Wellness & Community
How might local communities lay the framework for global wellness?
Why Sardinia, Italy?
The eastern villages of Sardinia, Italy are a global phenomenon. As the first “blue zone” ever identified, this area has a significantly higher rate of people living over the age of 100. And while researchers are still investigating exactly why, some have developed influential ideas about diet and lifestyle that are already driving new trends and industries around the world.
In Sardinia we’ll meet the communities that have garnered so much attention. We’ll explore the relationship between wellness and culture as we work to uncover the real “secret” to a longer life - if there is one. Is there truly something about the food here, or the way it’s made, that makes it healthier? What do locals believe is the reason behind their longevity? What lessons from the blue zones should we try to apply in other communities, and how can we get started?
Insights + Projects
On every Atlas Workshops program, the group works on an inquiry with real-world implications. Through intentional exploration, engagement with locals and experts, and team activities, students generate new insights and ideas about the topics, places, and global issues they’re investigating.
For some groups, the program incorporates a more extensive project—an opportunity to apply our learning and stretch our creative thinking by making something tangible or public.
We work to share the ideas and inspiration we find in the world, with the world, through collaborative initiatives and student expression. We can also work with you to develop a custom project or publish students’ insights via exhibition, photography, digital or print media, or other format.
Suggested Itinerary
Students will investigate the project question by getting to know Italy as a place, along with the people who live there, tinkering with ideas together to apply what they are learning, and sharing reflections, insights, and aha moments with others.
An Italian Introduction: 1-3 Nights
Rome Area, Italy
Touchdown in Rome and head to a nearby farmstay for a program orientation and an introduction to the Italian lifestyle and diet. Make a visit to a nearby ancient site to think about connections to the past, and head back to the airport or the port for a connection to Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia.
Into the Blue Zone: 3-5 Nights
Sardinia, Italy
Arrive in Sardinia and after a short visit to the city, head into the countryside and the mountain’s of the island’s blue zone. Meet local residents, researchers, and farmers as we work to unpack the tradition, food, lifestyle, and history that yield the long lifespans of the island. We will question the research and patterns of the mediterranean diet that the island helped inspire and we will work as a group to discover our own connections to health and nutrition.
A Roman Lifestyle: 1-3 Nights
Rome, Italy
Return to Rome and head into the city to question how the ideas of rural life in Sardinia can transfer into a modern city. Learn about urban food markets and agricultural projects and explore some of the classic locations in Rome as we close out our time together.
Want to Learn More?
Custom Programs and Modifications
We have designed this itinerary to maximize the value and breadth of our project and program. We can modify any program, or we can plan an entirely custom program. This itinerary could be adapted to focus on more specific learning outcomes, visit different regions, hit a different price point, combine with another program, or cover a longer or shorter schedule based on the group’s needs.
Continue Exploring
You can also check out other programs in Iceland, request a custom program, or explore other related programs here:
