Palazzo Litta, one of the most representative Baroque buildings in the centre of Milan, hosted this unique event. Some of the most famous representatives of world’s jet set where present at the dinner, including:

Adrien Brody, Naomi Campbell, Lapo Elkann, Rupert Everett, Adriano Giannini, John Malkovich, Claudia Schiffer, Tilda Swinton, Janet Jackson, and so many more.  Among them, of course, were the fashion designers Giorgio Armani and Donatella Versace, all in line on the red carpet waiting for the celebrations to begin at 8:30. In spite of the extremely hot evening, and the Italy vs. Spain European championship football match, numerous fans and photographers gathered together in front of the main entrance hoping to catch a picture of their favourite star.

As everyone knows, Italians, including VIPs, are mad for football, so for those guests that were anxious to follow the match a big screen was placed in one of the halls. Among the predictable fans were Lapo Elkan, Santo Versace, the brothers Della Valle, even some of elegant ladies in long evening dresses where stuck to the screen, cheering for the Italian team. So in this special atmosphere the aperitivo time grew longer and longer, and the heat was rising from minute to minute, caused not only by the match but also by the hundreds of candles arranged on magnificent tables. And despite Italy’s loss to Spain, the celebration continued late into the night, with guests toasting, dancing, and having fun.

If you consider this to be a good idea, think that summer is the best period of the year to enjoy a holiday in Italy. In June and July especially, you will find beautiful sunny weather, with bright days lasting until 9/10 p.m., and at the same time, temperatures never are too hot for visiting, walking and travelling.

In order to encourage foreign students to join and appreciate the “Bel Paese” (’Beautiful Country’, as Italy is used to be named abroad), for third consecutive year and following the success of the previous Special Offers in 2006 and 2007, Scuola Leonardo da Vinci - one of the most important Italy’s providers of in-country Italian language schools in Italy - is featuring again, last minute language travel packages in all its Italian language school centers, located in some of the most beautiful and attractive Italian cities, such as Florence, Milan, Rome and Siena.

The “last minute offer to study abroad in Italy” is a package that includes a 2 week language and culture course and accomodation in shared apartment or hosting family, for students who wish to enjoy Italian culture by living and stuying in Italy.

Italian language and culture courses offered by Scuola Leonardo da Vinci have been conceived to help foreign students in a fast development of their Italian language skills and their knowledge of Italian current culture.

In addition, after their lessons in class, they will have the possibility to attend cultural and leisure activities, enjoy their free time by visiting the city and its surroundings, or have fun during the night with their new school mates in the numerous nightclubs (bars, pubs, discos) of the city. Activities, excursions and nights out are usually organized with the school staff.

If you feel tempted by the idea of having a different, interesting holiday this year, here you will find some last minute offers to come to Italy, to study Italian language in one of the Leonardo da Vinci school centers in Florence, Milan, Rome or Siena. We promise you will have a very good time in our Leonardo da Vinci schools!

Discover our special price for a special offer so, what are you waiting for? Enroll now!
Carpe diem! Cogli l’attimo!
We are waiting for you!

In the past, the ARCI clubs were above all else thought of as places where it was possible to drink and eat at a very good price. Today, however, they are evolving, becoming more rich and diverse in their offerings.

The several Milan ARCI clubs promote different cultural activities, such as theatre performances, exhibitions, and musical performances.

In fact, the Milan ARCI associations have become one of the most important ways for young Italian and international artists to enter the music scene.

ARCI Club “Casa 139”, located in via Ripamonti, is the place where this international music scene is best represented. “Casa 139” organizes many interesting concerts. Its stage has hosted bands from Europe, Asia and Africa. Particular attention is dedicated to contemporary Italian songwriters that unfortunately are still having trouble obtaining the recognition that they deserve. At “Casa 139” the air that you breathe is of complete relaxation; the feeling is of being in a small, intimate club.

The atmosphere of ARCI “Bitte” in Via Watt is completely different. Here, it’s possible to pass wild evenings singing and dancing until 4 am. Every weekend a new DJ plays a mix of alternative electronic music, something which is difficult to find in any other club in the city.

Especially active during the summer, ARCI “Magnolia”, situated just a few minutes outside Milan, is a favourite place for many young people to hang out, drink popular cocktails, and listen to some good music.

The newest member of the Milan ARCI clubs is ARCI “Biko”, which opened just few months ago. If you are addicted to reggae and funk, this is the place for you.

