Custom Programs Spotlight: Clarke Honors College – Salisbury University in Sicily, 2024

In June, we welcomed a group of students from Clarke Honors College at Salisbury University to Syracuse, Sicily for the third annual 10-day global seminar.

The first year, 12 students attended. This year? We were thrilled to have 21 students with us in Italy alongside their program leaders, Dean of the Honors College, Dr. Andrew Martino and Dr. Sherry Maykrantz.

The students followed a rich itinerary which included an aperitif with local students, walking tours, lectures and roundtable discussions, a cooking class, hiking and other outdoor activities like swimming in the Ionian Sea, a variety of cultural experiences including theater, and a bit of free time for their own explorations.

ACADEMICS 

“The academic focus of the experience is to create a sense of global awareness,” Dr. Martino shared in a recent Q&A about his experience traveling annually to Italy with EdOdyssey. “I work with Stefano Parenti (EdOdyssey’s Senior Program Director in Italy), to create a customized honors experience that is interdisciplinary in nature, with experiential learning, and an honors activity called ‘City as Text’ where students wander to compare newer parts of Syracuse with Ortigia and speak with residents.”

Students enjoyed listening to several lectures. One was on the topic of migration in Sicily—a phenomena on the southern border of the Mediterranean where Sicily holds a central position. They learned about the challenges and opportunities of the integration process in the Sicilian economy. The next day, their participated in a roundtable discussion with a cultural mediator on “When Mediterranean Cultures Meet,” a hot topic in European political debate. The roundtable covered topics of regulation and enforcement, multiculturalism and integration, nationalism and citizenship.  

Students also had the opportunity to meet with members of a local NGO, Libera Association, where they could interact with young activists, learn some history of the Mafia, and understand the counter-actions taken by the local community.

EXPLORING ORTIGA 

Getting our students out and about when they arrive is always a priority, so one of the first activities was a city walking tour of Ortigia led by a local expert on ancient Sicily.

It took them past the Cathedral of Siracusa, Cathedral Square, Great Harbor of Siracusa, Spanish fortifications, and the traditional food market of Ortigia. Students learned about the many different powers whose influence permeated Sicily over the last 3,000 years, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans, and Spaniards.

A COOKING CLASS

A professional chef took the lead during a cooking class to guide students through the steps of preparing a meal with traditional ingredients. Taking it to the next level, students also learned the presentation of the dishes at the table, a bit about Italian etiquette, and the importance of the connection between food and culture in Italian society.  

Speaking of food, if you travel to Sicily, you’ll want to keep Dr. Martino’s tip in mind: “My favorite food to eat in Sicily is tuna right off the boat. We sampled this in the market straight from the fishermen and, while I never ate raw tuna before, especially sliced directly from the fish, it was an outstanding experience.”

Yum!

PANTALICA

From looking out in awe over the sweeping limestone gorge; to appreciating the aromatic bushes, plants, herbs, and flowers dotting the landscape; to seeing the potential for the production of honey, conserves, and cheese, a day trip to Pantalica was one of many highlights of this trip.

We explored the astounding prehistoric Necropolis of Pantalica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visited a farm, and had an opportunity to taste some local products.  

AGRIGENTO 

Another full-day excursion took us to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (another UNESCO World Heritage Site), where we saw one of the most outstanding examples of Magna Grecia art and architecture. Alongside the sites of Pompeii, this is considered to be one of the largest and most marvelous testimonies of the ancient world to be found on Italian soil.

On the drive back, we stopped to admire a site featured in many movies: the “Scala dei Turchi” or “Stair of the Turks” which is named for the Saracen pirates (who are improperly called “Turks” by local populations). This is a stunningly beautiful site where white marl cliffs have been forged by wind and waves over millions of years.

GREEK THEATER & NEAPOLIS ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK

We spent another memorable day delving into the intersection of archeology and classical theater.

Set in the picturesque Paradise quarries, the Neapolis Archaeological Park is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Sicily with monuments dating to different eras of Sicilian history.

Our main focus was on the evocative Greek theater, carved into the bedrock and still drawing in global audiences of spectators for the re-enactment of classical plays. Attending the Greek tragedy “Fedra” by Euripides here was an unforgettable experience.

MOUNT ETNA 

On the last day of this action-packed adventure, we set out for a windy hike on the slopes of Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna.

Guided by our volcanologist, we discovered the diversity of the volcano’s landscape and geology, explored the dense woods, learned about the native species, and saw desert areas covered with volcanic rocks which are hidden by snow when the winter rolls around.  

REFLECTION

Looking back on this third edition of the Salisbury University global seminar in Sicily, Stefano noted the students’ curiosity when it came to tasting and appreciating local traditional dishes. He also mentioned that various students pointed out their observation that “life in Sicily is more alive and human interactions feel warm and authentic.”

We’re confident that the students did meet their goal and develop a refined sense of global awareness while abroad. We also believe that they will look back fondly on their Sicily memories for many years to come.

“I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to study abroad in Sicily, and I can honestly say that it was one of the best experiences of my life thus far,” student Gabriella Pascoe said. “I had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in Sicilian culture and lifestyle all while learning and exploring the island of Sicily. Having the opportunity to hike Pantalica and Mount Etna, attend an authentic Sicilian cooking class, and getting to see the Valley of the Temples were experiences I will never forget.”

CUSTOM PROGRAMS

If you’re interested in learning more about how we build custom study abroad experiences, reach out to start a conversation.

In the words of Dr. Martino:

“EdOdyssey takes care of the details a travel agent would normally take care of, including arrangements for lodgings, transportation, and setting up excursions. They made it very easy and joyful. Their team taking care of the details has allowed me to customize an experience for my students that is closer to what I envision a study abroad experience to be, not just transplanting classes on foreign soil.

A highlight for me has been working with Stefano Parenti. We work together very well, and he has been receptive to my vision. This has been a truly collaborative process, and now we have a world-class experience for our students.”