I am writing this to anyone interested in learning the Italian language. For two consecutive years, April to June 2005, and May to June 2006, I have had the pleasure of enrolling in the Villa Dante Language School in the beautiful sea village of Tropea. Every aspect of my experience and trip has been amazing, starting with the Director, Francesco Compagnino, who has put together a learning environment very comfortable for students at any level, from beginner to advanced. In 2005, I was in the beginner class, and my second year, in the intermediate level. Both years, I have had excellent instructors, and have gotten to know all the teachers working at Villa Dante, all who are dedicated to making this an unforgettable experience. I have experienced both group and private lessons, both of which I recommend. I am now signed up for my third trip to Tropea and Villa Dante Language School, from August to September 2006. Outside of class, each week, we have a dinner with all the students enrolled, and this gives us a chance to meet and interact with everyone, students from all over the world, and a chance to practice our Italian. You can also join in organized excursions to different places, such as the beautiful Eolie islands, or any of the unique and beautiful parts of Calabria and Sicily. I have made life lasting friendships with a number of students, and plan to return each year to advance my language skills, while enjoying white sand beaches, a crystal blue-green sea, and amazing restaurants and culture, all in a warm and friendly community. I will be returning for the third time this Fall, and look forward to each new experience. I highly recommend Villa Dante Language School, without any hesitation. If you have any questions, feel free to reach me via e-mail or by phone.

I never imagined that an Italian Language School the size of Villa Dante could have tailored its course so perfectly to my specific necessities. From the first moment I arrived in Tropea the school director was incredibly helpful, allowing me to have individual classes with Simone who was willing to teach me through a less text book based approach. I suggested that I wanted to improve my Italian by reading the daily and weekly newspapers, discussing them and hand in written assignments about them. Simone was more than willing to teach in this way. These activities allowed me to prepare for my final degree year using Italian in a very contemporary context. For the second part of my 8 week course I worked exclusively on my year-abroad project for Italian which I was entitled ‘La Calabria: Una riflessione sulle caratteristiche socio-economiche d’una regione in transizione e sulla nuova identita dei calabresi’. My research would have never been the same if I hadn’t been guided by Simone a highly knowledgeable man about Italy but specially Calabria. I highly recommend this School to anybody interested in a serious but relaxed approach to learning Italian in one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. Whether you are in academia or you simply want a stimulating holiday I assure you will come away satisfied.

"Im letzten Herbst war ich zwei Wochen lang in der Villa Dante School um einen Italienischkurs zu besuchen. Ich habe meine Italienischkenntnisse verbessert und wollte vor allem die Grammatik lernen. Die Lehrerinnen und Lehrer sowie der Direktor in der Villa Dante sind sehr freundlich, nett und hilfsbereit. Mein Lehrer hat mir mit viel Geduld die italienische Grammatik beigebracht. Er hat ein ideales Gleichgewicht zwischen Grammatik und Lektüre gefunden. Es hat mir in der Villa Dante School in Tropea so gut gefallen, dass ich dieses Jahr wiederum vier Wochen dort verbringen werde. Die Schule befindet sich in der Altstadt von Tropea. Der Ort ist so schön und das Meer einmalig. Es ist sehr angenehm Schule und Ferien verbinden zu können."

"I am a student of modern languages (Spanish and Italian) at the university of Durham, England, and as part of my year abroad I had to go to Italy for a period of two to three months. Having seen the beautiful pictures on the Villadante website, my friend( on the same course as me) and I decided to change from our original choice of Perugia to Villadante, and both of us are extremely glad we decided to. I have just returned to England with a whole bunch of new friends and enjoyed myself so much I am planning to return there next year. The classes are relaxed and friendly, revolving around the way you wish to learn, and the excellent tuition I got helped my Italian improve exponentially over the time I spent there. The teachers and director themselves are lovely people, who made us feel welcome from the start. My studies were also helped by the way the school integrates you with local Tropeans, who being incredibly friendly became good friends with us, thus allowing us to practice our Italian even more. I cannot recommend Villa Dante enough-thanks for some great memories guys."

"Villa Dante School is an ideal location for learning Italian. The small classes and high standard of teaching ensure a rapid improvement in the student’s knowledge of Italian. Tropea itself really is paradise. The weather is fabulous, the historical city is beautiful and there is more than enough to keep the visitor occupied. Highly recommended."

"After studying Italian for two semesters I wanted to expand my knowledge of the language and the culture and still be able to enjoy a great vacation. I saw pictures of Tropea and I knew immediately where I would spend my vacation. Villa Dante has surpassed my expectations. The classes are small and the instructors are concerned about making each of the student’s learning experience a unique one. I have also met incredible people and have made many friends. Tropea’s gorgeous beaches, its friendly people and streets are a wonderful combination to learn Italian and my only regret is not being able to stay here longer."

Villa Dante School" ist eine sympatische, kleine Sprachschule im Herzen der Altstadt von Tropea, eine der schoensten, charmantensten Kleinstaedte Italiens, mit tuerkisfarbenem, Kristallklerem Meer und weissen Sandstraenden. Und das ganze in unmittelberer Naehe von Sizilien und den Aeolischen Inseln! Francesco, der Leiter der Schule, ist nett und erfuellt individuelle Wuensche bezueglich Unterkunft und Kurszeiten. Die Lehrer sind sehr sympatisch und koennen ihre Sprache und Kultur gut vermitteln.Villa Dante School" ist fuer mich die optimale Kombination aus Italienisch lernen, italienisch leben und Erholung am Meer.

Mi piace questa scuola. C'era solo un problema, nessuno mi ha detto che i mesi di Ottobre e Novembre sono noiosissimi!!! tropea e' molto bella e la gente e' molto simpatica, ma non c'ra niente da fare perche' tutti erano chiusi. Penso che Villa Dante e' una bella scuola, e probabilmente piu' bella durante l'estate. Ho imparato molto e ho conosciuto amici da altri paesi e anche di Tropea. I miei insegnanti, Antonio ed Alessia, erano bravissimi. Sono molto gentili, divertenti ed amichevoli. Ci siamo molto divertiti durante la lezione ed al ristorante. Nella piazza ci sono molti ragazzi di Tropea ed abbiamo conosciuto, forse, tutti!!! Il mio appartamento era bellissimo e i vicini erano molto simpatici..... come una famiglia italiana per noi (mia amica Kate ed io). Mi mancheranno i miei amici.... Antonio, Alessia, Francesco, Augusta, Franco e Lello. Ciao a tutti e ci vediamo subito !!

Eine familiaere, sehr sympatische kleine Sprachschule mitten im Zentrum der Altstadt von Tropea, einer der faszinierensten und typischsten Staedten ganz Italiens. Hier kann mann nicht nur super Italienisch, sondern auch super Italienisch leben lernen. Nicht zu fergessen das tuerkisfarbene klare Meer in unmittelbarer Reichweite – ein idealer Ort, um neben dem Sprachkurs noch erholsame Ferien zu verbringen. „Villa Dante“ bietet nicht nur guten Unterricht, sondern geht auch bei dessen Durchfuehrung flexibel auf die Wuensche der Schueler ein und vermittelt gute Unterkuenfte. Angenehme Atmosphaere, netter leiter und sehr nette, herzliche Lehrer.

Sono arrivata a Tropea senza conoscere una parola d'italiano. Dopo 10 giorni di corso, gia' posso parlare e capire la lingua. Allora, bravo al professore!!! La citta' vecchia di Tropea e' bellisima, ma anche tutta la regione di Calabria e'molto interessante da vedere.