Summer in the Italian Riviera (in English) - ISEP Direct
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Begin your summer studying in La Spezia, right on the Italian coast! Start each morning with a cappuccino, stroll past the colorful Art Nouveau buildings to class, and end your day at the seaside.
• Choose between a 3-week or 6-week program, and take courses in business, Italian, or cultural studies. Both program options end before July.
• The La Spezia campus is part of Florence University of the Arts, one of ISEP’s most popular program partners known for excellent on-site support and hands-on coursework.
LIFE ABROAD
FUA’s newest campus combines the breathtaking beauty of the rugged Ligurian coastline with strong student support, hands-on academics, and an authentic taste of Italian life. A walkable city rich with culture and history, La Spezia is easy to explore by foot, bus, bike share, or boat. Sip espresso at one of the many cafes before class, and in the evening, catch a train to the famous Cinque Terre, where you can dine seaside, stroll through the vineyards, or simply watch the sunset from the beach.
LIVE
Enjoy efficient community-living in FUA’s modern and newly built off-campus apartments, which are a beautiful 35-minute walk through the historic center to class. You will find an instant community of friends and students in your residence, where each apartment is shared with up to 10 students studying on the same program as you. Each apartment has full cooking facilities, laundry, air conditioning and heating, bedding, and other essentials.
DINE
Shop like a local at the Piazza del Mercato, La Spezia’s daily market, for the perfect mix of regional products, seafood, and produce! Drop into an osteria (casual restaurant) to sample local, traditional dishes like Testaroli al Pesto, a crepe like pasta served with Ligurian pesto, stuffed anchovies, or savory chickpea pancakes. Don’t miss the local gelato—some of the best flavors are seasonal, like fig, lemon and honey! When you want to eat at home, the shared apartment kitchen has a refrigerator, oven, stove, cookware, and serving essentials.
EXPLORE
La Spezia is a short, 10-minute train ride away from the Cinque Terre National Park, made of five historic seaside villages and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the weekends, it’s easy to visit nearby destinations by train, including Genoa, Florence, Pisa, and Milan.
What We Love About La Spezia
We love that you can get a true taste of Italian culture near some of Italy’s most picturesque sites while taking interesting courses connected to the economic and cultural heart of this fascinating port city.
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses (3 Weeks)
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses (6 Weeks)
Course Description
The Italian Riviera Summer program specializes in academic highliting the local culture of La Spezia and Cinque Terre with additional courses in offers courses from Fashion Marketing, Food and Wine Studies, and Psychology all taught entirely in English. To truly immerse yourself in the local culture, we highly recommend enrolling in one of the many Italian language courses such as Italian Language for Beginners or Intensive Italian. More advanced students can improve their language skills as well.
Credits Earned
Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to earn between 3-6 US Credits depending on the Summer Session selected. Most courses are worth 3 Credits each.
If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid.
Summer Session I (Courses span 3 weeks)
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Supply Chain and Operations Management |
Introduction to Fashion Marketing |
Travel Writing |
Art, Food, Fashion, and Wine: Creative Advertising of Italian Destinations |
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Italian Language Beginner |
Food, Wine, and the City: Riviera Neighborhood Walks |
Riviera Sketchbook |
Culture Shock: Cross Cultural Psychology |
Field Learning: Genova |
Summer Session II (Courses span 3 weeks)
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International Trade |
International Marketing |
Social Psychology |
Journal Writing Walks |
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Italian Language Intermediate I |
Exploration of Wine Culture in Italy |
Food, Wine, and the City: Riviera Neighborhood Walks |
Riviera Villas and Gardens Walks |
Summer Session Courses (Courses span 6 weeks)
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Supply Chain and Operations Management |
International Trade |
Introduction to Fashion Marketing |
Fashion Merchandising |
International Marketing |
Field Learning: Genova |
|
Culture Shock: Cross Cultural Psychology |
Social Psychology |
Riviera Villas and Gardens Walks |
Art, Food, Fashion, and Wine: Creative Advertising of Italian Destinations |
Journal Writing Walks |
Travel Writing |
|
Italian Language Beginner |
Intensive Italian For Six Credits (Beginner) |
Italian Language Intermediate I |
Riviera Sketchbook |
Exploration of Wine Culture in Italy |
Food, Wine, and the City: Riviera Neighborhood Walks |
For detailed instructions on how to search for all available courses, please click on the "other academic conditions" dropdown link below.
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
PROGRAM DATES
This is a 3 or 6-week program.
NOTE: Arrival is always on a Monday and Last day of housing is always on a Sunday.
Sample Summer Calendar 2026
Summer Intensive Session A (6-Week Session)
- Mon May 18 - Students arrive
- Tue May 19 – Orientation
- Wed May 20 - Classes start
- Thu Jun 25 - Classes end
- Fri Jun 26 - Housing check-out (by 10am)
Intensive Session I (3-Week Session)
- Mon May 18 - Students arrive
- Tue May 19 – Orientation
- Wed May 20 - Classes start
- Thu Jun 04 - Classes end
- Fri Jun 05 - Housing check-out (by 10am)
Intensive Session II (3-Week Session)
- Mon Jun 08 - Students arrive
- Tue Jun 09 – Orientation
- Wed Jun 10 - Classes start
- Thu Jun 25 - Classes end
- Fri Jun 26 - Housing check-out (by 10am)
COURSE SEARCH
1. Using the link under Website for Course availability, select 2025-2026 to search for Summer 2026 courses.
2. Then, in the Session Drop down menu, select the appropriate term (Summer) Session I 3 Week, Session II 3 week, or Session A 6 week Intensive Semester.
- Session I and Session II courses run for exactly 3 weeks each.
- Summer Session A courses will span across all 6 weeks.
- Students should only select and apply to one summer session from the three sessions offered. It is not possible to enroll in Session I and Session II. Students wishing to stay in Florence for 6 weeks should enroll in Summer Session A.
3. Under "Program Selection" select "5Terre Riviera-La Spezia"
4. Courses are listed by Department
5. Clicking on the course title will bring up the course description
CREDIT LOAD
The ISEP program fee covers up to 3 credits for Session I or Session II and up to 6 credits for Summer Session A at FUA. Any fees associated with taking more than 3 or 6 credits (in the respective term) are the responsibility of the student. Additional fees will be billed by FUA directly. Please message your ISEP Student Services Officer to inquire about the extra cost and process.
PASSPORT: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.
VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT: As the Summer program lasts less than 90 days from start to finish, US citizens will not be required to obtain a visa to participate. Students of other nationalities should check to see if a visa is necessary to participate.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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