with apartment rentals or you can rent an apartment on your own. Learn more about apartment housing
The location of our Italian language school, in the historic and artistic seaside town of Otranto, is very conducive to the whole Italian learning experience.
Every year Otranto wins "the five flags" prize for the cleanest sea of Italy by "Legambiente" and "Touring Club" (Italian associations about environment and Tourism). The town is surrounded by beautiful beaches characterized by fine and clear sand, lapped by a turquoise and crystalline sea.
The ANCI (National Association of the Italian Towns) listed Otranto among the 15 most beautiful small villages in Italy.
Otranto won also in 2010 UNESCO recognition. Its small modern port, adjacent to massive ancient stone fortifications, adds a vibrancy supplementing an excellent array of shops, restaurants and visitor facilities. However Otranto still manages to maintain a quiet and sophisticated atmosphere, totally uncharacteristic of typical tourist towns. Local people are warm and welcoming; you will find their smiles to be infectious. There is virtually no English spoken locally, so our students have an undiluted stunning stage on which to practice their new-found Italian skills!
Have questions? Get answers from Scuola Porta d'Oriente - Istituto di Lingua e Cultura Italiana staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.
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