Learn Italian at the Babilonia Language School in Taormina, Sicily

A Gem Among the Stars

By Linda Weinberger
Resources updated 4/3/2019 by Transitions Abroad

The Teatro Greco in Taormina is spectacular, and the nearby language school is a great place to learn Italian.

When one mentions Taormina, Sicily, eyes light up and memories kindle. Visitors to Taormina speak of the energy and happiness of le piazze, the piazzas, the views from this town atop Mount Tauro, and the maze of ancient streets. Since the days of the “Grand Tour,” tourists have traveled to Taormina to admire the Teatro Greco framed by the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. Hollywood stars flock to the town for the famous Taormina Film Festival. Taormina boasts Michelin-rated restaurants, five-star hotels, and designer boutiques. She reigns as a glittering star in the Mediterranean.

Babilonia Italian Language School

However, nestled near the Greek Temple is one of the true gems of Taormina. Babilonia Italian Language School, founded in 1992 by director Alessandro Adorno at age 24, is a leader of Italian language studies in Sicily and indeed, all of Italy. At a time when it seemed laughable to start a school in Sicily dedicated to teaching Italian, Alessandro forged ahead and established the first Italian language school south of Rome.

Housed on the beautiful grounds of Casa Silva, an impressive villa built in 1811 by a cousin of the English royal family, Babilonia is also a cultural center hosting art exhibitions, jazz and small symphony concerts, live theater, and book presentations by Italian authors. 

After searching for “Southern Italy Language Schools,” I discovered Babilonia, and it took me only about a minute to decide I would spend a week there before my husband and I began a vacation in Sicily. I traveled by myself from the U.S. to Rome to Catania and then by bus to Taormina.

Opting for a home stay, I was placed with an ideal Nonna Siciliana, Sicilian grandmother, who lived just a 2-minute walk from Via Timeolone, the steps leading to the school. The school assists students with accommodation options including homestays, apartments, and hotels.

Monday morning I was awake and ready when my home stay hostess Antonina called out, “Buon giorno, Linda. Colazione pronta!”  Breakfast was typically Italian. . . Bread, butter, jam, coffee. . .or in my case, tea. After stumbling through some conversation, I made my way to school and the entrance exam. 

Now I knew I would face a test, and I especially liked one aspect of this particular evaluation.  I was asked, in Italian, of course, to rate myself as a learner on my own strengths and needs. Additionally, I had to demonstrate what I knew in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and usage.  After a verbal interview with Anita, I was assigned to the pre-intermediate class.

I had registered for the standard course of two sessions per day (1 ½ hour each), one in grammar and one in conversation (about $310/week). What I quickly learned from other students is the flexibility that Babilonia offers to customize one’s learning opportunities. For example, a student who was staying in the area for 3 weeks and was on a budget opted to take only the conversation module for 1½ hours each day. Another took the standard course plus a small group class in the afternoon for a week. Others had a private lesson early in the day, then spent their days as tourists. 

I decided on the spot to expand my learning opportunities, so I registered for three one-hour private lessons (about $50/hour) and the Casalinga Cucina course ($283), which would also provide evening meals. For three evenings at 7 p.m. I walked to the home of Donatella to help make Sicilian meals and eat with her family.

Class Time

The garden at Babilonia is a favorite spot for studying and relaxing. Photo by Linda Weinberger.

My classes at Babilonia were perfetto.  How did the teachers know exactly what I needed as a learner? I posed this question to Alessandro, the director, asking if they had developed their own pedagogy, to which he answered, “Yes.”  The Babilonia approach to language learning rests solidly on four legs. . .writing, speaking, listening, and reading. The twelve teachers are all university graduates with broad language experience. Each week the staff meets to discuss the progress of every student.

I compiti, homework, is assigned in the grammar class and reviewed the next day. Typical of me, I often found my homework paper covered in red corrections, and I kept reminding myself, “Mistakes are for learning.” Indeed, I did learn. The diagram illustrating indirect and direct object pronouns is embedded in my brain. Now that is not to say that I always get them right, but my brain likes the visual map. I looked forward to my conversation class each day, where we participated fully in role-plays, games, and listening/speaking activities.

Between the grammar and conversation classes students enjoy a half-hour break. A small café right on the grounds of the school provides drinks and pastries. During the break I would order lunch from the café, with choices of pasta, salad, or panini. My lunch would be ready each day after classes finished.

The lovely and ancient gardens within the school grounds provide a welcoming and relaxing spot for students. The palms and bamboo, Roman stones, and Byzantine well are among the protected elements of this most delightful space. I marveled at the pomegranate, grapefruit, orange, lime, and persimmon trees, all loaded with fruit. I discovered that le zanzare, the mosquitoes, also love the garden. Bring your repellent! 

The school is widely accredited and draws students around the world; the breakdown is about 20% American, 35% Germanic, 10% Russian, and 35% other. During my week (October, low season), there were 10 students in each of my classes, divided nicely between “youngsters” and “oldsters,” about 45 students in the school. Alessandro shared with me that the summer the school started there were 12 students total. Now the school draws about 900 students per year. About 5% of the students take additional courses, cooking being the most attended. Seasonal courses such as diving are also popular.

A Cultural Center in Sicily

Babilonia stands solidly as a proud bearer of Sicilian culture.  Indeed, as Goethe said, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything."  Beyond the Hollywood stereotypes, Sicily embraces a rich, varied, and multi-textured history. 

During my week at Babilonia, I attended a free seminar at school on the Miti e leggende di Sicilia, Myths and Legends of Sicily, with Peppe, one of the teachers. He enchanted us with the tales of Polifemo, Persefone, Ulisse, and more. I never wanted it to end, and have decided that I will spend my winter reading mythology.  

Another afternoon was a free showing of the film “Mediterraneo.” I actually missed the film because I climbed up to Santa Maria della Rocca, a chiesa, church, high above Taormina with a new friend and classmate. The following evening students gathered for a lesson ($5) in making sarde a beccafico, couscous-stuffed fried sardines. In the U.S. I would not be able to get a sardine past my lips but these were. . .delicioso! 

Twice during the week the school sponsored happy hour with le notizie della settimana, the news of the week, and dinners for students ($20 exclusive of wine).  Friday night’s dinner also featured a Brazilian jazz duo. OK, so now I want to go to Brazil and dance after hearing them. Fantastico!

From humble beginnings and a clear vision of the future, the school and cultural center continues to develop its presence to include so much more than just language learning. Babilonia also offers a vibrant study abroad program and has been appointed to the board of the American Association of Teachers of Italian. 

Secondo me, in my opinion, Babilonia is the jewel in the crown of the ever-glittering Taormina.

Linda Weinberger is a freelance travel writer who lives in East Greenville, PA, and Beaufort, SC.