Our last two weeks together...

In our last two weeks, CCI students and teachers have enjoyed a series of events and trips.

Somehow, studying Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet in Italy and outdoors helps to make the plays more alive.  

One of the largest pasta makers in the world is De Cecco. We were able to get a tour of one of their factories. In order to go inside we were required to wear white gauze-like coats and hats making us all look rather silly. Unfortunately we were not permitted to use cameras on site. The photos would have been hilarious. It was very warm and noisy inside on our tour so afterwards, we visited a mountain spring nearby to cool down.

On Saturday, we took the students to Abruzzo’s National Park for a walk that begins in the small town of Bocca Di Valle. A long and beautiful uphill climb through the forest ends at a waterfall fed by another mountain stream. The water was ice cold as some of our students discovered when they waded in. 

Then on Tuesday, when the water was off in our whole region for the day, we travelled to Rome. Our first stop was Ostia Antica. This 7^th C port town was built at the mouth of the Tiber River and designed to receive goods bound for Rome upriver. Over time, the harbour silted up and gradually the townspeople relocated as business deteriorated. The town and area were abandoned leaving for modern visitors a rich archaeological experience.

We then travelled by train into Rome to visit Santa Maria of the Angels and Martyrs. Located in the church on the floor is a meridian line designed to measure the calendar by the position of the sun.

Finally, we visited the National Museum to see mosaic floors that have been preserved...

and sculptures from various eras of Roman history. 

Last Friday after school, we visited the Cantina Madonna Del Carmine, one of approximately 40 cantinas located in our region, to see the production of wine. This winery is as 35 year old co-op made up of 540 local growers who farm over 1000 hectars of land. This cantina alone produces 200,000 HL of wine per season. (10 HL = 1 tonne) Their annual production is 120,000 HL of white wine and 80,000 of red wine.

The tasting at the end of the tour was appreciated by everyone.