My family & I will be visiting several cities in Italy (plus Munich) in January. Since my kids are high schoolers, we've also been visiting some American universities to get their tours, expose the kids to different colleges, and get them thinking about where they might like to go. Well, they really enjoy those university tours, and have asked if we could so something similar when we're in Europe! This is probably not for them to ATTEND the university (except possibly as a semester Study Abroad program partnered with an American university). Instead, we'd all just like learning about a university or two over there. My initial research into this idea hasn't yielded much. Do European universities not do tours like that? (I know their higher education system is somewhat different from ours.) The closest I've come is a recommendation for the University of Padua tour. I realize that's more of a historic site tour rather that something for prospective students, but it still sounds pretty good. Although we hadn't planned on going to Padua, we will be in Venice for a few days before heading down to Florence, so it should be possible to work this in. Later we go to Rome. If it helps, we'll also be in Munich for a few days at the start of our trip--any university tours there? Thanks for the help.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2180 posts
What a neat idea.I don't know about tours but did think immediately of Padua as I read your post. Yes, historic univ sights, botanic garden, but also a young and lively collegey atmosphere you and your teens might like. Old teachers here, so always fun around students. Graduations seem to take place all the time, fun student celebrations in the streets. We spent several days in Padua as a base for day trips to Vicenza, Verona, and Venice...super easy. Hotel Al Cason short walk from train station, busses too, friendly, "modern", family run (they were wonderful to us), best breakfast in Italy, nice resturant for dinner if desired (we did), small bar, and reasonably priced. The Scrovegni Chapel is now on my all time greatest ever things list, and St Anthony's, Prato, and more made our stay in Padua one of our favorites. Good luck, safe travels...spend now before those tuition bills really pile up! Have fun!
Posted by
St. Louis, MO USA
1976 posts
Bologna also has a university (it began in the 13th century, I think); we walked around part of it in the evening but didn't go in. If you haven't done this already, search online for university tours in Italy and see what you come up with. You could also read about tourism in Italy (http://www.italiantourism.com/, for example) and see what that has to offer.