The Guide
Sat, 16 May 2026

Cities / Barcelona / Liceo Italiano de Barcelona

Liceo Italiano de Barcelona

State-affiliated Italian school in Eixample (Pg Méndez Vigo). Italian state curriculum; very low fees.


Curriculum
Italian
Fees, annual
EUR 1–1k
Ages
3 to 18
Pupils
~700
Founded
1882

Fee Age Type Amount
Scuola Primaria (ages 6-11) 6 Annual €1,454
Scuola Secondaria di 1º grado (ages 11-14) 11 Annual €1,148
Liceo Scientifico (ages 14-19) 14 Annual €1,152
Annual Enrollment Contribution One-time €160

  • Reviews are mixed; the school is owned by the Italian state, with cheap fees by Barcelona standards but a profile that splits parents on modernity.
  • Positive parents say the academic level is solid, the family community is calm with little reported bullying, and the price-to-quality ratio "da mil vueltas" to most alternatives.
  • Critics describe the teaching as "absolutely anchored in the past" and "old-fashioned", with English not offered as a core subject so families have to outsource it.
  • Administrative practice draws complaints around annual re-enrolment fees and unclear communication of school policies.
  • A 2023 canteen incident involving insects, escalated to the Italian embassy, sits in the public record and shaped some commentary.
  • Aggregate directory rating sits around, the lower end of Barcelona private school ranges.

Head of school

Prof.ssa Patrizia Carfagna

Prof.ssa Patrizia Carfagna is the Principal of the Istituto Italiano Statale Comprensivo di Barcellona, appointed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI). She holds a degree in Literature and Philosophy from "La Sapienza" University of Rome, along with degrees in Piano and Music Didactics. She has completed advanced Master's degrees in school management and governance. Her professional career includes serving as a Principal in several Italian institutes since 2007 and university-level teaching. She is also a board member of the INNOTECS international network and has extensive experience in coordinating European educational projects and Erasmus initiatives.

Accreditations

  • Italian Ministry of Education — Ufficio Scolastico 01

School website