accommodations and studies

With its clean rooms, welcoming staff and continental breakfast, Don Orione is a great place to live. The newly renovated monastery has modern amenities and is home to one of the few elevators in Venice. Each room has three or more twin beds with linens, ample storage space and a private bathroom complete with towels, toiletries, and a hair dryer. Daily maid service helps keep the bedrooms sparkling and organized.

A complementary breakfast with fresh pastries, cereals, juices and various (strong!) Italian coffees is served from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. seven days a week.

Located on the Zattere, Don Orione is a close walk or a Vaporetto ride to Venice's main attractions. A grocery store, an ATM, a photo shop, payphones and several restaurants are also nearby.

In addition, the monastery is located near some popular nighttime gathering spots, including San Marcoula and San Margarhita, where students can make friends with locals. However, there is a 1:30 a.m. curfew at Don Orione so festivities cannot continue too far into the night.

The staff of the monastery is very helpful and will answer any questions ranging from the Italian language to suggestions for local restaurants and cafes.

All photography classes are held in the monastery's library at 9 a.m., three days a week. The two classrooms are spacious with plenty of electrical outlets and a large screen for presentations and slideshows.

The art history class, held Tuesdays and Thursdays, allows students to learn about the past and present of Venice and is a break for their lens-oriented eyes. The class focuses on the rich history of art and architecture in the city, and students get to explore churches, nearby islands and many other locations.