Dates
May 18 – June 15, 2026Subjects
Cuisine & Culture, Art, Drawing, English, Italian Culture, HonorsDeadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
The KIIS summer program in Italy begins in the Oltrarno quarter of Florence with an exploration of the Renaissance city’s world-class art and architecture and surroundings. It then moves to Siena, where students wander the enchanting medieval streets and alleyways. The program then moves to the Trastevere district of the ancient and modern capital of Rome, visiting museums, classical ruins, historic churches, palaces and other destinations. By investigating Italian art and history and taking part in the local culture, students become acquainted with the Italian people, their culture and their way of life.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
Program Directors
Erik Liddell is a professor of humanities and honors at Eastern Kentucky University, where he has been teaching since 2009. Prior to EKU, he taught at the King’s College and Dalhousie (Nova Scotia), Valdosta State (Georgia) and Brock (Ontario). He earned his BA in Liberal Studies at Brock and his MA and PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto. He has been involved in the KIIS Italy program since 2017. He studies Italian, Latin, French and World Literature.Dr. Erik Liddell
Photo Gallery
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Courses
All courses are taught in English and are 3 credit hours. You may enroll in 1-2 courses. Courses are divided into 2 time-blocks. You cannot select 2 courses in the same time block.
This introduction to Italian culture and history focuses on the many ways in which Italians—artists, writers, composers, architects, scientists and more—have contributed to world civilization, emphasizing connections with program cities and sites including Florence and Rome. The course explores highlights from the classical age through the medieval period and the Renaissance, and up to the modern age and contemporary life.
In this class we will investigate the regional differences of the locations we visit by doing a deep dive into what makes the food of each place different. We won’t just be eating a lot of great food, we will consider environmental, political, historical and social factors. We will look at tourist accounts from different eras, namely the ancient world, the Grand Tour, and US servicemen during WWII, and compare them with what we see.
This intermediate-level course is designed for students to integrate personal research into image making through a variety of drawing materials and processes. Much of our time will be spent with on-site drawing at important locations throughout Italy, and by the end of this course, students will have produced an artist’s sketchbook as a record of their time abroad.
This course engages students with particularities of Italian social life and cultural identity through selected readings, self-guided explorations, interactive encounters, creative responses and current events reports, and through group activities such as place-as-text observations and analyses of the thriving cultural spaces and distinctive neighborhoods of Rome and Florence.
This course examines the themes of love and war in Greek and Roman poetry and prose. We will take advantage of the Italian environment and museums to understand these themes in context, as well as discern how our modern views reflect or reject the ancient ones.
While introducing some foundational ideas in drawing, this class is designed for students with limited previous drawing experience who wish to engage directly with the artistic traditions they will see around them in Italy. At the end of the course, students will have produced a travel sketchbook as a record of their drawing observations and time traveling.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
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Venice (Independent)
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Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica
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Fiesole Etruscan Ruins
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Florence Cathedral Dome
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Uffizi & Accademia Galleries
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Roman Forum & the Colosseum
Group Flight
ESTIMATED COST $2,200 - $2,300
The KIIS Italy program offers a group flight option where you can travel to/from Italy with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a round-trip flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
If not selecting the group flight, you are responsible to purchase your own round trip (multi-city) airfare.
The flight to Florence, Italy is overnight, arriving the following morning. On the return, the flight from Rome, Italy to the USA departs and arrives on the same day. Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.