Thoughts From Abroad
So much of what is generally regarded and presented abroad as “Italian” turns out to be, actually, Neapolitan: from food to folk songs, from philosophy to the arts, from the negative stereotypes about its society to the stunning appeal of its landscape. It is impossible to understand Italy without trying to understand Naples. Beginning as a town in “greater Greece,” then at the center of the Roman Empire, through North African and European influences, Naples became a powerful capital city and one of the greatest urban realities in eighteenth-century Europe.
By studying in Naples you will have firsthand experience of several layers of ancient civilizations, visiting some of the richest museums and classic art collections in Italy, not to mention the opportunity to explore the abundant, and extremely diverse, archaeological sites both in the city and in the region: Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Cumae are few minutes away, Paestum and Rome an hour or less by train.
But like the mythical Siren from which it takes its original name, Parthenope, the allure of this city is never bland, nor tamed. Napoli is today a city of great contrasts, chaotic and loud like the crowd in its narrow streets, and yet peaceful and silent as its many cloisters; profane and spiritual; post-industrial and yet as magnificent and wild as the beauty of its volcano, its bay, and its islands. If you are looking for an authentic culture, a unique city, and a challenging life experience, Naples is the place for you.
— Resident Director