Northern Italy
June 16-26, 2026
Experience the history and natural beauty of northern Italy with Eric Dregni, dean of Concordia's Italian Language Village. Cruise Lake Como, tour the Villa Balbianello, built in 1787, and explore the spa town of San Pellegrino Terme. Learn about the medieval history of Bergamo on a walking tour, before continuing to Brescia and its many historic locations. Follow the Franciacorta Wine Route for a stop at a renowned winery, and visit Monte Isola. See the picturesque small town of Sirmione and visit Modena for a tour of Galleria Ferrari, a balsamic vinegar factory and the bustling Albinelli market. View Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna and stop by the tomb of Dante Alighieri before relaxing at the beach.
Faculty Leader
Eric Dregni is a professor of English in the English and Modern Languages Department at Concordia University in St. Paul. Previously, since 2007 he served as dean of the Italian Concordia Language Village, Lago del Bosco, in northern Minnesota.
He worked in Italy for five years in Brescia, Milano, Modena, and Firenze as a travel journalist for a weekly paper. His personal essays were compiled into a book in Italian, “Grazie a Dio non sono Bolognese,” which was later translated into English as “Never Trust a Thin Cook,” published by the University of Minnesota Press.
Dregni is the author of 20 books including “In Cod We Trust,” “The Life Vespa,” “Midwest Marvels,” “Zamboni,” “Vikings in the Attic,” “The Scooter Bible,” “You're Sending Me Where? Dispatches from Summer Camp,” and most recently “Impossible Road Trip.” He lives in Minneapolis but leads trips to Italy nearly every year.