CULTURAL PROGRAM AND WEEKLY
ACTIVITIES
The following activities can
be proposed in the afternoon:
- Guided visit to the
historic town of Otranto: free
- Guided visit to the ipogeo (underground Byzanthine church): free
- Seminar about the traditional
music “Pizzica” and the anthropology of “Tarantismo": free
- Italian cinema: a film will be pojetted: free
- Italian song: listening to Italian songs: free
- Course of home-made pasta: 20 €
- After the lessons in the afternoon or evening: a lot of Italian native
students attend the school to learn English, German and French. Here foreign
students can meet Italian students: the school promotes linguistic exchanges
with Italian speaking people in an informal context: meetings can
take place at the beach, at a restaurant or at a bar. Our students
find this method very useful to improve their speaking skills.
  
PROGRAM OF THE GUIDED TRIPS
LA GRECIA SALENTINA
(THE GREEK PART OF SALENTO)
Guided tour to some of the 9 villages where
old Greek is still spoken:
- Visit to the most beautiful Greek-Byzanthine Churches
(S. Stefano, S.Caterina, the second biggest church in Italy with more
frescoes after the Basilica of Assisi): analysis of the Byzanthine frescoes
on which the painting of Giotto and Cimabue was based.
- Visit to the historical centres: analysis of the Greek Conception
of the Town and life in this area.
- Visit to a "Trullo" analysis of its building
and of its symbolic conception.
- Visit to Soleto, the
Town of the Witches; Corigliano
with its beautiful Castle and the Lucchetti Arch full
of strange and old symbols of the '500;
- Visit to Sternatia, the
Greek town where the Greek old traditions are still alive;
- Visit to an underground olive oil-mill of the XVI Century:
analysis of olive-oil production (entrance 1 Euro);
- Visit to Melpignano with
its old monastery and the charming square.
 
 
For other photos of this excursion click here to visit the photogallery
GUIDED TOUR OF
THE SOUTH COAST
The remains of the monastery of S. Nicola di Casole:
the 2nd biggest library of the XI century in the Mediterranean
area, the first students' house in Europe, very important centre for the
Greek and Byzantine cultures. Umberto Eco took the idea for his book "the
Name of the Rose" from this monastery; Visit to the fortified
farm houses of the XV century: understanding how they got the
form of fortified castles to defend against Turkish invasion in 1480.
Stops to admire the landscape: the cliffs are often lofty and inaccessible,
yet they teem with caves and gorges that form a jagged coastline. Visit
to Porto Badisco (charming little bay) where Eneas landed
to go to found Rome; Visit to S. Cesarea Terme: Arab style town, Castro
and grotto Zinzulusa, boat-tour to the Grotta Azzura
(where the colour of the sea is deep-blue) and the Pigeon's Grotto (entrance
3 Euro).
 
 
For other photos of this excursion click here to visit the photogallery
GUIDED TOUR OF THE NORTH COAST
The beautiful beaches of the South Coast, Alimini Lakes, S. Andrea and
its beautiful landscape: little bays and cliffs, S. Foca and the archeological
site.
The coastline is dented with narrow strips of sandy shore, once bordered
with sand hillocks covered by a glory of psammophyious (sand vegetation)
plants. Lying at the feet of precipitous cliffs are enchanting little
beaches that change shape according to the irregular and impulsive rhythm
of the waves beaten back by the cliffs.
 
 
For other photos of this excursion click here to visit the photogallery
GUIDED VISIT OF THE TOWN OF LECCE
Called the Florence of South Italy, known for its Baroque style;
visit to the most beautiful churches and analysis of the Baroque conception
of life; visit to the Roman amphitheatre and theatre, visit to a Papier
Mâché laboratory to see how the statues are built.
 
 
For other photos of this excursion click here to visit the photogallery
OLIVE-OIL AND WINE ITINERARIES
The wine and olive oil itinerary; visit to a Winery and a modern olive-oil
mill: free tasting and explanations held by the wine and olive oil making
experts about the techniques of wine and olive oil production.
 
 
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