SUMMER 2009 SESSION
Urbino: Depart U.S. June 30th – Return July 30th

THE PROGRAM:

Join a team of media professionals creating a web documentary on the town of Urbino, Italy, and get a taste of being a foreign correspondent. You'll earn 3 communication/journalism credits that you can transfer back to your home campus. During this four-week program, you'll learn

  • How to write for the web
  • How to take great digital photos
  • How to shoot and edit quality video
  • How to design sharp web pages
  • The ins and outs of intercultural communication
  • How to work as part of a production team

We'll also provide basic language classes and interpreters for field work. You'll work in assigned production teams, using computers, digital cameras, and video cameras that we provide. Our classroom and lab set up will be in the College Tridente.  You'll be housed in single rooms with shared bathrooms. There is free wi-fi access in the residence hall, so bring your laptops.  Three meals a day are included in your program price, and the cafeteria is adjacent to the residence. Program offices will be in the residence. Interpreters will be provided while doing field work. There are plenty of extracurricular activities: swimming, hiking, biking, etc. Three-day weekends for independent travel are built into the program; the daily public bus service can take you to nearby cities,  the train station, and the Adriatic beaches.

THE FACULTY:

Project Director:
Rachele Kanigel, San Francisco State University
Intercultural/Journaling:
Bren Ortega Murphy, Loyola Univesity, Chicago
Patricia Geist-Martin, San Diego State University
Storytelling:
Bob Marshall, New Orleans Times-Picayune
Rachele Kanigel
Photography:
Jaimie Gomez, Eastern Connecticut State U.
Video:
John Dunn, String3 Marketing
Web:
Steve Fox, U. Mass., Amherst
Technology:
Jennifer Ward, Fresno Bee
Student Life:
Marie Gould, Tulane
Italian language and culture:
Simona Londei

THE REGION:

Le Marche is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. It is located in the central area of the country, bordering Emilia-Romagna (the culinary capital of Italy) and the republic of San marino to the north, Tuscany to the north-west, Umbria to the west, Abruzzo and Lazio to the south and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Except for river valleys and the often very narrow coastal strip, the land is hilly. In the nineteenth century, a railway from Bologna to Brindisi linked the Marche along the coastline of the entire territory. Inland, the mountainous nature of the region, even today, allows little communication north and south, except by rough roads over the passes.

THE UNIVERSITY:

The University of Urbino is situated in a Renaissance hill-town in the north-eastern part of central Italy. The university was founded in 1506, and currently has about 20,000 students, many of whom are from overseas. The university has no central campus as such, and instead occupies numerous buildings throughout the town and in the surrounding countryside. The University of Urbino has traditionally given precedence to studies in the humanities, and is especially renowned for its courses in Italian language.

THE TOWN:

Urbino is a picturesque Renaissance hill town and the capital of the Marche region of central Italy. Although Urbino was a Roman and medieval city, its peak came during the 15th century when Duke Federico da Montefeltro established one of Europe's most illustrious courts. Its impressive Ducal Palace houses one of the most important collections of Renaissance paintings in Italy. Urbino’s university is a center for maiolica ceramics, art, and culture. Urbino's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

LOCATION:

Urbino is in the northern part of central Italy's Marche Region, one of the more remote and least touristy regions of Italy. Urbino is about 30km from the Adriatic coast.

TRANSPORTATION:

There are no train lines going to Urbino but Urbino can easily be reached by bus. The closest train stations are Pesaro and Fano on the coast. From the stations there are buses to Urbino. Daily except Sunday, there are four buses connecting Rome-Tiburtina to Urbino. Buses from Urbino serve many smaller towns in the region. The bus station is in Borgo Meratale by Porta Valbona. The closest airports are Ancona and Rimini.

URBINO FESTIVALS:

Urbino holds a Festival of Ancient Music in July. The Festa del Duca, usually the third weekend of August, is a celebration of Urbino's famous duke with processions, street performers, and a jousting tournament.

URBINO ATTRACTIONS:

  • Ducal Palace - Urbino's huge Ducal Palace, Palazzo Ducale, is one of the most impressive (and also the first) in Italy. The Ducal Palace was built in the second half of the fifteenth century. Top sites are the impressive Courtyard of Honor, the Duke's study with stunning trompe l'oeil inlaid woodwork panels, and the vast network of kitchens, laundry rooms, cellars, and stables. It's easy to spend several hours wandering through the palace and two museums, the National Gallery and the Archaeological Museum.
  • Marche National Gallery - Inside the Ducal Palace, the National Art Gallery of the Marche, Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, has one of the most important collections of Renaissance paintings in the world.
  • Duomo - The Duomo or cathedral was constructed on top of a sixth century religious building. Completed in 1604, it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1789 and then rebuilt. The duomo now has a neo-classical appearance and houses several important art works, including a painting of the Last Supper by Federico Barocci. The Museo Diocesano has a collection of glass, ceramics, and religious items.
  • Piazza Rinascmento, Piazza della Republica, and Piazza Duca Federico - The center of Urbino is formed by these two squares. Here you'll find cafes, shops, and lots of people.
  • Raphael's House - The Renaissance painter Raphael was born in Urbino (in 1483) and his family's house is now a museum.
  • Oratorio di San Giuseppe - This medieval church on Via Barocci is known for its presepio, or nativity scene. Nearby is the Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista with beautiful 15th century frescoes.
  • Albornz Fortress - The small fortress at the top of Urbino is a great place for views of the town and surrounding hills. It was built in the fourteenth century and was the defensive point for the walls, built in the sixteenth century. It's now a library and public park.
  • Botanical Garden - The small orto botanico is nicely laid out with labeled plants, ponds, and pathways. Entrance is free.