Italian schools in Bologna
Italian language schools in Emilia-Romagna →︎
4 selected schools in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. Compare course hours, housing and accreditations, then write directly to the school you prefer.
Bologna at a glance
This is Bologna (Emilia-Romagna): the streets you'll walk every morning on your way to class, and the places where you'll need real Italian, the kind spoken at the bar and the market.
Compare the 4 schools in Bologna
Of the 4 schools in Bologna, 3 hold an accreditation checked by an independent body and 2 are exam centres. Classes range from 10 to 12 students and lessons last 45 to 60 minutes: those two numbers change the real value more than the price does.
| School | Real hours a week | Students per class | Lesson length | Google reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALCE Accademia Lingue e Culture Europee | 15 hours | 12 | 45 min | — |
| ArcaASILS, BildungsurlaubCELI | 20 hours | 10 | 60 min | — |
| Cultura Italiana BolognaASILS, Bildungsurlaub, CSN, EDUITALIACILS | 18 hours 45 min | 12 | 45 min | — |
| MadrelinguaASILS | 15 hours | 10 | 45 min | — |
Where the schools are in Bologna
schoolsnot to be missedairportHover the green dots for details, click the red ones to open the school page.
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ), 6 km away
More cities in Emilia-Romagna
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.
The Italian you hear in Bologna
Bologna has the oldest university in the western world, founded in 1088, and you can hear it in the language: this is a city that has been talking to foreigners for nine hundred years and is surprised by nothing.
The Bolognese accent has wide open vowels and a voiced s where the rest of Italy keeps it voiceless: casa sounds almost like caza. It is a fast city too, though less than Milan, with an intonation that rises at the end of sentences even when they are not questions.
Two local words: cinno, meaning child or lad, with no equivalent in standard Italian, and balotta, the group of friends you always go out with.
For an A1 learner it is one of the best cities: clear pronunciation, many international students, and arcades that keep life outdoors even in the rain, which means more chances to hear people talk.
Three people from Bologna. Guglielmo Marconi (1874), who invented radio and gave the word transmit a new meaning. Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922), who studied here and also wrote in Friulian. Lucio Dalla (1943), who put Bolognese into songs without ever explaining it.
Frequently asked questions about Bologna
- How much does accommodation cost in Bologna?
- A host family with breakfast usually costs about €180–260 per week for a single room; a room in a shared flat generally starts at €150–220. These are rough figures: the price changes with the season, the distance from the centre and the meals included. Almost every school on this page books accommodation for you, so ask for a quote covering course and room together.
- How many Italian language schools are there in Bologna?
- We have selected 4, with courses from 20 to 25 hours a week. They are all compared above.
- How do I choose between the schools in Bologna?
- Look at three numbers, not the price alone. The real lesson length: 20 hours of 45 minutes are 15 actual hours, of 60 minutes they are 20. How many people are really in the class in high season, not the stated maximum. And the total including enrolment, materials and accommodation, not the weekly rate.
- Which schools in Bologna are exam centres?
- You can sit the exam where you study at these: Arca (CELI), Cultura Italiana Bologna (CILS).
- Do the schools in Bologna help you find accommodation?
- Yes, all 4 of them. Host family, shared flat or residence: the host family is the most useful for the language, because it makes you speak Italian every evening.
- How much does an Italian course in Bologna cost?
- Rates vary a lot and should be asked of the school. When you do, ask for the total: a one-off enrolment fee is almost always added to the weekly rate, usually 50–90 euros in Italy, and books, accommodation, cultural activities and exam fees may be charged separately.
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 |
Before you leave for Bologna, start at home.
With the ti app you arrive in Italy already understanding what you hear: stories at your level with translation in 14 languages, exercises and a pathway from A1 to C2.
Half of the A1 path is open, no sign-up
★★★★★(6)by Alessio, a teacher since 2018
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