Programs : Brochure

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Locations: Perugia, Italy
Program Terms: Summer
Homepage: Click to visit
Program Sponsor: The Umbra Institute

Fact Sheet:

Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Language of Instruction:	English	Click here for a definition of this term Class Status:	1-first year, 2-sophomore, 3-junior, 4-senior
Housing Options:	Apartment (shared)	Click here for a definition of this term Areas of Study:	Archaeology, Classical Studies, Culture, Culture,, European Studies, History, Humanities, Service Learning
Program Type:	Study Abroad	Minimum GPA:	2.75
Click here for a definition of this term Program:	Direct

Program Description:

Trasimeno Archaeology Field School

About the Program

The Trasimeno Archaeology Field School, based in nearby Castiglione del Lago on the shores of Lake Trasimeno between Umbria and Tuscany, provides a curricular concentration in Archaeology and History. This six-week program begins with student arrival and pick-up from the Rome airport and transfer to Perugia for the welcome dinner. After orientation, the group is brought to Castiglione del Lago where they live for the duration of the program. This location was chosen for its wonderfully hospitable community and its jurisdiction and proximity to the archaeological site. Student time will be allocated between on-site work (at the newly discovered ruins of a Roman Villa on Lake Chuisi), in-class lessons, extra-curricular activities in Castiglione and Perugia, and field trips. At the end of the program, students will be transferred to Perugia for a farewell festa and taken by private bus to the Rome airport for departure.

The Excavation Site

The fieldwork takes place at a recently discovered archaeological find located on the shores of Lake Chiusi, on the Umbrian-Tuscan border just a few miles from Castiglione del Lago and Lake Trasimeno. On fieldwork days, a private bus will take students, faculty, and staff to the site for a full day's work and research. Lunch is on-site, and students return home in the mid-afternoon. Alternating days will be spent in class, at the local museum, or on field trips to nearby sites of interest.

This archaeological site has yet to be fully mapped and explored. Preliminary findings indicate the presence of a Roman villa, including thermal infrastructures, mosaics, and a possible Roman road. The Archaeological Field School is a long-term project run in cooperation with local institutions. Every summer, students contribute to the uncovering of the site and the display of artifacts in the expanding archaeological museum of Castiglione del Lago. Join us this summer to explore this exciting discovery and unearth the secrets that lie beneath as we travel back to the time of ancient Rome.

On-Site Study

The Field School consists of two courses, one theoretical and one practical, both based in Castiglione del Lago with daily work on the archeological site. The program aims to provide you with a comprehensive overview of up-to-date theories and methods of archaeological research and fieldwork as applied to the civilizations that shaped the history and culture of central Italy. The two core courses are:

Archaeology in Central Italy: the Etruscan and Roman Heritage
This course will introduce you to the region’s history and heritage, as a context for archaeological research. It also provides a theoretical background for the summer program’s learning and training. Course credit: 3

Archaeological Field Workshop
This course is an archaeology practicum whereby students work on the site alongside a professional archaeological staff. Students gain fundamental skills of archaeological research and apply them over the course of the project. Course credit: 3

Umbra Institute’s mission is to develop our students’ expertise in the full range of methods and processes employed in a complete archaeological project, from research design and preliminary survey of the territory, to methods of data collection in the field and digging, to the cataloging and display of archaeological remains. Investigating the archaeological heritage of this landscape, our project provides an instructive example of how different civilizations built upon one another in the same geographic area.

Student Life

Castiglione del Lago is a charming medieval town in Umbria, located on top of a small peninsula along the southwestern shores of Lake Trasimeno. A member of the prestigious I Borghi più Belli d’Italia Association (The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy), Castiglione is situated between renowned historical cities, such as Orvieto, Chiusi, Arezzo, Cortona, and Perugia. All Field School participants will stay in Castiglione during the summer term, only a few miles away from Perugia and easily accessible by bus or train. Program participants live in modernly furnished studio apartments (2-3 students each) a short walk from the lakeshore, supermarkets, and all other important venues. All apartments include fully-equipped kitchens.

In line with Umbra’s traditional focus on community engagement, field school participants will have the opportunity to enjoy day-to-day life as a local and experience the ambiance of an Italian town. A renowned summer location, Castiglione is an international venue for relaxing vacations, swimming and sunbathing on its beaches, or for practicing a variety of sports: cycling, sailing, wind- and kite-surfing, and canoeing. The beautiful hills surrounding the area offer opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Bus and train services connect Castiglione to other cities, including Rome and Florence, making it easy to travel over weekends.

Community Engagement

The Archaeological Field School is collaborative and aims to involve the community of Castiglione del Lago in a long-term relationship. As part of the project, students cooperate with the local archaeological museum to enhance its visibility and impact.

Local Partnerships

The Trasimeno Archaeology Field School is run by the Umbra Institute in cooperation with the Archeological Superintendency of Umbria, with the Comune of Castiglione del Lago, and the Archeological Research Company, Intrageo.

The Umbra Institute Highlights

International staff and faculty;
US Office providing pre-departure support;
Private airport pick-up in Rome and transfer to Perugia;
Communication: Umbra App (for Apple and Android), monthly newsletters, Wi-Fi in all student apartments, Handbooks and Guidebook;
Emergency phone available 24 hours a day;
Life-coaching and counseling service;
Staff trained in crisis management;
Multi-day orientation;
Cell phone or SIM cards rental services available;
Optional Trip, a staff-guided trip offered to explore beautiful, scenic Italy; and
Co-curricular field trips to world-renowned historic sites and famous cities.

Application

The Umbra Institute is a recognized and approved study abroad program for hundreds of colleges and universities. If you’re ready to begin your journey through psychology, start this easy online application.