Summer in Alcala: Spanish Language & Culture
Host Country and City
Spain is consistently one of the most popular locations for study
abroad and we can understand why. The light, the colors, the food, the
architecture and the people are all painted in broad, vibrant strokes.
Spain is a diverse country located in Mediterranean Europe and together
with Portugal and Andorra, makes up the Iberian Peninsula.
The
history of Spain extends back through the centuries with Phoenicians,
Greeks, Celts, Romans, Visigoths and Moors all playing a role in
shaping Spanish culture. Spain became a world power in the 16th century
when it extended its presence to the Americas. After a tumultuous
period which included a civil war, Spain became a constitutional
monarchy in 1978 and a member of the European Union in 1986. Today,
Spain is a developed country with one of the largest economies in
Europe.
With great beaches, fun nightlife, many cultural
regions, beautiful national parks, traditional festivals and historic
cities, Spain makes a great destination for any kind of trip. Spain has
hundreds of interesting cities. Some of the major travel destinations
include the capital Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Cordoba, Toledo,
Segovia, Salamanca, Valencia and Granada.
Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá
de Henares, our home base, is an ideal location to study in Spain, with
a historical, friendly small town atmosphere and easy access to
downtown Madrid. It is a wonderful location to immerse yourself in
Spanish life and our programs are designed to take advantage of that
and bring you into Spanish culture and society.
The
city of Alcalá combines the best of small and big city living for a
student study abroad experience. Alcalá itself is a manageable,
friendly, classic planned college town, where students can easily
integrate with the community and develop their Spanish skills. On the
other hand, when students desire the amenities of one of the most
vibrant cities in the world, downtown Madrid is accessible in 40
minutes by commuter train. Over 20,000 college students, primarily from
Spain and Latin America, study in Alcalá.
The
city of Alcalá has been a World Heritage Site since 1998 due to its
beautiful architecture and historical importance as one of the first
planned university cities in the world. Alcalá famously was the home of
Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, a classic Spanish
literary work.
