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.
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