Learn Italian in Siena: Accommodation

• Open to students aged 18 yrs +
• Single rooms
• Shared rooms (with friends only)
• Breakfast only
• or half-board (breakfast and evening meal)
• Allow 15/30 minutes commute to school
• WiFi available

Stay with local Italian hosts, in apartments in the residential areas of the city, in either single or shared rooms (shared rooms are only on offer if travelling as a couple or with a friend) on a B&B or half-board basis (breakfast and evening meal). Staying with hosts allows you to speak Italian with local people out of class, but will involve quite a commute generally students should allow 15/30 minutes commute from the Italian language school in Siena, as the hosts are mostly in residential areas, outside the historic centre.

In selecting hosts the school staff are not looking to provide luxury and comfort in the material sense, but for Italian hosts who appreciate receiving foreign students. Additionally, please do not assume the hosts will be a “family” in the traditional sense. There are a few hosts who have children living with them at home, but most hosts will be single parents, divorcees/widows, or childless couples, who take in students because they enjoy the company and have a spare room).

Meals
You can choose between breakfast only (recommended for short courses only) and half board (breakfast and dinner). You will normally take your meals together with your hosts, but you should be aware that Italian eating habits can differ from your own. Breakfast usually only consists of coffee or tea and bread, butter, marmalade. Dinner is a complete meal served normally at around 8:00 pm.

House rules in host families
Living with a family offers a unique opportunity to become acquainted with the Italian culture and way of living, but it also requires compromises between the host and you. Therefore, there are some house rules which you must take into consideration:

• Please ensure that you always leave your bedroom looking presentable
• Do not wake up your hosts after midnight when returning home
• Do not use any of the hosts belongings without permission
• Do not prepare meals by yourself
• Do not do any laundry by yourself (the use of the washing-machine is not included in your rental agreement, but a private arrangement may be possible between the landlord and yourself)
• You are allowed to use the common rooms
• Your bedroom will usually be cleaned daily

• For 18 yrs+ age group only, who are used to an independent lifestyle
• Single rooms
• Shared rooms if friends or a couple
• Between 15/30 minutes commute from the Italian language school
• WiFi is available in apartments

The apartments consist of a communal kitchen and bathroom and a single or shared (for friends) bedroom each. Apartments are shared with other students (a few can be with local Italian people). If you have a preference, please let CESA know when enrolling. We will do our best to meet your requirements, if possible.

Living in an apartment, together with other foreign or Italian students or with hosts requires maturity but allows you considerable independence. You share the bathroom and the kitchen with your roommate(s) and cater for yourself.

Location
The accommodation is in the city centre or in the residential areas just outside the city centre. Students can easily reach the school or the centre of the city by public transport. To get from the residential areas to the centre takes around 15/30 minutes by public transport.

Facilities

• You will share a flat or floor of a house with local Italian hosts or other students from the language school. Students share the kitchen and the bathroom. The apartments are furnished, and the kitchens are supplied with all essential kitchen equipment (cutlery, plates, pans etc.). You can prepare your meals separately or together with your flatmates
• Electricity, gas water, local costs and taxes are included in the price
• Bedlinen will be provided free of charge
• Please bring your own towels
• We suggest that you organise some food for the first evening
• The apartments do not have telephones or WiFi
• During your stay, you are responsible for the cleaning of your rooms and of the rooms used in common (kitchen and bathroom)

House-rules for shared apartments

You are expected to respect the following house-rules:

• To leave the common rooms clean and presentable
• To wash the dishes after use
• To throw the rubbish in the street containers every day
• Not to wake your flatmates after midnight when returning home
• Not to organise “parties” (Parties, especially with people not living in the apartment, are strictly forbidden for insurance and safety reasons, as well as for the tranquillity of the students not taking part and the neighbours.)
• Not to use a vacant bed or room in the apartment
• Not to invite any “just-made” friends to stay in the apartment
• To report any damage or technical fault immediately to the school secretary
• To leave the apartment clean on departure.

Arrive: Sunday PM
Depart: Saturday PM

We recommend students fly to Florence’s Intl airport or Pisa Intl airport and then take the train to Siena. You can then take a train, a bus or a taxi to your accommodation, alternatively the school will arrange a taxi transfer to Siena on request (at additional cost).