The city of Pisa, Tuscany

Pisa is world famous for its Leaning Tower and Cathedral (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List) and its many other medieval and Renaissance monuments. It is located in Tuscany, in the central part of the Italian peninsula, on a plain near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea close to the mouth of the river Arno. Its multicultural population totals about 100,000 people, in addition to the many thousands of students who enliven the city. The university buildings are located in the city itself, some in monumental historical buildings and others in new modern constructions.

Together the University and the city form a single complex, a “campus in a city”, an ideal place for students to live and meet in the city center’s streets and piazzas, with their bars and pubs, as well as in the classroom. Tuscany, also known as the cradle of the  Renaissance, is one of Italy’s top tourist destinations; the region offers a varied landscape from the hills and mountains to the rocky and sandy beaches, art, historic cities, medieval hill towns, and an important and ancient tradition in food and wine production.Pisa is the perfect place to discover all this: both the beaches and the mountains are close and easily accessible, as are other famous Tuscan cities, such as Lucca, Florence, Volterra and Siena.

Course locations in Pisa

The module offered by the University of Pisa (www.unipi.it) will take place at the study centre (“Polo Guidotti”), inaugurated in 2013, located in a beautiful area of Pisa and close to the river Arno and the city center, and will be taught by current Pisa University professors and by guest speakers from other international universities. The module includes lessons plus field trips guided by lecturers and experts that will complement the subjects covered in the academic program. The module in Pisa focuses on key topics in the history and culture of the Italian food industry in general, the art of production and the organization of food safety. Students will gain credits from the University of Pisa covering the entire program. The University of Pisa, founded in 1343, is one of the most ancient universities in the world and the best in Italy according to various international World University Rankings (www.arwu.org).