Gap Year in Italy

From the ancient sites of Rome – including the Colosseum – to the enchanting canals and bridges of Venice, Italy is perhaps one of the most stunning countries in the entire continent.

Best Gap Year Programs in Italy

Italy Quick Facts

• Capital City: Rome
• Currency: Euro, EUR
• Language: Italian
• Time Zone: +1 GMT, +2 GMT
• Dialling Code: +39
• Religions Practised: Christianity (Roman Catholic)
• Total Area: 301,230 square kilometres
• Population Size: 59619290

Practical Information

Voltage and Plug Info:
220 V. European plug with two round metal pins.

Visas:
Most EU residents do not need a visa to travel to Italy; a valid passport is fine. Many non-EU nationals, including Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Japanese can travel as a tourist to Italy for up to 90 days without a visa. If you’re planning to visit for work (and are not an EU national) contact the embassy.

Safety:
Keep your valuables safe as pick pocketing is common, especially in the touristy cities of Venice, Florence and Rome. When crossing the road look and look again; Italians are not known for their road sense, and the situation’s made worse by hundreds of scooters zooming about the place.

Vaccinations and Health:
Though not common, there have been reports of rabies in north-eastern Italy since 2008; avoid petting stray dogs, no matter how cuddly they look. If you do get bitten seek immediate medical advice.

Guide to Taking a Gap Year in Italy

Italy is a dreamy place to visit. From the romantic to the plain gluttonous, whether you’re after centuries-old frescoes or pizzas protected by the EU, you’ll find it here.

Best Time to Visit?
Northern Italy enjoys hot summers but cold winters, similar in climate to neighbouring France, Austria and Germany. Regions south of Rome can get scorching hot in the summer, due in part to the sirocco, a dry desert wind that blows up from the Sahara.

Getting There and Away
Although expensive compared to other European gap year destinations, there are still cheap flights to be had if you’re travelling from within the EU. Italy is well connected by train and bus, and the roads are of good quality. You can catch the ferry (though it’s quite expensive) if you’re travelling from Croatia.

Getting Around
The easiest way to get around is by car, although Italian drivers are pretty mad. Train and bus networks are regular in high season, though services reduce outside summer months.

Best Italy Gap Year Programs

Why not take the perfect opportunity and learn a new language? You could combine it with travelling or even working abroad. The feisty romantic language – Italian is beautiful, you could study at a language school in Italy.

If you like the idea of going to work in Italy, a popular option is to get a job as an au-pair or nanny for an Italian family. There are lots of good agencies that have clients in Italy and can help you arrange placements.

You could try getting a TEFL certificate and teach in Italy for the year. Make sure you research thoroughly on which course to do as they differ a lot. The general rule is that you need to do at least a month long course to get a decent job. CELTA, run by Cambridge University, is very good and is widely recognised.

You could also find study abroad programs in Italy. Florence is a great city to explore Italian art and culture and has a lively student vibe. Some good schools here are David School who also offer social and cultural activities as well as classes and the Michelangelo Institute who also give Italian art history and culture courses.

Don’t Leave Here Without…

Watching the Sunset in the Eternal City
You’ll need a head for heights and strong quads to make it to the top of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, but looking over the city as it glimmers like gold will bring out your poetic side.

Locating Your Inner Archaeologist
Better preserved than Pompeii, Herculaneum is the other city to be totalled by Mount Vesuvius. It doesn’t pull in the crowds, making it a real hidden gem.

Scoffing Pizza in Naples
Italians apply a ‘quality not quantity’ attitude to pizza toppings and nowhere more so than in Naples, home of the margarita, where the basic pizza is anything but plain.

Taking in a Festival – Without a Tent
Religious or historic, they’ll be big on drama and drinking. The most fun are Venice Carnival, the riotous Battle Of The Oranges in Ivrea and Florence’s explosive Scoppio Del Carro, where a mechanical dove flies through the cathedral, igniting an ox-driven cart full of fireworks.

Skiing the Milky Way
The Italian Alps cater for all abilities. Experienced skiers can ditch the newbies on the baby slopes and go off-piste. Everyone meets up later to compare war wounds.

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