Illuminating Italy, Travel Tribe Culture Series

Welcome to Travel Tribe's Illuminating Italy course!

In this dynamic, fast-paced course, we will explore the history, language, food, culture, traditions, celebrations, geography, animals and famous sites of Italy. The course then dives into the construction, history and fun facts about one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the The Colosseum.

Students explore local traditions and fun facts that shape this country into the exciting and dynamic place that it is today. Students discover the major cities, learn how to fit in like a local, and check out what to explore in each city/region (Rome, Vatican City, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Venice), and how to make the most of Italy if you're only in town for a few days.

Whether you are planning for a post-Covid vacation, wanting a virtual adventure, or planning your next long-term-digital-nomad destination, this course is for you!


Some of the fun-fact topics we will explore:

• What are some of the most famous locations of Italy?
  

• Which two countries are located within Italy's borders?
  

• Why is Italian the most popular operatic language and what are some popular Italian operas?
  

• Why are scientists watching Mount Vesuvius (and Etna) so closely?
  

• What (and who) is a Renaissance Man?
  

• How many private bridges are in Venice?
  

• What is the Rainbow Island of Italy and why do you think the houses are so many different colors?
  

• What are some typical foods of Tuscany?
  

• What is the difference between gelato and ice cream? 
  

• What are the two original pizza types?
  

• How do you pronounce gnocchi?

Travel Journal

As the saying goes, "Traveling makes you speechless, and then makes you a storyteller." In this course, you will be prompted to answer questions similar to the prompts above in your Travel Journal, in order to further your understanding and curiosity about each aspect of Italy that we explore in this course.


Adult Coloring Pages

There are some (optional) adult coloring pages that coordinate with the lectures, so grab some colored pencils! Feel free to share your artwork with the class.

Travel Planner

Traveling can be overwhelming, so much so that sometimes you forget why you were looking forward to boarding the plane in the first place! But rest assured, this Travel Tribe Culture Series course will give you all the resources you need to help you plan how to experience the culture & vibrant atmosphere of Italy, and have the adventure of a lifetime.

The attached PDF is your personal Travel Planner. By the end of this course, students will have written down top sites, favorite foods, big cities, major attractions, pro-tips, traditional clothing & special occasions they want to see and experience. This is your roadmap for how to travel to Italy, and what to expect when you arrive - food, music, and traditions. Whether it's a virtual exploration or an in-person visit you're preparing for, the Illuminating Italy, Travel Tribe Culture Series course will help you prepare for what to expect and how to plan your dream vacation to Italy. You are welcome to keep this sheet private or share with the class.

Travel The World Worksheet: Italy

This study guide is attached and available for reference throughout the entire course. An optional fill in the blank sheet is also included for self-study.

About The Author

My name is Kelsey Betzelberger, and I have been teaching for over 10 years. I was trained as an opera singer at Northwestern University in Chicago, and visited 45 countries around the world while performing at opera houses in Italy, Germany, England, Argentina, France, Croatia and the Netherlands. I also teach German, French, and music, and I have lived in seven different countries with my husband and our three well-traveled, geriatric cats.