I need suggestions. I'm a professor with an American college of art and design based in Rome. I am now trying to plan for tours of northern and southern Italy. Two groups of students (fall and spring) will be with me this year and we want to go north with one and south with the other. I'm thinking north in the fall (September 15 - 20) and south in the spring (March 9 - 14). I have the art/architecture part pretty well-covered no matter where we decide to go, but I am looking for other things to do and see with the students which would enlighten them about Italian culture, history, etc.
I don't know if we can make it as far north as Torino or as far south as Sicilia in the time we have allotted. We're based in Rome, so I'm really looking for stuff to do north and south of us: North: Rimini, Ravenna, Verona, Venezia, Padova, Bologna, Milano, etc. South: Napoli, Salerno, Calabria, Puglia region, etc.
Have you experienced some wonderful natural surroundings, some great cultural festivals, opera, wine, music, etc.? I'm looking for ideas about what to see and do in an appeal to the senses—not just art history and architecture and monuments. Hikes in the mountains, visits to beautiful beaches, mushroom hunting, wildlife, religious ceremonies, provincial festivities, overnights at farms, wine tasting, music festivals, etc. would be fantastic. I'm doing my own research but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask since most people (unlike me) don't limit their travels to art-centered experiences.
I have been thinking about what a great time this year's students had in Sicilia. We scrambled on ruins, walked along beaches, fields of flowers, etc. in addition to seeing Greek temples, Baroque churches and tons of paintings. I developed a list of experiences I'd like to offer them from a qualitative perspective and am hoping to inspire them with these trips.
Something for the senses: smells, tastes, sounds, tactility Something for the soul: spiritual experiences, the metaphysical Something for the mind: challenging the intellect Something for memory: history, people and things from the past Something for the body: physical experiences, exploring the limits of the body Something for the hands: making things manually Something empowering: things and experiences which enhance their confidence Something humbling: the awe-inspiring
Something for the senses: smells, tastes, sounds, tactility Something for the soul: spiritual experiences, the metaphysical Something for the mind: challenging the intellect Something for memory: history, people and things from the past Something for the body: physical experiences, exploring the limits of the body Something for the hands: making things manually Something empowering: things and experiences which enhance their confidence Something humbling: the awe-inspiring
Wonderfully put. I think it's a great guide for any travel. ---Marlene
Posts: 542 | Location: Boston, MA | Registered: 11 May 2004
I will see what I can find about festivals in my area during the fall. I know that in September there are a lot of town feasts going on. Bologna would be a great place to base yourselves out of since Ravenna and Ferrara would be close trips (Milan and Venice are semi close as well).
Are you traveling by train or will have a bus/van? Do you know how many students you will have?
First of all, Rob, what a great job you have! I am jealous! I have a suggestion for the South that would include history, art, archeology, sociology, religion, public health, and be humbling and awe-inspiring.
I am sure you are familiar with Carlo Levi's book "Christ stopped at Eboli", which he wrote while a political prisoner sent to the south under Mussolini in the 1930s. He spent most of his time in the small town of Aliano, but also talks about Matera in his book. You could stay in Matera but also visit Aliano and other small towns. Matera has history, art, archeology (not only the sassi but the older habitable caves as well – one interesting tidbit is that in some instances, what look like older caves are actually newer, as people got poorer), sociology (the interesting stories of the forced resettling of the people living in the sassi - many older folks died because they no longer had the purpose they had when living in multi-generational dwellings.)
For the religious aspect, Levi offers a fascinating insight into the superstitions and beliefs of the people (hence the title, i.e. Christianity and “civilization” never made it to Aliano.) Public health: Levi opened the eyes to the rest of Italy to what conditions many southerners were living in malaria, for instance). Humbling and awe-inspiring: it is a beautiful and extremely fascinating city with wonderful people. It is so different. Very much recommended! I wrote a trip report that you can read here.
Chiocciola, that is the picture I have always wanted to capture. It is so perfect! I have seen it many places but the place I most remember was in Pozzillo,Sicily. It is the quintessential image of small town Italy--particularly Southern Italy and Sicily.
