Arca
An EU citizen? For a language course your ID card is enough: no visa, no residence permit for stays under three months. The same applies to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Arca is an Italian language school for foreigners in Bologna (Emilia-Romagna): intensive courses of about 20 hours per week plus lighter options, usually starting every Monday. The school also helps you find accommodation. Below you will find the key facts, a mini guide to Bologna to plan your stay, and a form to write to the school directly.
The school
The course
Also offers themed courses in: art, cooking, literature, art history, music, wine
Prices
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Ciao gentile staff di Arca, I'd like to know the price of your Italian courses. Could you send me the total cost including enrolment fee, materials and accommodation, and the available start dates for the coming months? Grazie infinite del vostro aiuto e ci vediamo presto!
Arrive ready.
With the ti app you read graded stories with support in 14 languages. Five minutes a day between now and departure.
Half of the A1 path is open, no sign-up
€5,83 a month on the yearly plan
★★★★★(7)by Alessio, a teacher since 2018
Start with A1 ↗︎Search for amo Italian
Why choose this school
- 28 years of experienceteaching since 1998, without a break
- Classes of no more than 10 studentsbelow the industry average, so more time to speak
- 60-minute lessons: 20 real hoursmost schools count 45-minute lessons · here an hour is an hour
- Quality checked by an independent bodyASILS, Bildungsurlaub accreditation
- Exam centre on siteyou can sit CELI where you study
- The school arranges your accommodationfree service
Where you'll be
schoolsnot to be missedairport
TPER city buses and the Marconi Express people mover between the station and the airport.
From the school to the three places above it is usually a short walk: the schools are in or near the centre.
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ), 5 km away
What is worth knowing before you book
Prices, enrolment fee, real lesson hours, accommodation and cancellation: the same questions apply to every school. Read the full guide →
Day trips nearby
At the weekend, without a car:
- Modena37 km
- Reggio Emilia61 km
- Ravenna69 km
- Firenze80 km
Trenitalia regional trains from Bologna station. SETA and TPER buses, depending on the province.
Distances are as the crow flies.
Weather right now
Write to the school
Bologna at a glance
Arca is in Bologna (Emilia-Romagna). Outside the classroom this is where the language gets practised: at the coffee counter, in the square, at the market.
Events this year
The city's big festivals, food fairs and cultural seasons through the year. They're not just entertainment: they're the best training ground for your Italian. At a local festival you end up ordering, asking directions, chatting with locals: the real language, the kind books don't teach. If you can, line up a week of your course with one of these.
Il Cinema Ritrovato In June Bologna screens restored masterpieces in Piazza Maggiore, under the stars. Free open-air arthouse cinema: ideal for listening practice and for cultured, film-loving Italian. | late June |
Arte Fiera In January and February Bologna hosts one of Italy's most important modern art fairs. For students it is a chance to practise the vocabulary of contemporary art and criticism. | February |
Bologna Estate From June to September the city brings courtyards, parks and squares alive with concerts, films and talks, often free. Student Bologna at its best: perfect for socialising and practising Italian. | June–September |
Frequently asked questions
When do Italian courses at Arca start?
How many lesson hours per week are there?
How much does an Italian course in Bologna cost?
Does the school help with accommodation?
Can I prepare for or take an official exam (CILS, CELI, PLIDA)?
How do I get to Bologna?
Good to know before you enrol
What not to miss in Bologna
- Le Due Torri e i portici UNESCO62 km of porticoes: you study this city on foot.
- Il QuadrilateroThe medieval market where you eat real Emilian cooking.
- San LucaThe longest portico in the world, all the way to the sanctuary.
Planning your Italian course in Bologna: fly into Bologna (BLQ), book the course 2–3 weeks ahead (classes fill up faster in high season, June–September) and, if you can, match your study week with one of the city events listed below: using your Italian at a local festival is worth a week of lessons.
Before you leave for Bologna, start from home.
With the ti app you arrive in Bologna already understanding what you hear: graded stories with translation in 14 languages, exercises and an A1–C2 path.
Half of the A1 path is open, no sign-up
★★★★★(7)by Alessio, a teacher since 2018
Start with A1 ↗︎Search for amo Italian
