History & Landscapes
Rocca Calascio
One of Abruzzo’s most iconic places, Rocca Calascio rises above a dramatic mountain landscape and offers one of the most unforgettable views in central Italy.
L’AQUILA
Same ALCE.A completely different Italy.
Study Italian in L’Aquila, between a historic city, the Gran Sasso and authentic Abruzzo life.
Discover L'Aquila"Not just a place to study.
A place to live Italian."
L’Aquila is not a conventional tourist destination. It is a real Italian city: historic, university-driven, compact, walkable, and surrounded by extraordinary nature. Students do not simply visit the city. For a few weeks, they become part of an authentic community in full cultural rebirth.
Why L'Aquila
A City Shaped by History, Culture & Nature
01
Historic & Living City
Founded in the 13th century, L’Aquila is a historic yet fully lived-in city, where churches, palaces, fountains and public squares still shape everyday life.
02
Nature & Mountains
Nature is not separate from the city. From the Gran Sasso to Campo Imperatore, L’Aquila lives in constant relationship with mountains, open landscapes and extraordinary outdoor spaces.
03
Italian Way of Life
Compact, walkable and real, L’Aquila offers cafés, shops, streets and daily encounters where students can experience the Italian way of life naturally, beyond the classroom.
04
Gastronomic Heritage
Abruzzo’s identity also passes through food: saffron, lentils, mountain cheeses, arrosticini and local wines express a territory rich in tradition, flavour and conviviality.
05
The Right Rhythm
Live L’Aquila, don’t just visit.Not just a language course, but an authentic Italian cultural experience. Two to four weeks give you time to make L’Aquila your own through its people, food, culture, nature and everyday life.
06
University & Cultural Life
Home to the University of L’Aquila and GSSI, the city has a young intellectual energy, enriched by museums, music, theatre and contemporary cultural life.
Heritage & Landmarks
Landmarks of L'Aquila
A compact city rich in history, architecture and identity, from monumental basilicas and fountains to fortresses, civic spaces and contemporary culture.
01
Santa Maria di Collemaggio
One of L’Aquila’s defining landmarks, closely linked to Pope Celestine V and the centuries-old Perdonanza Celestiniana.
02
Basilica di San Bernardino
A major Renaissance landmark, built to house the remains of Saint Bernardino of Siena and dominated by its monumental façade and staircase.
03
Fontana delle 99 Cannelle
A symbol of L’Aquila’s origins, this 13th-century fountain is closely tied to the legend of the city’s 99 founding castles.
04
Forte Spagnolo & MuNDA
The imposing 16th-century fortress is one of L’Aquila’s great monuments and today also houses the MuNDA and its artistic heritage.
05
Piazza Palazzo & Torre Civica
The historic civic heart of L’Aquila, centred on Palazzo Margherita and the Torre Civica, symbols of the city’s public life.
06
Piazza Duomo & Fontana Vecchia
The monumental heart of L’Aquila, framed by the Cathedral, Santa Maria del Suffragio and the historic Fontana Vecchia.
07
Quattro Cantoni
One of L’Aquila’s best-known crossroads, where the main streets of the historic centre meet and everyday city life flows through.
08
Palazzo Ardinghelli & MAXXI L’Aquila
A Baroque palace transformed into a centre for contemporary art, linking L’Aquila’s historic fabric with its cultural life today.
Around L’Aquila
In the Heart of Abruzzo
Beyond the city, L’Aquila opens onto a wider territory of mountain landscapes, historic villages, hidden caves and deeply rooted local identity — an Abruzzo that feels authentic, spacious and unforgettable.
Nature & Discovery
Grotte di Stiffe
An extraordinary underground world of caves, water and rock formations, the Grotte di Stiffe reveal one of the most surprising natural sites near L’Aquila.
Mountain Villages
Santo Stefano di Sessanio
A beautifully preserved stone village, Santo Stefano di Sessanio is known for its quiet atmosphere, narrow lanes and timeless Abruzzo character.
Art & Heritage
Bominaco
A tiny mountain village hiding an extraordinary medieval treasure: the remarkable frescoes of the Oratory of San Pellegrino.
Villages & Traditions
Castel del Monte
A mountain village shaped by pastoral culture, stone architecture and centuries-old traditions in the heart of the Gran Sasso.
Mountains & Landscapes
Gran Sasso
Beyond its famous plateau, the Gran Sasso opens onto a vast mountain world of valleys, villages, trails and extraordinary landscapes that change with every season.
Experience Abruzzo
Live the Territory
Beyond the Classroom, Into the Landscape
Around L’Aquila, the landscape is not just something to admire — it becomes part of the experience. Rivers, forests, plateaux and mountain trails offer active ways to discover Abruzzo in every season, combining outdoor exploration with authentic contact with the region’s nature, culture and rhythm of life.
Winter Landscapes
01
Snowshoeing & Winter Escapes
In the colder months, the mountains around L’Aquila open up to snowshoe walks and winter outings across high-altitude landscapes of rare beauty.
