subject: Where to Learn Italian in Italy [print this page] Where to Learn Italian in Italy Where to Learn Italian in Italy
The benefits of learning a second language are infinite. Whether you want to improve your job prospects, or simply because you feel like ordering in Italian next time you're at the local pizzeria, taking a language course is a great way of learning a language.
What better way to learn than by immersing yourself in the language and taking a foreign language course in a native country? There are many places where you can learn Italian in Italy, but for the fashionistas amongst you, where better than in the fashion capital of the world, Milan?
Milan has long been known as the capital of the fashion world, with fashionistas flocking there twice a year for the biannual Milan Fashion Week, as well as at any other opportunity they can, to flash their cash in some of Milan's exclusive boutiques. If you've chosen Milan as the location for your language course because of the shopping, you won't be disappointed.
For luxury shopping, head to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the oldest shopping malls in the world (it was designed by Giuseppe Mengoni and opened in opened in 1867), where you'll find Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, all under one roof. The Milanese boutiques are all to be found in one square, bordered by via della Spiga, via Manzoni, via Sant'Andrea and via Montenapoleone, and nicknamed the Rectangle of Gold' (Quadrilatero d'Oro), making it easy to navigate, and packed full of Chanel, Miu Miu and Missoni, plus many more.
If on the other hand you fancy following the locals, head to the many outlet stores along the corso Vittorio Emanuele II, so you won't have far to look, and if you're up for having a good rummage you're guaranteed to come up with some goodies. Another option is to head to one of the city's flea markets, a good source of antiques and vintage gear.
However, it's not just about fashion in Milan. The city is also a huge cultural hub, with some incredible sights including Da Vinci's The Last Supper (make sure you book a visitors slot to make sure you get to see it), the Duomo of Milan, affording you the best views of the city, and the Pinacoteca di Brera art museum, filled with Italian artworks spanning the 13th to the 20th centuries.
In terms of evening entertainment, you're in luck. Milan is also home to one of the most famous Opera Houses in the world, La Scala, and if you're fortunate enough to get hold of tickets, grab them with both hands! Thanks to its incredible acoustics, it attracts some of the finest performers in the world, so whatever's on when you're visiting Milan, you're in for a treat.
Two of the greatest football teams in the world, Inter Milan and AC Milan both hail from Milan, and they share a stadium in the San Siro Stadium. If you can get tickets to a game, you're guaranteed an incredible experience, but even if you can't then the stadium is still well worth a visit, for a tour of the stadium and a visit to its museum, which is packed full of football-related memorabilia.
If your preferred evening entertainment tends more towards cocktails and a night out, then Milan has loads to offer. There are daily Happy Hours in all of the hippest bars, and with cocktails priced between 6 and 8 and a wide (and often complimentary) selection of tapas at most places, they're the perfect pre-clubbing hotspots. There are also tons of hip clubs, most of them in the Como Corso area; why not try Armani Priv, the latest jewel in the Armani company's crown.
The combination of culture and fashion in Milan make it the perfect place for studying Italian, and it would be almost impossible not to become immersed in Italian culture whilst taking Italian courses in Italy in this fashionable and culture-filled city.
