I spent a week at Saena Iulia in May this year and it was a truly fantastic experience. I was…read morenervous as i was by myself, had never been to Siena before and only knew about the school from reading about it on the internet. Mauro and his staff were so welcoming I soon felt comfortable and settled into my first lesson quickly especially when i met the other students who were in similar situations to me. The standard of teaching was excellent and the classes varied and organised plus we had some outside activities organised for us. I have been learning Italian in Auckland, New Zealand for 3 years and was put in a class at Saena Iulia which was the right level for me. After a week I felt my comprehension had improved greatly because the whole class was conducted in Italian and I also gained confidence in speaking. I would love to return next year for another week and am also trying to talk one or two of my Auckland classmates into coming with me. Siena itself is a beautiful city and I loved the feeling of being a resident for a week rather than a tourist. My accommodation, which was organised by the school, was perfect and right in the heart of Siena and only a 3 minute walk to school. I would recommend Saena Iulia to anyone who wants to learn or improve their Italian and who wants to stay in a beautiful old Italian city while they do it.

I spent a month at this school doing an intensive course on an intermediate level. The school is…read moresmall, and during Feb./Mar., decidedly off-season, there were only a handful of students. But even with a class of one or two students, they maintained the full curriculum, including seminars, lunches and excursions to nearby towns. I've had several teachers over the years, both in the U.S. and Italy, but the grammar teacher here was by far the best. Instead of a standard placement test, the teachers speak to the students to assess not just their memory skills but their ability to communicate, ensuring everyone is at the appropriate level. Just as important since I was traveling alone, the teachers did not check out immediately after the lesson. I was taken to dinner, invited for coffee, and most important, introduced to locals who became dear friends. The school also provides housing connections for home-stays, shared or individual apartments. I opted for my own apartment and through the school found the perfect place for 1000 Euros less than it was listed on airbnb! Students ranged in age from 20's to 60's and everyone was made to feel comfortable and valued. Even in high season, classes are limited to six and they cater to serious students as opposed to kids who just want to fool around. The school is located in the heart of Siena, a gorgeous city, full of cultural activities and teeming with life. I highly recommend Saena Iulia for its skilled teachers, its inviting warmth and its perfect location. You couldn't do better. And like many before me, I intend to return.

I'll be the first person to leave a review. My review is based on the La Dolca Vita program for 50…read moreplus students, and on the supposed beginners language course for those with "little or no knowledge of the Italian language". My two week program was not what I would call a rewarding experience. I don't totally fault the school. I fault myself in part for not understanding the concept and/or the methodology of total immersion. Perhaps I set my expectations too high. However, after having said that, I think it's unrealistic to expect a beginner to understand enough Italian to comprehend the dialogue spoken during the tours of the La Dolca Vita program or in the class. This program can't be for total beginners. It appears that my needs might have been better fulfilled by an Italian learning institute for English only speaking people. No matter how many times one speaks a word or phase to me in Italian without a parallel drawn to it's meaning, in my native tongue, I will not understand. One might as well be throwing darts at me. It's as painful sitting there with a blank stare on my face not knowing what is being said or asked of me. My advice is unless you have some knowledge of the Italian language or are a linguist, find another program. This was not an inexpensive course. The La Dolca Vita program is over priced for what you get. There a free afternoon programs you can join and weekend tour for little money.

I truly recommend this place to everyone. I felt that the teachers and students were great,…read morefriendly and professional. If you need to learn italian it's the best school! I also enjoyed the leisure activities which they provided in the area of the school! Also those activities which the school provided! Keep it up! Loved the place and would suggest it to anyone wanting to learn Italian! Grazie mille!!

Ayoub was a FANTASTIC chef to lead our cooking class. He made the experience so memorable. He had…read morewonderful enthusiasm and made the class fun. After the class, we got to enjoy our food at a table on the streets of Siena. Thank you Ayoub for the experience!

I've only been to cooking classes in Asia, and this Siena one one was very enjoyable and our pasta…read moremaking came out better than expected. It was deliciously good and our tiramisu dessert was excellent and probably the best tiramisu I've ever had. The teachers explained clearly and easily what we needed to do...the worst cooks would have been successful. It came with wine and bottled water that enhanced the meal. I definitely would recommend the cooking classes as a thing to do if you have the time, as it made my stay in Siena more memorable.