What you will learn
You will practice your Italian language while doing an activity you love.
Italy has 20 regions and each one has specific recipes influenced by different ancient cultures. You will feel how strong and powerful the connection between food and history is, as that of food and territory, and that of food and health.
You will explore authentic recipes from Southern Italy, rooted in the Mediterranean Diet, with ingredients brought by the Arabs and prepared like the Spaniards used to do. There are regional dishes and there are families’ secrets of how to cook those dishes. You will learn some of the secrets and will sense the pride local people have when it comes to their cooking. You will experience how the Slow Food concept is so embedded in the people’s daily life. You will participate in the tasting of local products, including wine and ‘nduja, and find out how olive oil is important to life in more ways than you might think.
If you book by January 31 you will receive the New Year offer.
Itinerary
8:00 am - 9:00 am: Breakfast at Villa Stella
10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Italian lesson related to the afternoon activity
12:00 pm: Aperitivo in the garden
1:00 pm: Lunch + Relaxing/Study time
4:00 pm: 3 Cooking classes + cultural excursions/Tastings.
In each activity you will apply the Italian language studied in the morning.
7:30 pm: Dinner
9:00 pm: After dinner with goodnight chats (you will be free to speak in Italian or English).
You will have a free day (food is not included).
Included
Transfer to/from International Airport of Lamezia Terme
ROOM for 7 nights with breakfasts
3 dinners
Italian course (12 hrs)
Guided excursions to the beach /woods
Aperitivo + gelato
3 Cooking workshops at Villa Stella with private chef
Excursions/Wine and Oil Tastings
Room cleaning (end of the week)
Not included
Flight to/from home
Medical Insurance
Some meals
Personal expenses
The place
Villa Stella will be the base for your language classes, cooking workshops and daily activities. It sits on the edge of Torre di Ruggiero, a medieval hamlet, totally immersed in nature. 20' drive from the gorgeous beach of Soverato, on the Ionian coast; 50' drive from Pizzo; 70' from Lamezia Airport.
It is a beautiful house where you can spend time to detoxify from your work routine or you can join a small group of people to enjoy art/cultural activities. Here, you can relax and feel inspired, eat natural and organic food (Km 0) and feel free to express yourself. A library with books and Italian DVDs is available to the guests.
LODGING
During the full immersive programme you will stay in an independent room with private bathroom. The rooms are a few minutes walking from the main house Villa Stella where you will go every day for breakfast and the activities with the group.
Why choose this course
You will be living in the heart of the ancient Magna Graecia, the land where 2000 years ago the Greeks developed the arts, philosophy, maths and the base of Western civilization.
The class is very small and the school is a villa.
You can get extra help any time if you need it.
Teachers are qualified with more than 20 years of experience. A degree in languages with a background in music and theatre.
You will be in a group according to your ability.
The Villa is in a village where no people would speak English so you will experience an authentic lifestyle.
Locals are curious about international students and will welcome you.
The school offers a library, a garden for private moments, a kitchen for free snacks and drinks, 3 meals per day and space for activities.
You will be treated as an individual rather than just a number as the class is small.
Focus is on social/cultural programs in which you are invited to speak Italian.
“ [….] It turned out to be a very special experience. Unlike other courses in anonymous accommodation, this was a week of total immersion in the Italian language and culture while staying in Villa Stella, Anna’s family home. Not only did she teach the lessons, she looked after us as a friend would, meeting us at the airport and driving us on all the excursions, chatting with us every day in Italian – with the occasional necessary burst of English – and sharing her life with us. […] We spoke and heard Italian all the time and also learned so much from Anna’s extensive knowledge of the history and tales of the area which added greatly to the experience of the excursions.” - Dina
Price
EUR 900 pp (single room) New Year OFFER
EUR 750 pp (shared room) New Year OFFER
OPTIONAL 24 April - 2 May 2026: EUR 1300 pp (single room) New Year OFFER