Pieve International School

When Nature is protected

The most effective way to fully protect nature and conserve it is through planned protection measuresorganised at state level. The amount of Italian territory under state protection in one way or another is 10%. Environmental protection laws have allowed many nature parks and reserves to be opened which are used solely for developing nature in all of its forms. In the Italian parks and nature reserves, therefore, not only are the animals untouchable but also the plants, minerals, water and even the air.

Italy has 18 National Parks, 89 Regional Parks, 270 Regional Reserves, 142 State Reserves, 47 Marsh reserves and 7 Marine Reserves, which are protected zones managed either by the State in some form – Regional Councils, Provincial Councils and Municipalities – or by the environmental and protection associations such as Italia Nostra, WWF, Lega Ambiente, Greenpeace, LIPU, Touring Club, etc.

The National Parks are: Abruzzo (the oldest, officially opened in September 1922), Gran Paradiso (opened a few months after the Abruzzo park), Circeo, Stelvio, Calabria, Pollino, Monti Sibillini, Archipelago Tuscany, the Caserta Forests, the Belluno Dolomite mountains, Aspromonte, Cilento-Valle di Diano, Gargano, Gran Sasso-Laga, Maiella, Val Grande, Vesuvius, and Gennargentu-Asinara-Golfo di Orosei. We have listed all of them to show how in Italy Nature is loved and protected as much in the North as in the South.

What better reason, then, for planning a trip to at least one of Italy’s “natural” attractions?

Thermal spas and well-beingFrom water to water…

Thermal waters have been used for hydrotherapeutic purposes in the Mediterranean region since ancient times as can be seen from archaeological finds, literary and scientific writings and numerous epigraphs. These treatments have, for the most part, been left unaltered over twenty-four centuries since the age of the ancient Greek philosophers, through various historical periods, and with the exception of the introduction of advanced technology. Hippocrates was a great believer in the use of thermal spas and in his treaty Use of Liquids he sang the praises of the properties of mineral waters and hot springs.

As time went by, use of the experimental method led to an innovative approach in using thermal waters for therapeutic purposes and new treatments being introduced.

Fortunately, society progressed and the amount of available financial resources increased among all sections of the population thus making it possible for everyone to benefit from thermal treatments. The advantages of these treatments are not only linked to the waters’ curative properties but also to the beauty and natural attractions that are a general characteristic of Italian spas. The idea of treatment also being a means of recovering energy and physical well-being is quite rightly connected to the idea of a holiday resort and intelligent use of leisure time.

In this way the ancient tradition of thermal waters was modernised and brought up to date. And today more than ever, the use of new methods has turned it into a fundamental tool of modern medicine.

Therefore thermal resorts’ success is linked to the overall quality of life in the spas. Indeed there is no doubt that the environment plays an important role in treatments which involve rest or seasonal cures. And a stay which offers a large range of possibilities both with regard to broadening cultural and artistic knowledge and the climate is extremely advisable.

Italian spas can boast outstanding climatic conditions and are located in areas of great natural beauty. These characteristics have a positive influence on our body’s balance and contribute to general physical and mental well-being.

Therefore it is obvious that Italy’s richness in thermal and mineral waters, combined with the mildness of the climate and the beauty of the scenery, have made it a favourite venue for “health care tourism”. Since the last century hotels with extensive facilities have grown up around spas, which have established international reputations. Abano, Salsomaggiore, Chianciano, Montecatini, Fiuggi and Ischia are just a few of the names among the many which are known throughout the world and which attract millions of visitors every year.

As we already know, thermal waters have been used in Italy for therapeutic purposes since the time of the Romans when thermal waters and baths were a typical feature of town life. Italian spa resorts’ proximity to great centres of art means they are perfect bases for cultural excursions. In addition the splendid parks surrounding the most famous spas and the facilities and services made available to tourists makes them ideal holiday resorts in their own right.

Italian spas do not have solely hot water resources to offer insofar as mineral (“cold”) springs are also used for drinking purposes. The wealth of hot and mineral springs in Italy is the result of its particular geological structure which is rich in volcanic phenomena and permeated, in every sense of the word, by a dense network of groundwater channels, in North Italy many spas have sprung up on the Euganei Hills in Veneto – volcanic highlands where numerous hot springs gush out. The main form of treatment in this area is mud therapy recommended for rheumatic illnesses and problems regarding the respiratory system and female genital organs.

In the city of Abano, a rather strange legend would have that Phaeton, son of the Sun god, fell to the ground there with his chariot in flames. His fall caused waters to spring forth which were able to relieve fatigue and pain (aponon – hence the name Abano).