Rob I do not have any suggestions yet but I have a daughter architechure and engineering major) who is going to Rome next sumemr to study we hope. What school are you with and any suggested summer programs? thanks, terran
Posts: 47 | Location: Virginia | Registered: 18 February 2004
I am not sure if you have planned this already, but if you are goign to the south, you should visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. Especially in Herculaneum, there are all kinds of finds about the culture of ancient Romans. The House of Opus Craticum was the dwelling of poorer plebs in the Roman Empire. Even the rope from the well in the house that they used to get water out fo their well is preserved. http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=26560&cat=3885 You can see the Forum baths and talk about the Roman culture concept of the baths as relating to hygiene and as a place to socialize http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=26550&cat=3885 You coudl take them to the House of Neptune and Amphritete. This house was owned by a middle class person that owned the shop in front of it. It leads to discussion on the status of middle class Roman Plebs in the early Empire. http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=26550&cat=3885
There is a bunch or stuff like this in Pompeii also that is culturally and historicall informing: the tower and distribution system can be viewed. Several bath houses are intact. The cemeteries are great windows into the past on the culture of the ancient Romans.
Posts: 3640 | Location: St Paul, MN | Registered: 10 February 2006
Tim, another great picture. I always wonder what these men and women have seen and experienced over their years. Things have changed so much since their youth and time of raising families. Their faces are so etched with their lives.
Those are great photos! I have to say, I have never seen a bench of "older" women sitting in the square around here. My Mom always asks where the women are when she sees all the old men standing and sitting in our square. I always tell her "They're home enjoying the quiet house!"
Tim, I am afraid that "my group" of guys are taken. I could see women behind the curtains - plus one elderly woman walking a side street with a mule carrying produce. She was wearing a black scarf on her head, so quite old style.
Robroma: I have only been to Napoli for short times (less than a day) but clearly if you have some interest in Italian history, I think you should visit some of the palaces and museums there. Napoli was the main capital of the (Bourbon)Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (which covered "southern" Italy from Abruzzo-Molise, Campania, Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata, and Sicily). In the 18th century it was one of the larger cities in Europe and quite opulent. At the time of its annexation into unified Italy it was probably the wealthiest and most industrialized area of Italy. Also the most feudal. The famous expression was , "See Naples and Die!", meaning that before you die you must experience the beauty and magnificence of Naples. Search on "Due Sicilie". PS If you really want some hiking, wildlife and mountain experience in "southern" Italy look to the national parks in Abruzzo (mostly), but also Lazio and Campania/ Molise.
Posts: 648 | Location: Palmyra, NJ, USA | Registered: 29 July 2003
Oh dear! I have been to Naples twice! Does that mean it is time for me to... uh, you know?
I second Naples and would say that Pompeii would be a great day to take from there. And don't forget to eat a bubba or two while you are in Naples (they are wonderful, however you spell it).
PS. You should consider Ferrara for a visit. It is known as the City of the Renaissance and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
"Ferrara's most famous image is certainly that of its grand Renaissance, the age of splendour of the Estense court, which has left indelible signs everywhere: in the colossal Addizione Erculea project, in the impressive pictorial cycles belonging to the Quattrocento and Cinquecento and in the Last Judgement by Bastianino.
From 1995 on, UNESCO has included the historical centre of Ferrara in the list of World Cultural Heritage as a wonderful example of a town planned in the Renaissance and still keeping its historical centre intact. The town planning criteria expressed in Ferrara had a deep influence on the progress of town planning in the following centuries."
We second Chiocciola's suggestion of a visit to Matera for your southern Italy trip. You could spend at least six days there visiting the sassi, the restored church (caves) and hiking in the parks of the Murgia.
Have a look at: www.lemonacelle.it It is a restored monastery offering hotel rooms and accommodation in their youth hostel which would be perfect for the students. In cooperation with the University of Basilicata they organize international cultural events, music, theater and cinema.
Originally posted by Rita and Lino: Have a look at: www.lemonacelle.it It is a restored monastery offering hotel rooms and accommodation in their youth hostel which would be perfect for the students. In cooperation with the University of Basilicata they organize international cultural events, music, theater and cinema.
Rita and Lino, that is where I stayed! We first had a hotel room for a few days and then they were full so we moved to the hostel part - extremely clean and spacious. Great value too, and friendly staff who showed us all around the property and arranged a fantastic tour guide for us.
We have a small group tour visiting Matera for four days in October and we are staying at the Hotel Sassi in town. But I assisted my daughter's teachers in selecting Le Monacelle several years ago when they organized a school trip to Basilicata and Puglia.
Before the trip, the class had read and studied Primo Levi's Dio si e' fermato ad Eboli. Essays were written, photocopied and the students presented their reports while visiting the area.
Matera is a gem. The people are proud, generous and above all, sincere. It is one of my special places to vist, again and again.
I have a suggestion for the South that would include history, art, archeology, sociology, religion, public health, and be humbling and awe-inspiring.
(The ice cream should be pale yellow, because the lemon gelato there is the BEST!)