Rivers & Nature
02
Canoeing on the Tirino
The crystal-clear waters of the Tirino offer one of the most peaceful ways to discover Abruzzo, surrounded by light, nature and remarkable transparency.
Open-Air Adventure
03
Quad Excursions on the Plateau
Guided quad routes across panoramic tracks and open highlands offer a different way to explore the scale and character of the Abruzzo landscape.
Wildlife & Nature
04
The Wolf and the Wild
Abruzzo is one of Italy’s great wildlife regions. Guided experiences centred on the Apennine wolf and local ecosystems reveal another side of the territory.
Highlands & Trails
05
Horseback Riding Across the Highlands
Guided horseback routes across trails, open countryside and plateau landscapes offer a slower and more immersive way to connect with the land.
Active Exploration
06
Cycling & E-bike
Scenic routes and mountain tracks can be explored by bike or e-bike, offering an active and accessible way to experience the territory at your own rhythm.
Live & Study 2–4 Weeks
The Right Rhythm
Live L’Aquila, Don’t Just Visit.
Two, three or four weeks all fit naturally into a study stay in L’Aquila. Four weeks offers the fullest variety, with enough time to study consistently while discovering different places, activities and experiences from week to week. Longer stays are equally possible.
Study & Live01
Italian Beyond the Classroom
The Italian course is the core of your stay: structured lessons, small international classes and the ALCE teaching approach. What you learn in class then continues naturally in everyday life around you.
City & Territory02
Compact City, Wider Abruzzo
L’Aquila is compact enough to live largely on foot, while mountains, villages and nature begin just beyond the city. Less time lost in transit means more time for Italian, everyday life and discovery.
Your Own Pace03
A Flexible Experience
Two, three or four weeks all work naturally. A month gives you time to vary activities, places and experiences from week to week, without simply repeating the same programme. Longer stays can continue with the same flexibility and variety.
More Than a Course04
An Authentic Italian Cultural Experience
ALCE has always combined language learning with real contact with Italian life and culture. In L’Aquila, that approach expands naturally through the city, the territory, local people and a programme of experiences that complements — never replaces — the course.
Two Destinations · One ALCE
Same School. Two Different Italies.
Study in Bologna, L'Aquila or combine both destinations in the same journey. The academic structure, levels and teaching approach remain the same — while the Italy around you changes completely.
Bologna · Emilia-Romagna
Bologna
- • Historic university city with a lively international atmosphere
- • Famous porticoes, medieval streets and one of Italy's great food cultures
- • Rich cultural and social life throughout the year
- • Excellent rail connections with the rest of Italy
L'Aquila · Abruzzo
L'Aquila
- • Compact, walkable historic city surrounded by the Gran Sasso
- • Mountain villages, nature and outdoor experiences close at hand
- • University life, culture and an authentic everyday Italian atmosphere
- • A different rhythm and a completely different side of Italy
One ALCE academic path. Two remarkably different Italian experiences.
ALCE · Since 1999A New Destination.
A New Destination.
The Same ALCE Standard.
Founded in Bologna in 1999, ALCE has built its identity around serious Italian-language teaching, small international classes and close attention to each student.
L'Aquila follows the same academic structure and teaching approach, with real 60-minute lessons, CEFR levels and full continuity between the two destinations.
Small
Classes
60'
Real lessons
A1–C2
CEFR levels
Academic Core Guarantees
- ✓Small International Classes: Classes are deliberately kept small to maximise interaction, communication and individual attention.
- ✓Real 60-Minute Lessons: ALCE lessons are full 60-minute teaching hours.
- ✓All CEFR Levels: Courses are organised across the CEFR framework, from beginner to advanced levels.
- ✓Bologna ↔ L'Aquila Continuity: Students can combine or move between the two destinations while maintaining academic level and course continuity.
Courses
Choose How You Want to Study
The academic core remains flexible: choose the standard ALCE group course, individual or combined tuition, or a more complete L'Aquila experience combining study and territory.
General Italian
GI23
ALCE's core Italian programme: 20 morning lessons plus 3 weekly language workshops — Conversation, Writing & Phonetics, and Grammar — with real 60-minute lessons and small international classes.
No package needed: GI23 students can also choose and book selected cultural, social or outdoor activities individually during their stay, subject to availability.
23 hours/week · All CEFR levels
Tailored Study
Individual & Combined Courses
Choose one-to-one tuition or combine group lessons with individual classes, following the same flexible study formats offered by ALCE in Bologna.
This option is ideal for students who want extra attention, specific language goals or a more personalised study programme.
Individual · Group + one-to-one
Complete Experience
Italian + Abruzzo Experience
A more complete format combining the ALCE Italian course with an organised programme of cultural and social activities, selected experiences and excursions.
It follows the same idea of an immersive ALCE programme, but without age restrictions: adult students of different ages can take part.
It is particularly well suited to 2–4 week stays and designed for students who prefer to arrive with the main elements of their experience already organised.
Course + activities + excursions
Study Italian in L'Aquila
Ready to Discover a Different Italy?
Tell us when you would like to come, how long you would like to stay and what kind of Italian course or experience you are looking for. We'll help you plan your time in L'Aquila.