Moving further south, there is a series of thermal resorts in Emilia-Romagna on the foothills of the Apennines. Many of these (Tabiano, Salsomaggiore, Castrocaro) identify themselves with their thermal waters to the extent that the word terme (spa) is part of their official name. The springs have similar chemical properties (predominantly sulphurous, and often containing sodium chloride, iodide or bromide). They are recommended for a wide range of afflictions: metabolic disorders, respiratory and vascular problems and skin diseases.

Tuscany is another Italian region with a high concentration of spas whose waters were already in use in ancient times and are still popular today, including Saturnia, Roselle, Chianciano and Chiusi. During the last century Tuscan thermal spas underwent great changes. Resorts such as Montecatini and Chianciano are no longer exclusive holiday resorts and have equipped themselves to cater for a growing number of visitors. Montecatini and Chianciano have gradually become more and more important and statistics prove the reputation they have acquired. Montecatini can boast 1,700,000 visitors per year (a quarter of these coming from abroad) while Chianciano can boast 1,860,000 visitors per year (180,000 foreigners).

The spa resorts in Lazio are linked to the volcanic activity which has shaped the morphology of much of the region. Bagni di Tivoli, on the outskirts of the capital and Fiuggi, further south, are especially well known. Fiuggi waters are especially noted for the treatment of kidney stones and their fame has led to the development of over two hundred and fifty hotels.

In southern Italy the numerous spas forming an arc around the Gulf of Naples are extremely important. This is one of the most active volcanic zones in Italy, characterised by large layers of magma located close to the surface.

Ischia is among the most famous thermal spas in Italy and abroad. Its radioactive waters are particularly recommended for arthritis, rheumatism, obesity and metabolic disorders.

Before you come

Learn About Italy
During your stay at the Pieve International School you will learn a lot about Italy but it could be useful for you to read something before you come. Informing yourself about Italy’s history, culture, customs and politics will make your stay more meaningful. Information can be found in most libraries, bookstores, tourist bureaus and on-line.

About the Italian language
Don’t be too worry about the Italian language. English is spoken in Italy and the Pieve School staff speaks it fluently. However, it would be a good idea to learn useful phrases in Italian. Speaking the language will make your experience more enjoyable and Italians appreciate your effort in speaking their language. Italian lectures at Pieve School can also be made available upon request.

Documentation and Money

Passport


A passport is required to enter Italy and for tourist stays up to three months there is no Visa required. For further information concerning entry requirements for Italy the Italian Embassy has more information.



Medication


If you go abroad with pre-existing medical problems, you should carry a letter from your doctor describing your condition, including information on any prescription medicines that you must take. You should also have the generic names of the drugs.



Money


The easiest way to spend money in Italy is with an ATM or Credit card. Using a card guarantees the best exchange rate and ATM machines are very common. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card in Italy and most ATM machines work with both Cirrus and Plus ATM networks. It is a good idea to bring two different types of cards incase one network is not functioning. And of course it is wise not to carry large amounts of cash.

Precautions

Before you depart be sure to make copies of all your documents including Passport, American Drivers license, both sides of your credit cards, and any medical documentation. Leave one copy in America and bring one copy with you. Should your originals be lost or stolen copies of your documents will assist in getting replacements quickly. It is also advisable to leave a copy of your itinerary and contact information.

Valuables, Driving and Travel

Valuables

Do not bring anything on your trip that you would hate to lose, such as expensive jewelry, family photographs, or objects of sentimental value. If you bring jewelry, wear it discreetly to help prevent snatch-and-run robbery and lock in a hotel safe if possible. 

Driving

U.S. Citizens visiting Italy and intending to drive should obtain an International Driving Permit prior to departure from the United States. However, a valid American driver’s license is accepted in Italy for stays up to three months provided it is accompanied by a translation or statement indicating its validity. 

Insurance

Many insurance policies include travel insurance and there is a chance that you are already covered. It is best to check with your provider and find out the details. If you are not covered by your current plan it is usually easy to add travel insurance to your policy. Travel insurance can easily be purchased separately and it is best to consider you choice for an insurer carefully.

Estimated cost of Living

For Americans the cost of living in another country depends greatly on the economy. However, it is very easy to live on a budget regardless of exchange rate. If you really want to experience all that the Italian culture has to offer it will cost you. While at Pieve School it is very easy to live inexpensively. The expenses start to mount with traveling. While public transportation is very accessible it isn’t free. The cost is very dependent on the distance of your travel and the time of the year. Popular destinations during high traffic seasons will dramatically increase your costs for both getting to your destination and staying there. Renting a car is an option but only economical if split between a number of people. For small groups public transportation is the best option. There are also cheap flights connecting the major cities of Europe. These can provide a relatively cheap way to see other parts of Europe. Accommodations on the road are another costly expenditure but compromising a bit of privacy and luxury easily cuts these costs. Hostels and campground offer fairly cheap places to stay and are highly recommended for cutting a budget. Setting a budget before your departure is a good plan. Traveling makes the biggest difference in the cost of living so when figuring a budget, so decide how much you want to travel and plan you budget accordingly.

