Italian Lessons with the UNESCO Grand Tour of Sicily
Learn Italian in Catania while exploring Sicily's UNESCO wonders
Prices & dates for Catania
Our School in Catania, Sicily
Our Catania school in Sicily is the home of our Semi-Intensive Italian course and serves as the perfect base for your Sicilian adventure. Renowned for high-quality Italian language instruction, it welcomes students from around to world to a professional and modern learning environment.
Our school is located on the second floor of a refurbished building just 350 meters from the historic city centre. The facilities include six bright, air-conditioned classrooms equipped with televisions for interactive learning. Students also enjoy access to free Wi-Fi, a spacious reception area, vending machines, and a sunny roof terrace that is perfect for relaxing between lessons.
The building is accessible for wheelchair users, and the atmosphere is welcoming and supportive throughout. The school is officially recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education and approved for CSN and Bildungsurlaub programmes in various states, giving students extra confidence in the quality of provision. Italian language courses are available from complete beginner to near-native level, with options including Semi-Intensive (15 lessons per week on Monday-Friday), Super Intensive, Semi-Intensive + Private Lessons, this Semi-Intensive + Grand Tour of Sicily course, and fully tailored one-to-one tuition.
Location of our school in Catania
What is the Grand Tour of Sicily Programme?
The UNESCO Grand Tour of Sicily is a two-week cultural programme for students who want to discover Sicily in a deeper, more meaningful way. Designed to be combined with the school’s Semi-Intensive Italian course in the morning, it gives you the chance to improve your language skills in class before exploring the island’s cultural and historical riches in the afternoons. The result is a rewarding blend of language learning, guided discovery and shared experience, ideal for students who want their time in Sicily to feel both educational and memorable.
During the programme, you will visit five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sicily: Catania, Syracuse, Noto, the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, and Mount Etna, as well as the much-loved town of Taormina. Travel is arranged by private bus for comfort, and visits are accompanied by qualified professional guides. The programme also includes a cooking class on traditional Sicilian arancini, an Etna wine tasting, a lecture on the history of Sicily, and a lecture on Sicilian mythology and legends. Together, these experiences add depth and context to the excursions, creating a programme that feels cohesive, enriching and distinctly Sicilian.
Activities are delivered in Italian, so while the programme is designed to remain accessible, we recommend a minimum level of A1 so that you can follow the tours, talks and tastings more comfortably. This extra special Italian cultural programme is in addition to the language course and including entrances, transfers, guides, lectures, the cooking class and the wine tasting. There are currently four start dates per year. Please view the example schedule below:
| Day | Activity |
| Monday | Guided tour: Catania |
| Tuesday | Lecture: History of Sicily |
| Wednesday | Guided tour: Syracuse |
| Thursday | Guided tour: Villa Romana del Casale |
| Friday | Cooking Class: Arancini |
| Saturday | Day off |
| Sunday | Day off |
| Monday | Guided tour: Taormina |
| Tuesday | Guided tour: Noto |
| Wednesday | Lecture: Mythology in Sicily |
| Thursday | Guided tour: Hiking Etna |
| Friday | Etna Wine Tasting |
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Grand Tour was an essential rite of passage for aristocrats and intellectuals seeking the origins of Western civilization. Originally based around Rome, the journey soon expanded to include Sicily as an obligatory destination for luminaries like Goethe and Maupassant. These travellers documented their search for the classical world in diaries and guides, helping to establish the foundations of modern European education and tourism.
For these visitors, Sicily served as the "key to everything" and a safe gateway to the heart of Greek antiquity. Writers of the era described the island as the crowning jewel of Italy, a place where history and myth intersected under a dazzling Mediterranean light. Today, this legacy of exploration continues to inspire those who visit Sicily to discover its infinite beauty and classical heritage.
What are the accommodation options in Catania?
Accommodation in Catania is not included automatically in the Grand Tour cultural package, but we are happy to arrange it alongside your Semi-Intensive Italian course according to the style of stay you prefer. The school offers a good range of options to suit different budgets and levels of independence, including Host Family accommodation, Bed & Breakfast, Shared Apartments, Studio Apartments, or a course-only option if you would rather arrange your own housing.
For students seeking the most immersive option, a Host Family stay is often the best fit. Hosts are native Italian speakers accustomed to welcoming international students, and a homestay gives you valuable extra opportunities to practise your Italian naturally in everyday situations. Rooms can be booked as single or shared (if you are travelling with someone else), with Bed & Breakfast or Half Board options available. Bed & Breakfast accommodation is also available for students who would like a private room and bathroom with breakfast included, while keeping the rest of your time free for independent meals and exploration.
If you prefer more privacy and flexibility, Shared Apartments and Studio Apartments are also available. Shared Apartments allow you to book a private room while sharing kitchen, bathroom and living areas with others, making them a good option for sociable students who still want independence. Studio Apartments provide the highest level of privacy, with a private bathroom and kitchenette on a self-catering basis. Whichever option you choose, we recommend booking early, particularly for popular spring and autumn dates.
Who is suitable to join the Grand Tour of Sicily?
This programme is ideal for adults aged 30+ who want to combine serious Italian study with a structured and packed cultural experience in Sicily. It is particularly well suited to students who enjoy learning through place, conversation and guided discovery rather than through classroom study alone. If you are interested in Sicilian history, UNESCO heritage, mythology, architecture, food and wine, and like the idea of meeting other internationally minded adults, this programme offers an excellent balance of language learning and cultural immersion.
It is a particularly good fit if you are curious, open-minded and comfortable joining excursions, visits and talks delivered mainly in Italian. It also suits students who want their stay in Catania to include a clear cultural framework alongside lessons. Complete beginners can study at the school, as courses run from A0 to C2, but for the Grand Tour itself we recommend at least an A1 level in Italian so that you can enjoy the guided content more fully. If you are unsure whether your level is suitable, we would be happy to advise.
How to get to our school in Catania
The UNESCO Grand Tour operates from our Italian school in Catania, which is conveniently served by the Catania Vincenzo Bellini International Airport (CTA). To get from the airport to your accommodation you can either utilise the frequent public bus links or take our optional private transfer service.
While the school’s central setting makes it easy to enjoy the city on foot, all specific Grand Tour excursions are fully organised for you. Our school will provide private transport for these trips where relevant, ensuring that your journey through Sicily’s sights remains professionally managed and entirely stress-free.
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Company Number: 08311373