Italian in Abruzzo, Summer 2027

A small mountain village. A historic family palazzo that for generations has been a home, a wine cellar, and a gathering place. No formal classrooms, no school desks: just authentic Italian life, the slow rhythms of the hidden countryside, and the true flavors of the land.

The Experience: How it works

On a standard week you arrive on Sunday evening, and we kick things off with a welcome wine tasting and a casual chat to get to know each other. In 2027 we have a number of special weeks that differ, please see under.

  • Monday to Friday: 2 hours of Italian lessons in the morning, focusing on conversation and practical, real-world use. The rest of the day is yours: wander the narrow cobblestone alleys, hike up the Gran Sasso mountains, or simply relax with a book on the palazzo’s loggia.
  • Cooking & Dining: One evening, we’ll roll up our sleeves for a local cooking masterclass and share a big dinner together.
  • Saturday: You can pack up at your own pace or stay an extra night.

Lessons take place in tiny groups (just 2 to 8 participants). Outside the palazzo walls, the village and the locals do the rest.

What’s included in the residential price: 6 nights accommodation (single or double room) • 10 hours of Italian lessons • Welcome wine tasting • 1 cooking class with dinner included • Full access to the palazzo’s kitchen, library, and courtyard • Local excursion planning support.

Special weeks 2027

In 2027 there are special weeks in which the regular calendar has been modified in order to accomodate speciale events and festivities.

Holy week – Easter 22 – 30 March

Easter week is full of special symbolism and traditions and we would love you to take part in it from an insider’s point of view. From the sepolcri on Good Friday to the traditional pic-nic on Easter Monday, we arranged a longer stay so that you won’ miss anything. You arrive on the evening of Monday 22 March, we will have our regular lessons from Tuesday to Saturday, on the 28th we will leave early to Sulmona to assist at the ancient ritual of La Madonna che corre in piazza and then enjoy a traditional Easter lunch home. On the 29th we will join in the traditional pic-nic with a barbecue of arrosticini and on Tuesday 30 March we will say good-bye.

What’s included: 8 nights accommodation (single or double room) • 10 hours of Italian lessons • Welcome wine tasting • 1 cooking class with dinner included • Easter lunch and Easter monday pic-nic • guided excursions to the traditional Easter rituals • Full access to the palazzo’s kitchen, library, and courtyard • Local excursion planning support.

The Setting: Ofena (L’Aquila)

Ofena is an ancient village tucked between the peaks of the Gran Sasso and the Tirino river, famous for centuries for its wine, olive oil, and almonds. You won’t be staying in a hotel or a sterile language center, but in a living historic palazzo, complete with a library, courtyard, loggia, and an old cellar-museum.

From here, iconic spots like Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio are just around the corner. Plus, in 2026 L’Aquila is the Italian Capital of Culture—only a 45-minute drive away, hosting a summer packed with exhibitions, concerts, and special events.

Standard Weeks (Ofena)

Early bird rates: €650 single room / €550 double room / €240 “Local Learner” (course only)

August 22–26 | Survival Italian (Absolute Beginners)

September 7–11 | Italian & Wine Harvest

September 28–October 2 | Italian & Olive Harvest

Special Weeks & Weekends

  • June 24–30 | Wine & Jazz WeekItalian lessons + 3 concerts at the “A Love Supreme” festival in Capestrano + wine tastings.
    • Rates: €660 single / €560 double (A1-A2 Level confirmed, only 3 spots left!)
  • July 25–26 / August 8–9 / September 5–6 | Meditative Writing Retreats
    • Rates: €300 single / €250 double
  • September 24–28 | Wine Terminology Workshop (For professionals)
    • Rates: €750 NGTV members / €820 non-members

Coast Courses (Lessons only)

June 8–12 (Silvi) • July 6–10 (Tortoreto – 3 spots left) • July 27–31 (Tortoreto) • August 3–7 (Tortoreto)

For those staying by the beach or living locally (No accommodation): €240

Photo courtesy of Nicola Capriati

Focus: Wine & Jazz Week (June 24–30)

In 2026, the Capestrano jazz festival A Love Supreme celebrates the centenary of John Coltrane’s birth. This special week pairs morning Italian lessons with three evenings of world-class live music inside a breathtaking Romanesque church—located in a village most tourists will never find on a map.

Sunday, June 28: Claudio Filippini (piano) – Filippismo

Friday, June 26: Dimitri Grechi Espinoza (sax), Aziz Senol Filiz (ney), Guido Zorn (double bass) – Loving Supreme

Saturday, June 27: Tania Giannouli (piano) – Solo free improvisation inspired by Coltrane

Practical Details in Short

  • Accommodation: Inside the historic palazzo itself or in nearby village houses. The communal kitchen and historic spaces are always open to you.
  • Levels: Open to everyone (unless specified). We’ll have a quick, informal chat when you arrive to check your level.
  • Companions: Traveling with someone who doesn’t want to take the course? They can share your room for €30–35 per night.
  • Flexibility: If a specific date catches your eye but you’re the first to sign up, drop us a line anyway! We open up new courses as soon as we reach 2–3 participants.

Contact & Bookings

Madrelingua

✉️ info@madrelingua.com

📞 +39 375 526 2038 (IT)

📞 +31 647 254 144 (NL)