Liceo Ginnasio Statale “M. Morelli”Vibo Valentia

LLP Comenius “European Time in a capsule”

Our country… our city… our school

Italy is a peninsula in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, so it has a strategic

position. In fact it is surrounded by water on three sides, while in the North there are the

Alps, which are shared with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

The capital is Rome, which is one of the most ancient cities in the world and a famous cultural centre. Italy is known for the arts and literature, which found their roots in the classical culture.

Italy extends for 301,338 km² and has a population of about 60,157,214 people. The climate is predominantly Mediterranean,

Alpine in the far North and hot or dry in the South. There are twenty regions, two of them, Sicily and Sardinia, are islands.

There is, within the city of Rome, the Vatican State, which is the smallest independent state in the world. Italy has been a

Parliamentary Republic, since 2nd June 1946. Parliament is divided into the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The

President of the Republic is Giorgio Napolitano, while the Prime Minister is Silvio Berlusconi.

Silvio Berlusconi

Giorgio Napolitano

Colosseum, called also Flavian

Amphitheatre, is an elliptical

amphitheatre built by thr Romans

in the centre of Rome. Gladiatorial games and

executionswere held there.

Saint Peter’s square is in front

of Saint Peter’s basilica in

Vatican city. The square was

disigned by Bernini and it is

characterised by Tuscan colonnades

and an obelisk.

The Trevi Fountain is the biggest fountain

in Rome. Visitors, who

throw a coin in the fountain, will return to

Rome.

Piazza di Spagna is certainly the most famous square in Rome, overlooked by the imposing

stairway of Trinità dei Monti (the Spanish Steps) built in XVIII century to connect the square to the Church of Trinità dei Monti and to create a stately scenery, made famous by the movie "Holiday in Rome" and since then an attraction for every tourist in Rome. In spring these steps are covered with flowers,

offering an unforgettable spectacle.

Venice and Florence are two art cities that all the

World envies us. They are open air museum of medieval and

renaissance civilizations.

The first one is singular for its lagoon, its gondolas, and its

canals which are used as roads. The second one is picturesque for its spectacular views over

the Arno river and for Brunelleschi’s masterpieces.

These are some exemples

of naturalistic and artistic beauties of

our country

Giardini di Boboli Verona

Capri

Napoli

Bronzi di Riace

Trulli di Alberobello

Costa SmeraldaGrotta Azzurra Agrigento

Italy can be considered the homeland of scientists, intellectuals and inventors, who influenced history and civilization, not only

for our country, but also for the whole world: Dante, the father of Italian literature and a

cultural model; Colombus, discoverer of America; Michelangelo, author of the

masterpiece of the Sistine Chapel; Volta, inventor of the electric battery; Leonardo da

Vinci, painter, scientist, inventor; and Galileo, revolutionary of astronomic science.

Italy can be considered the homeland of fashion. It has changed over the centuries also depending on

historical and social factors.Fashion is also important in our country especially

because everybody can express his own individuality.

Maria Carla BosconoMaria Carla Boscono

She is one of the most She is one of the most famous models on the famous models on the international fashion international fashion

scene.scene.

Our stylists are the most famous in the world; they work for a lot of cinema stars and they are also involved in designing costumes for

film.Gianfranco

Ferrè

Dolce & Gabbana

These are our best athletes (from left to right):

F.TOTTI, A.PIRLO,A.DEL PIERO, L.MASTRANGELO and V.VERMIGLIO

The most popular and practiced sports in Italy:

Football and Volleyball

• JULY 2006 : Our national football team won the “FIFA WORLD CUP”.

• July 2009: The swimmer FEDERICA PELLEGRINI won the gold medal in the “FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP”.

• NOVEMBER 2009: The tennis player FLAVIA PENNETTA became champion of the world by winning her second “FEDERATION CUP”.

The Italian diet consists of a rich breakfast with sugar but without grease, which would be too hard

to digest, and is meant to provide the right energy intake to start the

day as good as possible.

Lunch is the main meal in a day, when the typical family eats ordinarily a complete meal - as first dish pasta, then either meat or fish. Dinner is

mostly lighter. Anyway nowadays the routine has inverted the traditional habits: the family sits together only

once a day.

Italy is the most famous and one of the greatest wine producer, claiming several valuable labels.

Although the Italians are particularly careful about their food, usually healthy

and balanced, it is impossible for them to go without their famous desserts.

Each region is also characterized by typical sweets.

Among Italian traditions, Christmas is the most reresentative. The Italians love the symbol of the

“Crib”, the representation of Christ’s nativity, introduced by St Francis in 1223. Italy is attatched to Christmas because of its Catholic roots. During

Christmas time, all families gather and have a great dinner. Children wait for presents: everybody feels

very happy!

Easter is the most important annual religious feast, celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection. The date of Easter varies between 22 March and 25 April. During Holy Week, in many Italian regions very particular rituals are held. Holy Holy Wednesday is the day whenWednesday is the day when the ancient ritual of the “Via the ancient ritual of the “Via Crucis” is re-enacted. There are 14 stations and hymns, Crucis” is re-enacted. There are 14 stations and hymns, prayers and meditations accompany the passion, death and prayers and meditations accompany the passion, death and resurrection of Christ.resurrection of Christ.In many cities of the South the “Affrontata” takes place usually on Easter Sunday; it is a re-enactment of the meeting re-enactment of the meeting between risen Christ and Mary, thanks to the intervention of between risen Christ and Mary, thanks to the intervention of St. John.St. John.

