Overview
Ferrara, a hidden gem in northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, offers a unique blend of history, culture, and academic life—making it an ideal setting for a pre-med shadowing program abroad. Located just 44 kilometers (27 miles) northeast of Bologna and well-connected by rail to Venice, Padua, Ravenna, and Comacchio, Ferrara is both accessible and immersive.
Known for its Renaissance heritage and rich academic tradition, Ferrara is home to a vibrant university community—over 16,000 students make up more than 10% of its population. As a university town and cultural hub, Ferrara provides an ideal environment for medical shadowing in Italy, combining meaningful clinical experience with the opportunity to live like a local in one of Italy’s most charming cities.
Through Atlantis medical shadowing programs, pre-health students have the opportunity to shadow doctors in top hospitals across Ferrara. You’ll gain clinical shadowing experience across various specialties, all while exploring the local history, cuisine, and day-to-day life of an Italian city that played a key role in European Renaissance history.
Destination Information
Local Time Now:
4:10pm
Official Languages:
Italian
Almost all alumni have not spoken the local language.The City
Ferrara is still encircled by over 9 kilometers (6 miles) of Renaissance-era walls, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. These remarkably preserved fortifications are among the finest examples of Renaissance military architecture in Italy. At the heart of the city stands the striking red-brick Castello Estense, a true symbol of Ferrara’s storied past.
The city invites you to explore on foot—its winding streets are lined with centuries-old churches, elegant palazzos, and quiet piazzas perfect for enjoying an espresso or a sunset aperitivo. The historic center is largely car-free, creating a calm, walkable atmosphere ideal for both reflection and discovery between shadowing shifts.
When it’s time to eat, Ferrara offers classic local specialties—whether you choose a sit-down meal at a family-run trattoria or a casual picnic beneath the shade of the medieval walls. It’s the perfect way to experience authentic Italian life while gaining clinical shadowing experience with Atlantis.
Dates & Availability
- Summer Break 2026
Dates
Price
Availability
June 13, 2026 - July 3, 2026 3 weeks
$6,499
Close to Full
July 4, 2026 - July 24, 2026 3 weeks
$6,499
Open
July 25, 2026 - August 7, 2026 2 weeks
$5,499
Open
You may pay over time, fundraise, consider scholarships, and more. Learn about our significant partial need-based scholarships here.
COMING SOON: Add a 3-credit online course to your Atlantis program. Learn more.
What’s Included
Atlantis programs include ~20h/week of shadowing, housing, some meals, transportation, travel health insurance, and more. Airfare is not included but can be very affordable.
What’s Included
On Program Components
Pre/Post Program Components
Hospital Overview
The University Hospital of Ferrara “Arcispedale Sant’Anna”, or more simply the Arcispedale Sant’Anna of Ferrara, is the largest and most important hospital in Ferrara and its province, as well as one of the main and largest polyclinics in the Emilia Romagna. Since May 2012, the headquarters of the hospital have been located in Cona, a district of Ferrara, where it has been transferred to a single structure. It is part of the Emilia-Romagna Health Service and is owned by the region itself. The hospital, despite being a separate and autonomous corporate entity both from an administrative and financial point of view, is strongly integrated with the University of Ferrara (Faculty of Medicine and Surgery).
Cappellacci di zucca
Cappellacci di zucca or the pumpkin hats of Ferrara – as translated in English – is Ferrara’s signature pasta dish and its first recipe was written in 1584! Cappellacci are a type of fresh filled pasta made with a delicious filling of velvety, pre-cooked butternut squash, and grated parmesan cheese. This is a must try.
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Excursions
Our excursions are designed to offer a deeper look into your host culture, for both the educational benefit and the enjoyment of exploring a new place with others who share your interests in travel and medicine. Excursions range from historical tours to culinary and cultural explorations.
Your Site Manager will inform you of the excursions they have planned during your program orientation. If you make travel plans outside of your city for a weekend and it conflicts with the events your Site Manager has planned, notify your Site Manager several days in advance so that they can plan accordingly.
Clinical Experience that Stands Out to Schools
Medical schools want 3 things: healthcare exposure, GPA/MCAT, and certain competencies. Uniquely, “360 Shadowing” gives you the best version of the 1st, frees you to focus on the 2nd, and cultivates/shows the 3rd to medical school admissions.
Funding Your Future
The cost of Atlantis isn’t too dissimilar from the cost of many study abroad programs that you may find. And we’re here to help: from our extensive fundraising guide to flexible payment plans and financing options, we make the process simple and easy, allowing you to focus on what really matters.
Bring a Friend
Consider bringing a friend to the same program you’re applying to. Although the vast majority of Atlantis alumni have gone on programs without knowing someone in their cohort, bringing a friend allows your experience to be shared in a unique way, while still allowing you one of the benefits of Atlantis: meeting new pre-health friends from across the country. Consider sharing this idea with your friends.
