Short-Term Program Spotlight: “Preserving Cinema & Secrets of Nature in the Renaissance” in Italy With Portland State University
“The progressive and open-minded atmosphere in Bologna was wonderful and refreshing. Even though I come from the most stereotypically left-leaning bubble of North America, engaging in discussion and discourse with the students here and seeing uninhibited self-expression was wonderfully eye-opening. – Camille Moore, Portland State University (PSU) student
Bologna, Italy, is a city of stories. Many have survived through the ages, dating back to the Renaissance and beyond. Some flicker across the restored reels of silent films, and others are pressed into the pages of Renaissance botanical studies. Plus, one of the World’s leading film archives, the Cineteca di Bologna, is here—a place where experts gently restore frame after frame of old cinematic treasures, from Chaplin’s comedies to the surreal worlds of Fellini.
All of this made the city a perfect setting for a short-term program earlier this summer, which focused on the topic, “Preserving Cinema & Secrets of Nature in the Renaissance.”
In June, EdOdyssey Program Leader Irene Sacco welcomed a group of 21 students from Portland State University, along with their Faculty Leaders William York and Amy Borden for four immersive weeks in Italy.
This turned out to be a very powerful short-term program: high-impact, easy-to-launch, and packed with opportunities that immerse students in academic exploration, cultural discovery, and moments to connect with place, different perspectives, and one another.
Alongside a “survival Italian” lesson, a city tour, delicious and memorable meals, and plenty of free time to engage with Italian culture on their own and explore personal interests, here are a few highlights from another successful EdOdyssey program:
IL CINEMA RITROVATO FILM FESTIVAL.
This trip was purposely timed to align with the annual film festival in Bologna, “Il Cinema Ritrovato,” which students agreed was a real highlight. Having attended five days of the festival, Camille shared, “Multiple moments at the film festival [and] sharing it with [a] cross-cultural community gave me an incredible lasting memory. It was incredibly connective and an amazing way to learn about the importance of cultural preservation in a town with such rich history.”
Il Cinema Ritrovato Film Festival is organized by Cineteca di Bologna. Widely considered the most important festival in the world for film restoration, it is dedicated to rediscovering, showcasing, and celebrating restored and rare films, mainly from the 1960s-80s.
Having grown since its humble beginnings in 1986, this year the festival stretched over nine days and aired 454 films across eight indoor theaters, alongside open-air screenings in Piazza Maggiore and Piazzetta Pasolini. Silent films are often accompanied by live musicians, and there are guest lecturers and retrospectives as well as networking opportunities with people who work in the field of film restoration.
During their second week in Bologna, students spent ample time discussing and reflecting on the films they watched at the festival.
ARCHIGINNASIO ANATOMICAL THEATRE & COMPIANTO
Once a lecture hall for teaching anatomy to the students of the University of Bologna (the oldest university in continuous operation in the Western world!), the Archiginnasio Anatomical Theater has been around since the 17th century and is one of the city’s most beautiful historic spaces.
Students were able to take a guided tour where they saw, among other highlights, the central dissection table, two famous statues of skinless men sculpted with impressive detail in 1734, and the wooden ceiling with carved constellations surrounding Apollo at the center (which reflects the Renaissance medical beliefs aligning the human body with patterns of the stars).
A viewing of the Compianto was also part of this tour. This is a terracotta sculpture group of mourners created by Niccolò dell’Arca, nicknamed “scream in stone” because of the intense realism in the portrayed emotions. Its home is inside of the Oratory of Santa Maria della Vita, a short walk from the anatomical theater.
MUSEO DE PALAZZO POGGI
Students also took a guided tour of the Museo de Palazzo Poggi, which was a fascinating place to visit. There are several museums here that sit under one roof: the Anatomy and Obstetrics Collection with anatomical wax models that were used for teaching in the 18th century; National History and Zoology with specimens from early scientific expeditions; Geography and Navigation where historic globes and maps that date back to the Age of Discovery are housed; Physics Instruments with tools from the 17th-18th centuries; Military Architecture Models with mini fortresses that were built to teach military engineering; and Astronomy with an old astronomical observatory from the 18th century which offers some amazing views over Bologna.
2-DAY FLORENCE EXCURSION
The group took the fast train to and from Florence—the Cradle of the Renaissance—where they spent two impactful days exploring the Uffizi, enjoying a traditional Tuscan dinner, visiting the GiuntiOdeon bookshop-cinema (the oldest cinema in Florence, located in the Renaissance Palazzo dello Strozzino), and the Galileo Museum.
