We at SIS Intercultural Study Abroad have created these experiences specifically for our alumni and their families and/or friends. We want to you to come back to Siena and re-live your SIS study abroad experience with us as well as gain a new perspective on Siena, SIS, and on how your lives have evolved.
At SIS we have never been interested in tourism, and while these offerings are intended to be relaxing vacations, our goals still remain to educate and expand the horizons of everyone with whom we work. For this reason, we are working to create a number of educational activities and we will also ask you to write a few reflections on your new experience, both at the beginning and end of the trip.
Mike, Roni and Eliza of SIS created https://www.noveculturaeventures.com/ in order to be able to extend their intercultural knowledge beyond the world of study abroad students. Tell us what you’re thinking and we’ll get back to you quickly with information so that we can create the best experience for you! Follow this link to start a conversation https://www.noveculturaeventures.com/contact-us or take a look at the itineraries below.
* If you choose to travel in Italy before a program starts or after it ends, for an additional fee we would be more than happy to help you make plans and reservations for your own personal travel outside of these itineraries.
SIS-Guided Palio Experience
June 27, 2021 – July 5th, 2021
Fees will vary depending on group sizes and modifications that you may want to make. Inquire with us to get a quote! – info@sisstudyabroad.com
- Airport pick-up/drop off to Pisa Airport
- All activities present on the itinerary and the necessary transportation
- Hotel accommodations
- Meals listed on the itinerary
- Museum and monument entry to : Santa Maria della Scala, Duomo, The Duomo Museum, the Crypt of the Duomo, and the Baptistry
- A substantial amount of gelato
- Airfare
- Some meals, in order to let you explore and eat on your own schedule
- Other museums
- Free time activities
The following itinerary is a rough itinerary of things that we plan on providing for you. The schedule could be subject to change. Also note that not all meals are included and for this we have listed which meals are included. We want you to be able to relax and explore on your own as well!
Date | Morning | Afternoon | Included meals |
27/06/2021 | You’ll arrive in at the Pisa airport where SIS staff will be waiting to pick you up! | After arriving in Siena, you’ll settle in at your hotel and then we’ll have an early welcome Aperitivo/dinner. | Lunch, Dinner |
28/06/2021 | You’ll take a walk around Siena with our local expert Andrea who will also give you a Palio lesson to prepare you for the upcoming days. We’ll all have lunch together. | Free to do as you please (please asks for suggestions or if you’d like to make dinner reservations, we’ll be happy to help!) | Breakfast, Lunch |
29/06/2021 | The traditional Palio events start today! We’ll take you through everything, from test-races to the lottery where horses are assigned to the Contradas. | We’ll meet in the Piazza to experience the first trial race. The atmosphere will be incredible. | Breakfast |
30/06/2021 | This morning SIS Art History Professor will take you to the Duomo for a mini-lesson, SIS-Style! *Note that your ticket is good for the next three days and gets you into 5 more museums/monuments. | Free to do as you please until after the trial race when we’ll meet to go to a barbecue together. | Breakfast, Dinner |
01/07/2021 | This morning we’ll take you around to some of the more secret areas of Siena’s medieval walls. SIS students and staff collaborate with the “Le Mura” volunteer organization that aims to restore and promote Siena’s medieval walls. | This evening is a big one as far as the Palio is concerned. All 17 Contradas will be eating outside along the streets in their territories and you get to join them! We’ll all sit, dine and sing with thousands of Contradaioli on the eve of the Palio. | Breakfast, Dinner |
02/07/2021 | PALIO DAY! | PALIO DAY | Breakfast |
03/07/2021 | Free to do as you please and rest from the exhilarating Palio experience. | Andrea will take you around the city to see what the winning Contrada is up to after their legendary victory. (all of the victories are “legendary” for the winner) | Breakfast |
04/07/2021 | Today we’ll take a trip out into the countryside and relax in a villa with a pool. Of course, the Italian countryside also means countryside food! | ….still relaxing in the countryside. When we get back to Siena, we’ll have one final aperitivo together to say farewell. | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
05/07/2021 | We’ll arrange transportation for you back to the airport! Arrivederci! | Breakfast | |
9 Days with SIS June 2021
June 12th, 2021 – June 20th, 2021
Fees will vary depending on group sizes and modifications that you may want to make. Inquire with us to get a quote! – info@sisstudyabroad.com
- Airport pick-up/drop off to Pisa Airport
- All activities present on the itinerary and the necessary transportation
- Hotel accommodations
- Meals listed on the itinerary
- Museum and monument entry to : Santa Maria Della Scala, Duomo, The Duomo Museum, the Crypt of the Duomo, and the Baptistry
- A substantial amount of gelato
- Airfare
- Some meals, in order to let you explore and eat on your own schedule
- Other museums
- Free time activities
The following itinerary is a rough itinerary of things that we plan on providing for you. The schedule could be subject to change. Also note that not all meals are included and for this we have listed which meals are included. We want you to be able to relax and explore on your own as well!
