Program Information

This program offers 2 sessions in 2025; course dates refer to the dates on-site in Italy. Both programs will also include online lectures May 26-30. Students should plan to attend those live, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (EST).

Overview

Investigate the daily lives and identities of Second Iron Age mountain communities with our archaeological field school at Bostel di Rotzo in Italy’s Vicenza province. Perched on a picturesque promontory, this ancient village offers a strategic view of the surrounding valleys and was a crucial link between the Po plain and Alpine settlements during the 1st millennium BCE. As a central site in a 30-year research project, Bostel di Rotzo offers an unparalleled opportunity to dig into pre-Roman life in the Italian Pre-Alps. You’ll work alongside a multidisciplinary team of experts and be at the heart of exciting archaeological discoveries that reveal the daily lives and cultural practices of the area’s ancient inhabitants. This program also organizes activities to help you engage with the community and culture of Northern Italy, offering a well-rounded experience that goes well beyond the dig site.

Field school highlights:

  • Gain practical experience for a future in the field, including: excavating pit-houses and craft areas, using UAV surveys and total stations, and effectively communicating your findings to the public.
  • Master cutting-edge techniques and tools during specialized digital archaeology workshops.
  • Experience the charm of rural Vicenza from our picturesque field school base camp, while also exploring Italy’s iconic cities like Verona, Este, Padova, and Venice on program excursions.
Download 2025 Syllabus
Archaeology students excavating an ancient site in the Bostel di Rotzo region of Vicenza, Italy, surrounded by scenic mountain views.
Two students smiling and posing for a group photo at an archaeological field school site in Vicenza, Italy, enjoying their fieldwork experience
Field school students using a wheelbarrow to remove soil at an excavation site in Vicenza, Italy, as part of practical archaeological training.
Two students laughing and working together at an archaeology field school in Bostel di Rotzo, Vicenza, Italy, enjoying collaborative fieldwork.
Archaeology students using tools to excavate soil at a historical site in Vicenza, Italy, as part of a hands-on field school experience.
Close-up of a student using a trowel to excavate ancient artifacts at a field school in Vicenza, Italy, focusing on hands-on archaeological training.
Overhead view of a student working at an archaeological excavation site with tools and a red bucket, capturing field school activities in Vicenza, Italy.
Students participating in an archaeological dig at Bostel di Rotzo in Vicenza, Italy, learning excavation techniques in a field school setting.
Students at the Bostel di Rotzo field school in Italy, excavating a site and gathering archaeological materials, with a backdrop of rolling hills.
Archaeology students sifting soil and examining finds at Bostel di Rotzo, Italy, while seated on stones.
Archaeology student intently examining an artifact at Bostel di Rotzo field site in Italy, surrounded by excavation tools and buckets.
Student cleaning and analyzing artifacts laid out on a table at Bostel di Rotzo, Italy.
Archaeology student sorting artifacts using different colored buckets and screens at Bostel di Rotzo, Italy.
Archaeology students enjoying a moment of fun during an excavation at Bostel di Rotzo, Italy, posing in a row.
Archaeology students and instructors at a field excavation site in Bostel di Rotzo, Italy, holding an excavation sign and equipment.
Archaeology student working on digital mapping of excavation grids on a laptop at Bostel di Rotzo, Italy.
Archaeology student performing meticulous excavation work, using tools to carefully brush through soil in Bostel di Rotzo, Italy.
Close-up view of carefully organized artifacts and small finds on a white cloth at Bostel di Rotzo, Italy.
Close-up of a student sketching an artifact with ruler and drawing tools, documenting finds at the Bostel di Rotzo field school in Italy
Course Details
Course Dates 2 sessions in 2025
S1: June 1 – June 22
S2: June 22 – July 13
Course Type TBA
Instructors Dr. Cinzia Bettineschi & Dr. Luigi Magnini
Credits* TBA semester (TBA quarter)
Apply By February 1
Fees Due By April 15
Program Fees 2025
Tuition $4,800
Transcript Fee* $300
Health & Evacuation Insurance $90
Room & Board $1,800
TOTAL: $6,990
Apply Now!*

*Please email admissions@ifrglobal.org for any application issues.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until program fills or final deadline passes. 

Instructors

The directors welcome emails and inquiries about the research elements of this project. More general information (tuition, health insurance, and payment schedule) can be found under the ‘Students’ tab above. Any further questions may be addressed to IFR staff. Additional details about research, course schedule, travel, accommodation, and safety can be found on the syllabus. Contacting the directors or the IFR office is encouraged and appreciated. It may help you determine if this field school is a good fit for you.

Dr. Cinzia Bettineschi
Dr. Cinzia BettineschiField School Co-Director
Dr. Bettineschi is a Tenure track Assistant Professor at Pegaso Digital University (Italy)
Dr. Luigi Magnini
Dr. Luigi MagniniField School Co-Director
Dr. Magnini is a Lecturer at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy)

Testimonials

This is a new IFR field school. No student testimonials are available at this time.

Payment & Student Fees

Application Fee: There is a $45 fee to submit an online application.

Deposit Payment: A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 3 weeks of program acceptance in order to secure your place. The remainder of your program fees are due by the deadline indicated under “Course Details”.

*Transcript Fee & Academic Credit Opt Out: If you wish to participate in an IFR field school without earning academic credits, you will not be charged a transcript fee.

For more information about payment, fees, and policies, please see details under our Payment & Finances and Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy pages.

Accommodations

Accommodations for this program are still being finalized – info will be posted here soon!

Meals: the program will provide traditional Italian breakfast and lunches on-site. Dinners will be cooked by students in rotating shifts. Due to the rural location and limited kitchen facilities, specialized diets and dietary restrictions cannot be guaranteed. Separate cooking spaces for allergies or other needs are not possible.

Aerial view of a traditional thatched hut and surrounding landscape at Bostel di Rotzo, with lush green fields, forest, and mountains in Vicenza, Italy.
Evening Cityscape of Padova, Italy – Meeting Point for Bostel di Rotzo Program

Travel Info

Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions and various other factors may force the cancellation or alteration of a field school. IFR recommends students only purchase airline tickets that are fully refundable and consider travel insurance in case a program or travel plans must change for any reason.

General information for this program is below, but keep in mind we will discuss any updated travel information and regulations during the required program orientation, which could affect travel plans.

Participants will meet at the train station in Padova, Italy. You can fly into any of the major Italian airports and then take a train to Padova. Further travel details will be provided in course materials and at orientation. 

VISA REQUIREMENTS
Info for US citizens coming soon! Citizens of other countries are asked to check the embassy website page at their home country for specific visa requirements.