Recent Trips: L’Aquila, Tivoli and Rome

CCI students have benefited from two recent trips to L’Aquila and most recently to Tivoli and Rome.

In April 2009, L’Aquila, a city approximately 1.5 hours northwest of Lanciano was devastated by an earthquake. In total, 308 people died including 55 university students. The city’s ancient centre suffered considerable damage such that to this date, many buildings remain uninhabitable. They are supported by beams and scaffolding.  

A sad reminder is a wall of keys to buildings and offices left by their owners.

Nevertheless, there are signs of the city returning to life amongst the ruins.

A week later, we travelled to Tivoli located just outside Rome and then into Rome itself to visit the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Tivoli, located east of Rome, was first an inhabited site centuries before Rome was itself occupied. Various peoples occupied and fortified the town over time. During the Roman Empire, a number of citizens well known to us today had resort homes there including Hadrian, Maecenas, Augustus, as well as the poet, Horace.

As with any trip to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, it is a powerful experience.  

Martyr’s Day and Our Parents’ Visit

This past week has been a busy one at CCI. Having returned from our trip to Sorrento we participated in the annual Martyr’s Day Parade and welcomed a number of the parents who came to visit CCI.

October 6 is a significant day on Lanciano. It is Martyr’s Day which is the day they honour the men and often boys, who died in the two world wars.  Lanciano’s students parade down the corso in order to participate in a wreath laying ceremony. CCI’s students are fortunate to be invited to participate.

Following the parade the students and teachers returned to class while our parents were taken on a tour of Lanciano and some of the local towns.

At the end of the day, we were treated to two performances. The Classic Civilization class performed Aristophanes' play, “The Birds”.

Meanwhile, Marisa D’Alessandro has been recruiting students in Mexico, Columbia and South America. She had the good fortune to be hosted by two or our current families while she was on her trip.