Chargers Reflect on Exciting Opportunities at University’s Italy Campus

Since it was established more than 10 years ago, the University’s satellite campus in Prato, Italy, has provided nearly 1,500 students of various majors an immersive cultural experience. Visiting the campus in the heart of Tuscany has enabled students to travel and learn a bout a new culture with the support of the University’s dedicated faculty and staff.

Below, several Chargers reflect on their experiences abroad.

Dora Crespo ’26

Located 4,105 miles away from home, past the north Atlantic Ocean in a small town in Italy called Prato, I found myself once again in a foreign land. I never thought I’d ever see the yellow stone buildings again in the small square known as piazza San Francesco. I thought going abroad one time was enough, until my parents told me how I was the first in the family to ever step foot in Europe, especially Italy. This made me realize how impactful my choice to study abroad was on my family and encouraged me to return for a more profound exploration of myself and the country.

When I first saw Prato's narrow streets, I was absorbed into a foreign language and a different lifestyle and culture. It became a sensory overload of unusual sights, noises, and norms. Initially overwhelming, this environment turned out to be a blank canvas for exploration and in-depth reflection. The extended time away from home proved to be a valuable chance for me to learn about a foreign environment and to uncover aspects of my own identity. Each corner in Prato recounted a history of hardships and victories that helped to mold the town into what it is today. I had never understood the depth of history until it struck me.

My second experience in Italy served as a platform for more in-depth self-exploration. I approached it with a deeper appreciation for the subtle cultural differences that set Italy apart. I started to recognize the small shifts in myself: my increased comfort level in different environments, my natural capacity to adapt, and my newly developed sense for beauty in variety.

It became a journey of self-discovery and cultural appreciation, and it rekindled ties to my Mexican background. My understanding of the cultural parallels and distinctions between Italian and Mexican cultures has grown since. The close-knit relationships I treasured in Mexico echoed the warmth of family ties in Italy.

I could not help but make comparisons between the rich cultural tapestry of Mexico and the art, history, and customs of Italy. The celebration of customs and regional specialties brought attention to the individuality that distinguishes each background. It evolved into a quest to find the universal themes that unite us all while appreciating the diversity that brings life to our shared history. I made friends with individuals from many backgrounds, each with their own unique journeys, goals, and obstacles.

Sharing my Mexican background with others and learning about their cultures at the same time was eye-opening. My perspective was widened by the interchange of customs and ideas. It strengthened the friendships I had made there during my first visit. The relationships I formed surpassed language barriers and encouraged a sense of unity despite cultural differences. Talks moved with such ease as my native Spanish blended naturally with the Italian rhythm.

I've been able to embrace diversity, see the world from a fresh perspective, and deepen my connection to my Mexican heritage thanks to my travels abroad. Living and learning in Italy has led to a journey of self-reflection, cultural immersion, and awareness that the essence of who I am is fundamentally anchored in the brilliant colors and rich traditions of Mexico, regardless of how far I travel. I found the profound beauty of my own cultural heritage far from home, in addition to the beauty of Italy.

Nick Pavelko ’26

I'm a sophomore who decided to participate in the study abroad program, which turned out to be an amazing decision. At the beginning, I will admit I didn’t think it was a great idea, maybe because I was nervous and didn’t know anyone that was going, so I would have to make new friends. Not only that, but I would be leaving a lot behind back in Milford, Conn., such as my friends I've known for years and my family.

To my surprise I came to love Prato, Italy. If anyone were to go, I would definitely recommend it. The best part when coming to Prato was the activities that were set up by some of the professors in Prato. One of these activities was a clean-up day. On this day, anyone who signed up could go out into Prato and help by picking up all sorts of trash just to help even a little to clean up the area around the city. I found this activity to be my favorite one, maybe because I was able to make new friends when getting assigned to a group of new people.

I took this garbage clean-up day very seriously once I got into it and accepted that I can turn this into something great. I do admit before I began the cleanup day, I didn’t take this activity very seriously, but I quickly got into it.

If you’re someone who comes to Prato, Italy, to study abroad, and you don’t know anybody else going, then attending any activity can help you out in so many ways by not only making friends but also possibly making the experience easier on you and making you just generally feel better.

Helping to clean Prato made me feel happy. I was able to get rid of trash to help mother nature and keep the environment even just a bit cleaner.

Bridgette Skelly ’27

For as long as I can remember, art has been important in my household. My dad went to an art college, and my mom is an architect. I’ve been surrounded by art all my life, whether it is a painting on the wall or my dad playing the guitar, my brother practicing the piano, or me doing ballet while listening to classical music. My parents proudly display the creations I make from ceramics. Art is everywhere. It is something I’m familiar with and something that became a source of comfort. It is something that everyone can understand even if the same language isn’t spoken. Coming to Italy, I knew there was going to be art that I have yet to explore.

This is how I ended up at the Uffizi. When we arrived, we walked up a lot of stairs, so many stairs that I started to pity-laugh at myself when I turned the corner and saw even more stairs. We made it to the top and explored all the exhibits with beautiful paintings and stunning ceilings. Why do we have boring ceilings now? I don’t know, but my mom claims it’s expensive, so that’s why. We walked past many sculptures too and even more paintings. Then, I saw it. Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, the original one, and it was stunning. Not just because Venus is one of my favorite goddesses, but because I never thought I would see the original, ever.

There was a small crowd, but it wasn’t as big as I assume it would be during tourist season. Of course, when I tried to take a picture of this painting someone two times my height stepped in front of me. Still, it is an experience I won’t soon forget.