We also need to mention the historic club “ARCI Bellezza” that is located just a few steps from Bocconi University. When you enter here your impression may be that you have returned to another era. While you are dreaming a timeless dream, you will feel so far removed from the city rush. During the warmer months it is possible to sit in the garden, sip a cup of white wine, and eat a typical fried fish dish, all at a very popular prices.

In conclusion, it’s obvious that ARCI clubs are continuing to grow, both in strength and in their diversity, and that they represent an important part of Milan’s night life, introducing new music, and making possible more open communication between different groups and cultures.

During Easter time in our Italian classrooms students discover the Italian Easter traditions such as: recipes for the Easter Sunday, traditional cerimonies and events.

In Florence they will know everything about the famous “Scoppio del carro“, (The burst of the Cart), celebrated on Easter Sunday morning.

In Rome, Easter is a big event: thousands of pilgrims go there to hear the Pope’s message from Saint Peter’s Square.

In Milan, after the huge lunch on Sunday, people use to enjoy the Easter Monday by spending it in the big and beautiful parks within the city.

While in Siena Easter is the right time to enjoy the wonderful or to go to some villages near Siena, where people celebrates this festivity with religious costumed processions, as in Chianciano Terme or in Cetona.

In Italy there’s an expression frequently heard:
“Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi” (”Christmas with your family, Easter with who you prefer”).
Maybe one time you will decide to spend Easter time with Leonardo da Vinci schools!

Buona Pasqua to everybody!

From a survey made by the free press “Studenti Magazine” and the association “Erasmus Student network Italia”, came out that the Erasmus students in Italy generally have problems in finding an accomodation (apartments are always too much expensive), in moving into the University bureaucratic bother and even in communicating with Italians in the first period of time, because a lot of people can’t speak English (and they need at least 1 month to learn Italian).

Thanks to our experience with international students, we are perfectly aware of the problems they find when they come to study in Italy, that’s why we use all our energies to solve these problems.
We want that our students “feel like Italians” and live their experience in the best way.

Our staff, that is able to speak a fluent and perfect English, is always available to students and ready to help them if they have some problems, if they need suggestions about where to find cheap shops and markets, or how to look for a convenient accomodation (we offer free services in finding accomodation to our students too, as apartments or hosting families carefully selected by our staff).

For this purpose we chose to collaborate with some online non commercial tourist guides that can help our students to discover Italy and the cities where Scuola Leonardo da Vinci is located: about Florence, about Milan, about Roma and about Siena.

Our schools are equipped with all the facilities, such as bar/cafeteria, library or internet point with free internet access (this was another problem underlined by the survey).

Last but not least, our teaching staff consists of young teams of experienced language teachers, who have studied at University and have been specially trained in teaching Italian to foreigners (read about our teaching method), since another trouble for Erasmus students was the lack of professionalism by teachers.

We hope to offer another example for our students, on how could it be beautiful and exciting to spend a language holiday in Italy.

In Italy, Christmas goes for three weeks and it is the biggest feast in the country. Our schools in Milan and Rome offer a course which lasts one week in the month of December, from the 17th to the 21st, and thanks to which you will have the opportunuty to know lot of curiosities about the Italian Christmas habits.

So, for example, you can learn “How to design your house for Christmas lunch“, or “How to prepare a perfect Christmas menu“, in addition you will discover the important “Tradition in italian houses during Christmas time of Presepe Napoletano’s“.

Moreover, the course includes a lot of interesting activities that allow you to take part to this feast by living it in the Italian way. In fact, gastronomic laboratories will be organised with a “Focus on the typical Christmas cakes”, “Guided visits whit the presence of a professional chef” who will explain you how to prepare a delicious Christmas menu, and a “Practical lesson about floral decoration with an evocation of remote atmospheres through a contemporary point of view”.

This course is not addressed only to students enrolled to our school, but to all the people who are currently in Italy and desire to keep a piece of Italian Christmas, other than learning to speak a fluent Italian.

Therefore, the Leonardo da Vinci School waits for your participation to “Typical Italian dinner in restaurant“, and finally, we will celebrate the Christmas time with a “Final party: tasting of all course prepared in a friendly Christmas atmosphere“.

The course will take place from 17th to 21st of December 2007 …. If you need for further information on this course please visit our website by clicking-on “Christmas Course Milan” or “Christmas Course Rome“.