Homestays are carefully selected and offer students the opportunity to learn more about the local culture in a comfortable setting while studying Italian in Taormina. These homes are often between 3 - 20 minutes away from the school by public transport. Families usually offer affordable meal plans that allow you to sample the local cuisine. If you have special requests or diet restrictions (because of religion or health reasons), please let us know in advance. Your housing starts on the Sunday before your first day of class and ends on the Saturday after your last day of class, unless otherwise noted. Learn more about homestay housing
It is possible to live in a rented apartment during your study in Taormina, but this tends to be more expensive. BABILONIA – CENTER FOR ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE provides some assistance with apartment rentals or you can rent an apartment on your own. Learn more about apartment housing
BABILONIA – CENTER FOR ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE provides some assistance with hotel or hostel reservations or you can reserve a room on your own. Learn more about hostel housing
Our Centre is located in the heart of world-famous Taormina, the most beautiful town in Sicily. Taormina, from atop Mount Tauro, looks over the Bay of Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily, founded in 735 b.C. The magnificent Mediterranean-blue bay with active volcano Mount Etna in the background offers a spectacular view from almost everywhere in town. Taormina is famous for its beauty, its incredible heritage, history, archaeology, and architecture, as well as for its reputation in welcoming travelers. Taormina is perfectly situated to offer students easy access to the beautiful and historically important treasures of Sicily.
Since 1992, we, the Centre for Italian Studies “BABILONIA” in Taormina, Sicily have passionately dedicated ourselves to promoting our Italian and Sicilian heritage and culture along with the study of the Italian language. We strive to not only offer an opportunity to learn the Italian language and to directly experience Italian culture and Italian life.
Our courses and programs are held at “Casa Silva”, a historic villa, built in 1817 just 200 meters away from the Greek Theatre: an architectural, natural and historical treasure that Taormina has miraculously managed to conserve. The villa still today boasts a luxurious botanical garden filled with citrus trees, Mediterranean plants, centuries-old palms, monkey puzzle trees, and magnolias, as well as many other exotic trees and plants.
Babilonia is not just a language school, but truly a Cultural Centre, open both to the local community and to our international students who gain wider cultural experience and have the chance to easily interact and integrate with the local community
A language is the result of a culture and its traditions, its history, its lifestyle and its places. With this in mind, if you want a fuller cultural experience in Sicily, and not just to be a simple tourist but be a real traveler, you can combine a group Italian language course or private Italian lessons with our
Italian plus programs:
· Italian plus Sicilian Cooking (more info here )
· Italian plus Wine & food of Sicily (more info here )
· Italian plus Sicilian pottery & ceramic decoration (more info here )
· Italian plus Hiking & trekking in Sicily (more info here )
· Italian plus Diving in Sicily (more info here )
· Italian plus Golf in Sicily (more info here )
· Italian plus Literature (more info here )
· Italian plus Art History (more info here )
· Italian plus History (more info here )
and, for those who wish a more exclusive and intensive package with 50+ fellows, a special invitation to join our “Golden Sicily” program.
We hope to welcome you soon to Taormina, Sicily and offer the opportunity to discover our island so full of history, so full of culture, so full of inspiration!
Have questions? Get answers from BABILONIA – CENTER FOR ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.
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