A very original Italian tradition is the so-called “Palio”. It is a competition between neighborhoods of a town.

It is played with horses, donkeys or other animals and takes place within medieval feasts. Its roots can be

found during the period of Italian Communes and the word “Palio” comes from the name of the prize: from Latin “Pallium”, a coat of fine wool. The most famous “palio” in the world is the one which is held in Siena,

twice a year, on 2 July and 16 August!

Italian carnival has very old roots, linked to earth fertility rituals. During Carnival time everything is

allowed! In every Italian region Carnival is celebrated with parades, dances, traditional masks, confetti and streamers. But sometimes Carnival traditions are very original… In Ivrea there is the “orange battle”, a real

war among people, using tons of oranges!In Viareggio there are the famous allegorical carts

showing huge caricatures of famous men, politicians and show men.

But the most famous Carnival in the Venetian one, which attracts tourists from all over the world!

Vibo Valentia is a town situated in the centre of Calabria. It is divided into two parts: one is on a little hill, the other streches along the

Tyrrhenian coast.

The Norman Swabian castle dominates the whole town. Today the castle is a State Archaeological

Museum. It contains tombs, mosaics, vases and coins that have been discovered during recent

archaeological excavations , but above all it preserves one of the most precious and ancient remains of the Hellenic past: the golden “Laminetta”; it is the most

complete Orphic text ever found in Italy, in fact it goes back to the 3rd century B.C. and contains the

instructions for the soul to reach a blessed place after death.

Many old churches are spread all over the town. The oldest are the church of Santa Ruba, St Michael’s Church and the Cathedral

dedicated to St. Leoluca.

There are many squares, avenues planted with trees and a big park with a lot of flower-beds and gigantic ornamental trees; in the park

there are also tennis-courts and skating-rinks.

These images show some places near Vibo Tropea is a touristic

centre which overlooks the sea. In this photo

there is the church”St.Maria

dell’isola”.

This is the Rocchetta in Briatico, an old defensive

system against the Turkish attacks.

This is Pizzo an ancient centre.

There is an important Aragonese Castle;

Pizzo is characterized by beautiful sandy beaches.

This is lake “Angitola”. It ‘s an artificial lake, there are several kinds of birds .It’s

entrusted to the WWF.

This is a church called “Piedigrotta” and in the church there are some statues made of

sandstone.

This is the Certosa in St.Bruno whose original façade is attributed to

Jacopo Del Duca, a pupil of Michelangelo.

The mountains near Serra San

Bruno.

The course of study lasts five years and is divided into two parts:

The “biennio” or lower course which lasts two years ( class 4 and class 5 Gymnasium -

students of about 14-15 years old ) and is based on language studies.

Subjects taught in the Lower Course are Italian, Latin, Ancient Greek , History, Geography, Mathematics, Foreign Language (English),

Physical Education, Religion. The “triennio” or higher course which lasts three years ( class 1, 2, 3 Liceo - students of about 16- 19) and is based on historical and

cultural studies. Subjects taught in the higher Course are

Italian, Latin, Ancient Greek , History, Philosophy, Mathematics, Foreign Language

(English), History of Art, Physics, Science, Physical Education, Religion.

The Liceo Ginnasio "M. Morelli" has its origins in the historical "Collegio dei Gesuiti" founded in 1612 by the Duke of Monteleone (Vibo Valentia), Don Ettore Pignatelli.Our school is  situated in the centre of the town. It is a "Liceo Classico" (a sort of

grammar school) and deals with classical subjects. There are 25 classes, 607 students and 44 teachers.

At the end of the five year course, the school awards a diploma which is valid for University entrance to all faculties. It is

also recognized as a qualification for access to Public Administration, private and public firms, post-diploma

professional training courses in the area of fine Arts and Cultural Heritage (archivist-librarian, Museum Curator,

mass-media expert etc.)

The school’s resources include a computer lab with 13 Internet connections; a multi-media lab with video

conference facilities;  cable connections within the school; an internet link in every classroom and office; a physics

lab; natural science lab; outdoor and indoor gymnasiums; a TV room;  a library containing many rare and prestigious

volumes; a main hall - well equipped with video conference facilities.

Computer Lab   Language Lab

 

The Library open to external users, which

contains 20.000 rare and prestigious volumes

The students have won some competitions within school

projects including Theatre, XII Festival “School- Theatre of Altomonte”; “School Day”, a

competition among schools in the country; Regional sport

competitions; “Archimede’ s games”, maths competitions. Moreover, our school

participated in another Comenius Project which

involved seven schools of different European Countries and lasted three years. We visited several countries

Poland

Germany

Cyprus

HungaryFolk dance

Fashion show

and took part in interesting activities as shows, Fashion

shows and Folk dances.It was a very exciting

experience!!!