Babilonia, Italian school in Taormina, Sicily
Babilonia has taught Italian to foreigners since 1992, in a historic villa in Taormina surrounded by a garden. Here is who they are, how they teach, what sets them apart, and the school we offer.
Who is Babilonia?
Babilonia — Centro Studi Italiani — is an Italian school for foreigners located in Taormina, Sicily. On its official website, it states that it was founded in 1992 by Alessandro Adorno and that it was the first school in southern Italy specialising in teaching Italian to foreigners.
Babilonia has only one centre, in Taormina: it is the one we offer.
It is housed in Casa Silva, a 19th-century villa in the heart of Taormina, between the Greek Theatre and the Corso Umberto, in a garden of orange trees, mandarin trees and palms. Beyond the courses, the school also runs a cultural centre there: book presentations, meetings, concerts, exhibitions.
How they teach
The approach is communicative: the aim is to use the language rather than merely know its rules, working from authentic materials, “the Italian of the Italians”. The courses follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and work on the four skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing.
Groups have 14 students at most, with 45-minute lessons, Monday to Friday; each of the six levels lasts four weeks. In the morning, a “global approach” session (communication) and an “analytical approach” session (analysis of the language) complement each other, with a coffee break between the two.
The teachers are certified by the University for Foreigners of Perugia (DILS II certification) and, for the most part, hold other certifications in teaching Italian (DITALS, DILIT, ITALS), according to the official website. An entry test places each student in the right class.
What sets Babilonia apart
- A villa and garden setting. Classes take place at Casa Silva, in the archaeological park of Taormina; the school also has a café-restaurant, an internet corner and free Wi-Fi.
- Recognised accreditations. The school cites in particular recognition by the Italian Ministry of Education, membership of the IALC and of the association of schools of Italian as a second language, Eduitalia, the University for Foreigners of Perugia (official seat of the CELI exams) and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
- A social and cultural programme. Seminars, excursions and activities around Taormina, all conducted in Italian; some are free, others paid.
- Courses to combine. Italian can be combined with culture courses (literature, history, cinema, art history), courses for specific purposes and activities (cooking, hiking, diving), again according to the official website.
Its programmes, and who they are for
For adults: group Italian courses in semi-intensive (10 lessons per week), intensive (20), super-intensive (30) or combined (20 group lessons and 5 private) formats, private lessons (10, 15 or 20 hours per week), CELI exam preparation, business Italian and commercial correspondence. The Synergee catalogue sets no minimum age for these courses.
In our catalogue, the school offers 10 courses; the reference course is the intensive one, at 20 lessons per week, with a possible start on many dates. The group also offers other programmes (study stays for American universities, holidays for high-school students, senior programmes), which we do not present here.
Prices, school by school
2027 rates from the Synergee price engine, for the intensive Italian course (20 lessons per week), starting on February 1, 2027. The “from” price is the lowest per week among the durations priced by the engine; the detail for all durations is in the expandable table below. The exact quote depends on your dates, your duration and your accommodation.
- Taormina, Italy : from 197 EUR per week (12-week course, excluding fees and accommodation)
See all 2027 prices
| Centre | Reference course | Lessons / wk | 2 weeks | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | Registration fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taormina, Italy | Intensive | 20 | 660 EUR | 1,060 EUR | 2,360 EUR | — |
Course price only, excluding accommodation. Each country uses its own currency.
Accommodation
The catalogue offers the homestay (room with breakfast or half board), the independent studio and the room in a shared apartment. Price of the engine’s reference homestay, per week, for a 4-week stay. The official website specifies that air conditioning and Wi-Fi are generally not included in the accommodation, and that a tourist tax of €3 per day (10 days at most) is paid directly to the landlord.
See accommodation prices
| Centre | Homestay, per week (4 weeks) | Residences in the catalogue |
|---|---|---|
| Taormina | 350 EUR | 4 |
The school in detail
Babilonia — Taormina
Italy · 10 courses in the catalogue
At Casa Silva (Via Timoleone 10), a 19th-century villa in the heart of Taormina, between the Greek Theatre and the Corso Umberto, in a garden of orange trees and palms. Café-restaurant, internet café and free Wi-Fi; CELI exam venue of the University for Foreigners of Perugia. Accommodation: homestay, studio or shared apartment.
Sources: the school’s official website (babilonia.it), consulted on 7 November 2026; prices: Synergee engine.