Programme of extracurricular activities

Bologna
The aim of the various activities is to facilitate and encourage contact between the participants on the course and their Italian environment, and to provide a general understanding of contemporary Italy. The program of activities after the classes is divided into two parts. The first part is a program specifically designed for every participant having some special interest. A doctor, an architect or a teacher i.e. can meet an Italian colleague at work. People interested in football or in motorcycles can join a football team fan club or a Ducati bikers’ club. The ones who are interested in music can meet, for instance, a collector of ancient musical instruments. Please write your interest on the enrolling form, if you like. These are personal meetings between individual people or between small groups sharing the same interest. The possibility of having these meetings depends on the availability of your Italian colleagues, on the times and on the different contexts. It is not always possible to organise the meetings. Sometimes we cannot find Italian people available who have time to meet the students. We are sorry, but we are doing all we can to satisfy your requests, because it is in our interest to create chances for the students to increase their interest in speaking Italian with Italians, spontaneously! The second part is a program of activities designed for all the students together.

The second part is a selection of activities. Seminars and conferences are held by experts or by the organizers themselves. The subjects are strictly connected with aspects of Italian life and culture that the students encounter during the course, during the visits and excursions, and at the meetings.

The excursions, the visits and the meetings help students to acquire a direct and deeper approach to the town and its historical, artistic, and urban reality, also emphasising factors which distinguish Bologna from other Italian towns. The selection of the programme’s activities is adapted according to the students’ interests and follows four general topics:

a. The town of Bologna
b. Art, History and Music
c. Landscape and Environment
d. Current events

Examples:

a. The town of Bologna:
“From Bononia to Bologna”, a tour of the historical sights dating from the Roman Age and covering the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque, the l8th century and modern times; a walk to discover the hidden beauty of Bologna; guided visit to the University; a visit to the University Museums; a talk or lecture on Bolognese painting from the l4th century to the present day; a visit to the picture gallery; a sightseeing tour of modem architecture; visits to villas on the hills around Bologna, to the baroque theatre, to an historical document archive; a meeting with Bolognese artists and an opportunity to discuss contemporary art.

b. Art, history and music:
Visit to the Etruscan town of Marzabotto; a visit to a studio that has specialized in restoration of old paintings and a visit to a studio that restores old wooden furniture and musical instruments.

Trips: The Castle of Monteveglio, Modena, Ferrara, Ravenna. Talks on the following topics:

tenors in the l9th century
“E lucevan le stelle” - Italian opera
popular song
history of painting
medieval music
music of the 16th century
music of the l7th century
music of the 18th century.

c. Environment:
“The landscape of the plain”: a guided tour of Bologna’s surrounding area with historical information about the long transformation from Roman rural organization to the industrialized Dozza, colourful medieval village; agriculture of today; the hills: a walk through a countryside park; talk or discussion on the regional climate.

Walks:
Parco della Chiusa - San Luca (park outing),
Parco di Villa Ghigi (park outing),
Parco dei Gessi (park outing), Appennine excursion.

d. Current events:
tour of the “osterie”, three typical local wine bars,
visit to the Ducati motor cycle plant,
visit to a clothing manufacturer, visit to an institute for the handicapped,
visit to a women’s documentation centre,
visit to the private television station,
visit to the editorial offices of the local newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, exhibitions, readings, film performances, events of various types, aperitifs followed by a meal and many other occasions to practise the language.

Politics - Society:
meeting with social workers; meeting with members of the various political parties, union members and members of the feminist movement, as well as teachers and representatives of different professions.

Arezzo

info@culturaitaliana.it

skype: culturaitaliana