“The Florence trip felt especially powerful as our trip to the Uffizi was followed by attending the Tracey Emin Exhibition,” PSU student Madison Tewes said. “The juxtaposition of the two was really emotionally powerful for me.”
For another PSU student, Antoni Cortez, the Florence excursion stood out for the sense of connection that he found among his fellow travellers. “Our group dinner in Florence was very memorable,” he wrote in the program evaluation. “I enjoyed being able to sit down with my peers after the long day and have fun and eat together.”
PADOVA DAY TRIP
Students spent one other day outside of Bologna taking a guided tour of the Precinema museum in Padova. This is a “Cabinet of Wonders,” a treasure trove found in an appropriate location: on the top floor of the 15th-century Palazzo Angeli.
The museum houses the renowned Minici Zotti Collection. Think magic lanterns, shadow theaters, stereoscopes, zoetropes, and hand-painted 18th and 19th-century projection slides. The visit gave students some hands-on insight into early animation and the roots of cinema as it exists today.
A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO EDODYSSEY PROGRAM LEADER, IRENE SACCO
One of the topics that stood out on our post-trip evaluations was the program leadership. EdOdyssey’s Program Leader, Irene, made a real impact on students and faculty leaders alike, giving valuable guidance as the group navigated several medical issues, and connecting with students on a personal level, sharing not only her knowledge of the city, but of their academic subject too. PSU student Marissa Nwerem wrote, “I think the match between our group and our guide was a personalized match—field of study and general interests were aligned.”
“Irene made it possible to connect with the city,” Camille agreed. “Her recommendations and availability to assist made it accessible, fun, and welcoming. I feel so privileged to have had this gateway to experience it at such a deep level.”
And this is important because, at EdOdyssey, people matter, and we know that the right staffing choices can make a real difference. “Our tour leader Irene’s work throughout the program was exceptional, exceeding all expectations and becoming a true added value to the project,” Stefano Parienti, EdOdyssey’s Senior Regional Manager for Europe, said. “As a boutique provider, we strongly believe in growing around the value of people, their expertise, their integrity, and their authentic passion.”
LOOKING BACK ON IMPACT
“It has been an incredible journey to plan, develop, and deliver this program,” Stefano said. “I truly appreciated the prompt and professional collaboration from the EdOdyssey team, as well as the constructive partnership with our client.”
The nine students who responded to our evaluations reflected positively on their experiences as well.
In fact, 100% of respondents agreed that this experience:
Will have a lasting positive impact on their life
Deepened their curiosity about what they are learning in the classroom and how it connects to a real-world context
Helped them reflect on what they enjoy learning and what they might want to study or do in the future
Improved their understanding of the people, history, and culture that they visited
Allowed them to feel connected to the local place, people, or community
Gave them opportunities to step outside of their comfort zone
Strengthened their sense of independence
Improved their confidence in navigating unfamiliar places or cultures
Helped them make meaningful connections or friendships with their peers
“It definitely helped me grow closer to my travel cohort as we faced new experiences together, giving me a new, solidified place in a community at home, but more broadly, we engaged together,” Camille said. “We met locals, other travelers, and exchanged ideas.”
Student Jaden Cawley shared Camille’s sentiment, writing that “Community is the number one most important thing in these experiences.”
And student Madison Tewes noted a change in mindset, writing, “In many ways this program made me feel small, but in a very comforting way. A lot of things were put in perspective for me here. Especially with being a bit removed from US politics, I was able to take a step back and see my home country from a different perspective.”
Because forming lasting partnerships is important to us and beneficial to the schools we work with, we’re always pleased to hear positive feedback from Faculty Leaders like William, who said, “I believe that PSU will want to run this program again. We will likely make this part of our study abroad program rotation…we are certain that we’d want to work with EdOdyssey as a provider for any future study abroad programs in Italy. Thank you to Stefano and Irene, and everyone behind the scenes at EdOdyssey who worked so hard to make this an unbelievably successful trip for us!”
READY TO CREATE YOUR OWN SHORT-TERM PROGRAM?
The PSU program in Bologna was a great example of how a short-term program can pack a punch when it comes not only to academics, but to students’ confidence, connections, and global outlook.
These high-impact, easy-to-launch programs are an EdOdyssey specialty, and whether you want to explore a similar topic, or focus on something completely different—like AI in Japan or sustainability in Peru—we’ll collaborate with you to design an immersive program that aligns with your curriculum, connects with the local community, and gives your students an experience with a lasting and transformative impact in many areas of their lives.