Date | Morning | Afternoon | Included meals |
12/06/2021 | You’ll arrive in at the Pisa airport where SIS staff will be waiting to pick you up! | From Pisa, we’ll head to Florence where we’ll get settled and have a welcome aperitivo/dinner. | Lunch, Dinner |
13/06/2021 | We’ll take a walking tour of Florence in the morning with a guide who can give us insight on some of the lesser known treasures of the city of the Renaissance. | In the afternoon we’ll head towards Siena, making a quick stop at San Gimignano. | Breakfast, Lunch |
14/06/2021 | This morning SIS Art History Professor will take you to the Duomo for a mini-lesson, SIS-Style! *Note that your ticket is good for the next three days and gets you into 5 more museums/monuments. | Free to do as you please until dinner. We’ll meet in the Piazza del Campo and head for a pizza dinner at the Orto de’ Pecci. | Breakfast, Dinner |
15/06/2021 | This morning we’ll take you around to some of the more secret areas of Siena’s medieval walls. SIS students and staff collaborate with the “Le Mura” volunteer organization that aims to restore and promote Siena’s medieval walls. | Free to do as you please | Breakfast, |
16/06/2021 | Andrea, our local expert will give you all a Palio Lesson so that you’ll be able to grasp what the timeless event means for the people of Siena. Afterwards, we’ll have some lunch together. | Andrea will personally guide you through his own Contrada’s museum | Breakfast, lunch |
17/06/2021 | Today we’ll take trip out into the countryside and relax in a villa with a pool. Of course, the Italian countryside also means countryside food! | ….still relaxing in the countryside. | Breakfast, Lunch |
18/06/2021 | This morning we’ll head to the beach! Our destination will be Castiglione Della Pescaia, where we’ll soak up some sun and float in the Mediterranean. | Still at the beach, enjoying gelato too! | Breakfast |
19/06/2021 | Free to do as you please. | Free until dinner. We’ll meet for one last dinner together before we say Arrivederci! | Breakfast, Dinner |
20/06/2021 | We’ll arrange transportation for you back to the airport. Arrivderci! | Breakfast | |
9 Days with SIS July 2021
July 10th, 2021 – July 18th, 2021
Fees will vary depending on group sizes and modifications that you may want to make. Inquire with us to get a quote! – info@sisstudyabroad.com
- Airport pick-up/drop off to Pisa Airport
- All activities present on the itinerary and the necessary transportation
- Hotel accommodations
- Meals listed on the itinerary
- Museum and monument entry to : Santa Maria Della Scala, Duomo, The Duomo Museum, the Crypt of the Duomo, and the Baptistry
- A substantial amount of gelato
- Airfare
- Some meals, in order to let you explore and eat on your own schedule
- Other museums
- Free time activities
The following itinerary is a rough itinerary of things that we plan on providing for you. The schedule could be subject to change. Also note that not all meals are included and for this we have listed which meals are included. We want you to be able to relax and explore on your own as well!
Date | Morning | Afternoon | Included meals |
10/07/2021 | You’ll arrive in at the Pisa airport where SIS staff will be waiting to pick you up! | From Pisa, we’ll head to Florence where we’ll get settled and have a welcome aperitivo/dinner. | Lunch, Dinner |
11/07/2021 | We’ll take a walking tour of Florence in the morning with a guide who can give us insight on some of the lesser known treasures of the city of the Renaissance. | In the afternoon we’ll head towards Siena, making a quick stop at San Gimignano. | Breakfast, Lunch |
12/07/2021 | This morning SIS Art History Professor will take you to the Duomo for a mini-lesson, SIS-Style! *Note that your ticket is good for the next three days and gets you into 5 more museums/monuments. | Free to do as you please until dinner. We’ll meet in the Piazza del Campo and head for a pizza dinner at the Orto de’ Pecci. | Breakfast, Dinner |
13/07/2021 | This morning we’ll take you around to some of the more secret areas of Siena’s medieval walls. SIS students and staff collaborate with the “Le Mura” volunteer organization that aims to restore and promote Siena’s medieval walls. | Free to do as you please | Breakfast, |
14/07/2021 | Andrea, our local expert will give you all a Palio Lesson so that you’ll be able to grasp what the timeless event means for the people of Siena. Afterwards, we’ll have some lunch together. | Andrea will personally guide you through his own Contrada’s museum | Breakfast, lunch |
15/07/2021 | Today we’ll take trip out into the countryside and relax in a villa with a pool. Of course, the Italian countryside also means countryside food! | ….still relaxing in the countryside. | Breakfast, Lunch |
16/07/2021 | This morning we’ll head to the beach! Our destination will be Castiglione Della Pescaia, where we’ll soak up some sun and float in the Mediterranean. | Still at the beach, enjoying gelato too! | Breakfast |
17/07/2021 | Free to do as you please. | Free until dinner. We’ll meet for one last dinner together before we say Arrivederci! | Breakfast, Dinner |
18/07/2021 | We’ll arrange transportation for you back to the airport. Arrivderci! | Breakfast | |