Julian Schrock ’27

As a first-year student in my first semester, I took the chance to study abroad in a foreign country. Being so far from home, it was very easy to become homesick. The first night I unpacked, it was tough to settle into a room that was supposed to be my new home for the coming months. As time went on, it slowly started to feel more and more like home. I adjusted to sleeping on a bunk bed, became closer to my roommates, which made sharing a room with them a lot easier, and got used to the church bells that constantly clang.

To make this place thousands of miles away from my family feel like home I had to make some changes to the room. My roommates and I decided to decorate our room for Christmas the day after Halloween because Christmas is something that makes us feel closer to our families that we hadn't seen for months.

At first, we just decorated our room and door for fun, and we noticed other people joining in. However, two other people on the floor below us kept trying to one-up our room and improve theirs. This ended up becoming a competition where almost every week we had to go back to the store to buy more and more decorations. This lasted for weeks.

Another way that students here connected was through game nights, movie nights, and karaoke in the Malaparte classroom. These nights served as a great way for me and other students to connect. Since the group that came to Italy this semester was relatively small, we bonded quickly.

There were also many events that a majority of people participated in.

Residential life has been a big adjustment from home, especially being an only child and it was odd sharing a room with two other people. Even though dorm life has had its ups and downs it has been a fantastic experience to study abroad in Italy.

Samuel Albrecht ’26

When I first stepped off the bus from Milan into Prato, I was greeted with the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Carceri and the Castello dell’imperatore. Both locations in their own right are breathtaking. The basilica is a symbol of architecture from the early sixteenth century and has a large dome to top it off. The castle is a testament to the architecture of the twelfth century. I saw it is a remarkable place for photography, especially during the morning and evening hours when the sun rises and the moon returns to the sky.

One of the most striking spots is known as Il Duomo. This is a church that was finished in the sixteenth century. It is well known for its small and unique viewing platform that looks over a massive open square in the center of the city, allowing thousands of people to gather and listen. The Duomo also has a large identifiable bell tower, which is still rung every hour of every day. It also happens to be in the perfect spot to catch a breathtaking morning shot of the sun rising behind it.

Another well-known landmark is “The Tooth,” as study abroad students often call it. Although no one really knows what the sculpture is supposed to be, it proudly sits in Prato’s busiest roundabout. It is a nice sight to look at while eating at some of our favorite restaurants. Another of the “landmarks” of Prato is medieval walls that surround the historic center of Prato from the more modern territory that it is now. The walls around Prato are very interesting to look at because they are still actively maintained, and it is a unique feature to observe when walking around the city.

My two favorite sights in Prato are the Bisenzio river and the views from the mountains above. While living in Prato, we are encouraged to explore, and one of those spots is the Bisenzio River. The river has many paths that run along its banks that are shared by the community. There are many amazing photo opportunities while walking along the banks of the Bisenzio. The fact that it spans the entirety of Prato allows one to see the many different scenes of Prato, with the striking contrast of the bustling city and the quiet outskirts.

My favorite sight in Prato was from the mountains. I had the chance to hike to the top of the Calvana mountains of Prato. The view of the city was so unique. I was able to see how large of a city Prato truly is. It was an experience to clearly hear the hourly bells from Il Duomo from the top of the mountain. I was also able to see major landmarks from a new point of view. There were also wild horses at the top of the mountain, which was a fresh experience for me.

Overall, Prato is a city with a rich history and culture in its buildings. It is a city with room for exploration and the ability to see new things. From Il Duomo to the Calvana mountains, Prato is a large province with many different places and experiences to offer.

Chloe Carroll ’26

I remember the day when I first told my dad I wanted to transfer to a different school. I had just finished my first semester at the University of New Haven and was set on moving to a school closer to home. He begged me to try the study abroad program. Now it is my second semester at the University’s Tuscany campus. I’ve found not only new friends, amazing food, and beautiful architecture — but a second family.

As corny and cliché as it sounds, I feel as though I found myself here. You often hear stories and see movies about people who travel to different countries to “find themselves,” but it always seems too good to be true. I can say with genuine honesty that coming to Prato is an amazing experience that is as good as it sounds. I discovered who I really was in the last two months of my first semester abroad and I couldn’t help but continue that journey by coming back.

I remember in the last 18 days of my first time in Italy, I wrote in a journal about how much the experience changed me. To quote that journal entry, “I have never seen so much beauty in one place nor have I felt so beautiful in one place. I feel as though I have become a much better and stronger person. I love Prato and all of the people I have met here with my whole heart and there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be right now but here. I cherish every second of my time here, and it is something that I will remember forever.”

Furthermore, I’ve made lifelong friends with not only other students from the University, but also with Australian students from Monash as well as Italian locals. I have gotten so close to these people that some have done tattoos on me, and I’ve even been invited to their houses for Christmas since I am planning to stay for the holidays.

To say I was nervous when I first came to Italy is an understatement. I remember being terrified and almost changing my decision to come at the last minute. However, every second I spend here makes me want to leave even less. Though Prato is more than 4,000 miles away from my hometown, I couldn’t feel more at home anywhere in the world than I do here.

Dora Crespo ’26 is an international affairs major at the University of New Haven. Nick Pavelko ’26 and Julian Schrock ’27 are business management majors. Bridgette Skelly ’27 and Chloe Carroll ’26 are criminal justice majors. Samuel Albrecht ’26 is an emergency management major.