by Oren Connel,

student of the Pieve International School in 2004

Leasure & Pleasure in the Italian Life

In Italy there are a thousand ways to use your free time: practising sports, cultivating hobbies, relaxing, developing your culture, going to a concert, a play, a traditional festival, or to watch a sporting event. Or, simply sitting in a bar and enjoying a cappuccino or a glass of good wine, or wandering around the beautiful towns – large and small – admiring and visiting their churches, palaces, monuments, castles, archaeological sites, museums, galleries, squares and streets.

In Italy there is no problem: just being here is already the best way to spend your free time.

Shopping made in Italy

Shop for leather goods (Florence, Rome and Milan), silks (Como), truffles (Spoleto and Rome), antiques, clothing, wood carvings, embroidery and lace, silver and gold jewelry, violins, ceramics, objects of marble and alabaster, glass (Venice), decorative paper (Florence and Venice), food products, and wine or liqueur. Also fun to buy are ingenious kitchen utensils/accessories. In Vatican City, look over Vatican postage stamps and a wide variety of religious products (including relics).

Clothing, both men’s and women’s, is often of excellent quality, with a high style quotient (and often the price tag to match). Custom-made suits can be good buys, and many people consider shoes the best thing to take home from a trip to Italy.

For true bargain hunters, many designer outlets (think Prada, Fendi, Gucci and Armani) dot the northern provinces, especially outside Florence, Como and Milan. McArthur Glen opened the first true outlet mall in 2001 at Serravalle, between Milan and Genoa. It was so successful the company has opened another in Castel Romano, south of Rome, and plans to open a third outside Florence in late 2004. (Florence already has one designer outlet mall, near Leccio Reggello).

Every journey to Italy is always a ‘tour artistique’

A trip to Italy is always a tour artistique. There are so many artistic treasures and of such quality that to describe Italy as an open-air art gallery in its own right is hardly an exaggeration. No other country in the world can vaunt the same treasures of culture and art as Italy. Indeed, half of the world’s historic and artistic assets are within its boundaries (UNESCO).

Found almost everywhere and referring to every historical era, they are preserved and protected in hundreds of archaeological sites and over 3,000 museums scattered throughout the country. Tourists, visitors and academics alike may admire and study these remnants – large and small – of centuries gone by.

Theatres and other buildings date back to Greek and Roman times; whole cities, roads and districts once buried have today been returned to the light by patient and skilful excavations; temples, statues, coins, inscriptions, and objects of daily use.

In Italy an exceptionally rich store of memories await to remind us all of Europe’s past. The imposing and often elegantly embellished Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals – built after the eleventh century – are found mainly in the Centre and North. The ancient religious architecture in the southern regions amounts instead to an enthralling crucible of Byzantine, Muslim and Norman elements. In all the regions, then, in every city and town we will find relics – from buildings to the personal affects – of a deeply rooted artistic tradition that is spread throughout Italy.

Renaissance art was the great cultural movement which began in Italy in the 15th century and which profoundly influenced the history of culture and European civilisation as a whole. The Renaissance culture placed man and the secular world again at the centre of the Universe after the marginal position Man was afforded with respect to the gods during the difficult centuries of the medieval period. Those who exemplified it and have become icons of culture itself are Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Masaccio, Botticelli, Piero della Francesca, Mantegna, Donatello, Raffaello, Antonello da Messina, Bramante, Correggio, Tintoretto, Giorgione – all artists, sculptors, painters or architects who have become known as the world’s greatest exponents of artistic genius. Their works are the source of a constant attraction for tourists and academics alike, people who are curious to unveil something of the secrets of that art which, even if produced today, would result as an expression of the breathtaking creativity. For the arts and architecture, the Renaissance is synonymous with masterpieces, inventive genius and creativity. Philosophers like Giordano Bruno and Tommaso Campanella, scientists like Copernico and Galilei, scholars like Machiavelli, poets like Ariosto, musicians like Palestrina and Monteverdi: great men of the Renaissance who, with their modern vision of the world and society that was shared and supported by a rich and enterprising bourgeoisie, succeeded in radically changing forever the way of thinking, living and creating. The great Renaissance season left its magnificent marks everywhere in Italy, not only in the great cities like Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan and Naples but also in many other centres of Italy’s regions. Paintings, statues, churches, buildings, palaces and fountains: a sparkling series of signs through which the visitor can ideally reconstruct a civilisation that really did change the world.