Overview

Introduction

Hofstra Law School will hold its annual, two-credit, summer study abroad program in Sorrento, Italy from May 25-June 7, 2008. The program will be held at Sorrento Lingue, a language and cultural institute in the heart of downtown Sorrento that is also home to undergraduate study abroad programs sponsored by Hofstra University.

Location

Sorrento is a historic and charming town, perched on a dramatic line of 150-foot cliffs that stretches toward the fabled Amalfi Coast and its villages of Positano, Amalfi and Salerno. A favorite resort of wealthy Romans in ancient times, Sorrento was originally a Greek village where, according to ancient Greek legend, Ulysses heard the tempting song of the Sirens, the mermaids who labored long hours to seduce and shipwreck passing sailors. Many other civilizations have left their mark on Sorrento, including the Etruscans, the Oscans, the Byzantine empire, the Longobards, and the Normans, among others. Sorrento underwent a dramatic rebirth during the 19th-century, when it became a standard stop on the "Grand Tour," a journey through Italian cultural and historical sights that was an obligatory part of an elite education at the time.

Today, Sorrento is a modern city, with a vibrant cultural life and strong tourist industry that attracts thousands of visitors each year. It is home to museums, arts festivals and other cultural institutions. Ancient sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum, the modern city of Naples, and the beautiful islands of Capri and Ischia are a short distance away, and easily accessible by public transportation. Rome is approximately two hours away by train.