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OTRANTO and how to get there

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Italian Culture and tradition

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holiday and  the FREE TIME PROGRAM 

program of a typical week at school Porta d'Oriente

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  The cultural activities change every week: it is only an example of program. Activities, days and times may change.

Monday:

 -grammar lesson, conversation about different topics of Italian culture and  civilization 

 -break

 -learn Italian from real life: students with the teacher will go into shops, cafes and around the city to learn the  daily oral expressions of Italian language.

 Tuesday:

 - grammar lesson + conversation on different topics of Italian culture and civilization

 - break 

- Italian cinema: students with the help of teachers will watch to the projection of the most popular films of the Italian cinema. Or learning of the language through the most beautiful Italian songs.

 Wednesday:

 - grammar lesson + conversation on different topics of Italian culture and  civilization

- break

- debate on the film seen  the previous day. Students have to express their own impressions, thoughts and critics about the film. They have also to compare Italian culture and habits with their own. Teachers will explain all the particular expressions of the spoken language and grammatical topics met during the film.

 Thursday

- grammar lesson + conversation on different topics of Italian culture and  civilization

 - break

 - visit to the editorial office of the Italian Newspaper “Euromediterraneo”: students will take active part in the publishing up of the newspaper. Under the guide of a journalist students will write an article in which they describe their point of view on Italy with their considerations and criticism.

 Friday

 - grammar lesson + conversation on different topics of Italian culture and  civilization

 - visit to the Public Cooking School of Otranto (the school is closed in June-July-August: in this period the lessons will be held by School Porta d'Oriente).

Students will take part, with the help of the Italian students, in the preparation of the typical Italian and local recipes. After the preparation of the different dishes there is usually a big lunch during which teachers, Italian students and foreign students will eat together.

 Saturday and Sunday: WEEKLY EXCURSIONS The school offers a  program of  extra-curricular activities: organized-guided excursions are offered every week-end. Generally our excursions take students to less well known itineraries, off the beaten track, which are not included in the excursions program of most travel agencies.

Weekly actiVities:  the following activities can be proposed in the afternoon:

-guided visit to the town of Otranto:                                               free

-guided visit to the ipogeo (underground Byzantine church):             free

-Italian cinema: a film will be pojected:                                           free

-Italian song: listening to Italian songs:                                           free

-Course of home-made pasta:                                                      Euro 7.74

   -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 schoool 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.

Two people speaking different languages ( i.e: an Italian and a foreigner) can work together to help to improve their knowledge of the foreign language while discovering some aspects of the partner's culture. Every partner is responsible for his own learning and he decides what he wants to learn, what he wants the partner to correct and what he wants to ask.  

PROGRAM OF THE GUIDED TRIPS: click here to see the photos

  LA GRECIA SALENTINA (THE GREEK PART OF SALENTO)

  GUIDED TOUR OF SOME OF THE 9 VILLAGES WHERE OLD GREEK IS SPOKEN:

  -VISIT OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GREEK-BYZANTHINE CHURCHES (S. STEFANO, S.CATERINA)

-VISIT OF THE HISTORICAL CENTRES: ANALYSIS OF THE GREEK CONCEPTION OF THE TOWN AND LIFE IN THIS ZONE

-VISIT OF SOLETO, THE TOWN OF THE WITCHES;  CORIGLIANO WITH  ITS BEAUTIFUL CASTLE; STERNATIA, THE TOWN BUILD ON UNDERGROUND OIL-MILLS OF THE XVI CENTURY: ANALYSIS OF OLIVE-OIL PRODUCTION IN ON ONE OF THIS UNDERGROUND OIL-MILL

GUIDED TOUR OF THE SOUTH COAST

-        the remains of the monastery of S. Nicola di Casole: the 2nd bigger library in the Mediterranean area, the first students’ house in Europe, very important centre for the Greek and Byzantine culture;

-        Visit of the fortified farms: ex. Of how the buildings become fortified castle 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 S. Cesarea Terme:  Arab style town, Castro and grout Zinzulusa (optional: boat-tour)

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.

GUIDED VISIT OF THE TOWN OF LECCE

 called the Florence of South Italy, known for the Barock style.  

FOOD-AND-WINE ITINERARIES

the wine and olive oil road; visit of the places where typical regional products are produced: free tasting; visit of handicrafts laboratories.