The Trieste lighthouse and a panoramic view of the city of Trieste (an Atlantis site).
The Trieste lighthouse and a panoramic view of the city of Trieste (an Atlantis site).

Italy

Trieste

$5,999

Overview

Trieste, a stunning coastal city in northeastern Italy, is a unique blend of Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slovenian influences. Nestled along the Adriatic Sea and bordering Slovenia, it offers breathtaking views, rich history, and vibrant culture.

Explore Piazza Unità d’Italia, Europe’s largest sea-facing square, or relax at Barcola, a beloved waterfront area perfect for swimming and sunsets. The historic Cavana district invites visitors to wander its cobblestone streets, enjoy lively cafés, and savor local dishes.

Trieste is also Italy’s coffee capital, with iconic spots like Caffè San Marco. Nature lovers will enjoy the panoramic views from the Napoleonica Trail or a visit to Miramare Castle, perched above the shimmering Gulf of Trieste.

Destination Information

The City

Big enough to be cosmopolitan but small enough not to be chaotic, Trieste is a very international city in the region. For many centuries, Trieste has also had significant diversity of religion – among others, you’ll find a Greek Orthodox church, Serbian Orthodox church, synagogue, Lutheran Evangelical church and, the oldest of all, a Swiss Evangelical Church. Off the coast of Trieste is its broad Gulf, with numerous tiny bays, small harbors, and breathtaking reefs. And of course, one cannot miss Miramare Castle, accompanied by the splendid blue sea.

Dates & Availability

  • Summer Break 2027

Dates

Price

Availability

May 8, 2027 - May 28, 2027 3 weeks

$5,999

Open

May 29, 2027 - June 18, 2027 3 weeks

$5,999

Open

June 19, 2027 - July 9, 2027 3 weeks

$5,999

Open

July 10, 2027 - July 30, 2027 3 weeks

$5,999

Open

You may pay over time, fundraise, consider scholarships, and more. Learn about our significant partial need-based scholarships here.

Add a 3-credit online course to your Atlantis program (university dependent). 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.

Hospital Overview

Ospedale di Cattinara

Ospedale di Cattinara is the primary healthcare hub in Trieste and one of the most advanced hospitals in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Its location near the Italian-Slovenian border makes it a pivotal institution for cross-border healthcare collaboration and research. With over 700 beds and a strong focus on patient care, medical research, and education, Cattinara offers comprehensive medical services and cutting-edge treatments.

The hospital is highly regarded for its specialized departments, including cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, and thoracic surgery. It also features advanced surgical units, including robotic and minimally invasive surgery capabilities, and is particularly recognized for its expertise in managing complex cases in cardiothoracic conditions, neuro-oncology, and gastrointestinal diseases.

Cattinara’s role as a teaching hospital is integral, with close ties to the University of Trieste. It excels in training medical professionals and conducting clinical research, ensuring that the care provided to patients is informed by the latest advancements in medicine.

 

Alumni Favorite

San Giusto

It’s definitely worth the climb up the hill to San Giusto. At the top, you are rewarded with great views of Trieste, and you can visit the amazing Castello di San Giusto as well. As you look out over the city, you’ll know that Trieste is a great place to be.

The San Giusto Cathedral in Trieste, Italy (an Atlantis site).
The San Giusto Cathedral in Trieste, Italy (an Atlantis site).

You will be able to immerse yourself into a culture you’re unfamiliar with… and feel like a local. Look at body language and nonverbal signs and tones in the patients you meet, rather than the words they’re speaking.

Atlantis students in front of a monument in Milan, Italy.
Atlantis students in front of a monument in Milan, Italy.
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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.

Atlantis students on a program excursion.
Atlantis students on a program excursion (Genoa, Italy).

Language Skills Not Required

Most participants do not speak the local language at their Atlantis program. English levels vary within the hospital, but no knowledge of the language is required for Atlantis to be valuable. There is enough English spoken in the hospital for participants to benefit from the programs, as you can read in our testimonials. 

Many patients in your future career will not speak your language and will come from a different cultural background, so the Atlantis experience prepares you for that intercultural perspective. Any slight language barrier you may encounter at Atlantis also helps you develop “resilience and adaptability,” an AAMC core competency.

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.

Two students walking out of a hospital wing.
Atlantis students in a hospital wing (Lisbon, Portugal).

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.

An Atlantis student smiling while shadowing abroad.
An Atlantis student on an excursion experiencing culture while shadowing abroad (Athens, Greece).

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.

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students walking and smiling.
Atlantis students exploring together on a program excursion (Athens, Greece).

Med School Interview:
Atlantis Alum vs. Typical Pre-med

Compare a possible medical school interview of an Atlantis alum with that of a typical applicant by looking at responses to common questions.