Italy
1.12 - 5.12
(Teachers perspective)
Our Erasmus+ journey continued with a five-day mobility in San Severo, where we had the chance to visit Istituto Tecnico Economico Statale “Angelo Fraccacreta”. The purpose of this visit was to exchange ideas with our partner school and to share the progress we’ve made so far in the project.
This time, Emmie and My represented Vägga Gymnasieskola, bringing their experiences, questions, and lots of positive energy. Together with our international colleagues, they explored new perspectives and discussed ways to strengthen our collaboration even further.
Day 1- 1.12 (Travel day)
For this mobility in Italy, Emmie and My represented Sweden. Since San Severo is a long bus ride from the major airports, the connection from the airport was especially lengthy for some of us (especially for us who travelled from Rome). Still, as the Swedish proverb reminds us: "He who waits for something good can never wait too long."
Day 2- 2.12 (Project management, partner presentations and sustainable education practices)
Today all partner schools gathered at Istituto Tecnico Economico Statale “Angelo Fraccacreta” to exchange ideas and updates about the project. We were introduced to the project website, and we also received practical information about the upcoming tasks, both those connected to the final dissemination and those that will involve our students more actively. The aim of this Erasmus+ project is to help our students understand sustainability in a meaningful way, and it’s clear that we’ve already made great progress together. Once we return to our own countries, each team will begin teaching sustainability in similar ways, creating a shared learning experience across all our schools. Hopefully, we’ll not only pass on valuable knowledge to our students but also learn a few new things ourselves along the way.
Since some of the partner school delegations have long journeys ahead, we decided to have our joint dinner today. It turned out to be a delightful evening filled with cultural exchange, not only about sustainability, but also about everyday life, traditions, and the stories that connect us. Before the dinner, we all took part in a cultural excursion together, exploring the local area and learning more about San Severo and its cultural heritage. You can see some impressions from the visit in the photos below.
Arrividerci for today- Ciao
Day 3- 3.12
Wednesday – and half of the mobility is already behind us. Today’s focus was on exploring the local heritage of the Apulia region. Our excursion took us to Monte Sant’Angelo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This sacred complex is a major pilgrimage destination dedicated to the Archangel Michael, with origins dating back to the 5th century when he is said to have appeared in the cave there. The site includes the mystical grotto, the sanctuary itself, and several historic structures surrounding it. Being able to walk through the landscape and these ancient buildings was a very special experience.
We explored Monte Sant’Angelo with the help of an audio guide, which made the entire visit even richer and easier to absorb.
Furthermore, we got a unique cultural glimpse by witnessing a live mass taking place in this sacred setting. It was humbling to stand among so many historical layers and then later see the artifacts in the connected museum.
After the visit, we shared a meal together and enjoyed truly local Italian cuisine, delicious, authentic, and a perfect ending to a day full of culture and history.
When the excursion was over, we went back to the school to receive our diplomas. Just like that, another mobility is almost coming to an end. Once again, well done to all of us participating in this project! :D
Day 4 - 4.12
Thursday – the final day of the mobility.
Today we really got to experience the heart of Italy and its rich cultural heritage, marble and wine. And, of course, all with a sustainable twist, as we got to see how natural resources can be transformed into more sustainable materials.
We started the morning with a visit to the quarries in Apricena, in the Foggia province, an area famous for its mining and known as the second-largest mining district in Italy. There we met Paolo, a worker who took us around the site in his car. We learned that the quarry is run as a family business and that they produce marble for both interior and exterior use. It was amazing to see the complexity of the process, the level of craftsmanship, and the sheer size of the materials they work with. At one point, Paolo explained that their machines can handle blocks of stone weighing up to 50 tons! Despite the rain and wind that made us all a bit cold, it was a genuinely fascinating experience.
Afterwards, we headed to the winery Antine Le Grotte, where we once again witnessed craftsmanship, this time in the form of winemaking. The fun part is that the winery shares the same owner as the quarries we had just visited. His name is Franco, and he appears in one of the photos. We enjoyed a full wine-tasting experience paired with delicious Italian cuisine, making it the perfect ending to our final day.
Day 5 - 5.12
Travel day- now our sights are turning toward what lies ahead: continuing to implement and spread our sustainability work in our schools.
Arrivederci!
