Day 15: Wednesday, May 21. Today was excursion Day. When I taught in the semester-long program here, Filiberto arranged excursions on most Fridays, starting with nearby locales and eventually finishing with long trips to Florence and Rome. With only 5 weeks, it was too much to try to include it all, but I did ask for one local excursion.

We boarded the bus at 8:30 and headed for nearby San Ginesio. It's a small town but located closer to the mountains, and quite picturesque. The town provided an opportunity for lessons about the etymology of hospital how ancient cities "hosted" travelers. We walked the length of the historic center and spent a long time examining the main church. I think the most excitement came when we stopped for a class photo.

The actual class photo includes Filiberto and me, but Kim took this one on her camera of Sarah setting up the photo. 

From there it was a short bus ride to an Abbey at Chiaravalle di Fiastra, a complex that was built in the 12th century by monks who used local Roman ruins. This was a real opportunity for Filiberto to shine. Without crowds of people like we had in Rome, he could take his time to explain art, architecture and history. Many of the students marvel at how much he knows. They are only getting a small sample. This program is what it is because of him. It was no coincidence that we just "happened" to be there at noon, so we were able to observe a small group of monks singing noon prayer. The Abbey of course contains the church but also a beautiful cloister, refectory (dining hall), storage cellars - all the pieces that make up a working monastery. When we stopped in a small chapel just off the cloister, the students insisted I sit in the Abbot's chair for a posed picture. 

I told them that in August I will use this picture on the first day of class to show my new students the appropriate level of deference I should be afforded. 

Our lunch stop was a roadside restaurant. Thirteen of the 17 decided to pay the 12 Euros (others packed their lunches). I assure you they were not disappointed. We had two different pastas, the best being pappardelle with a hare sauce. For the main course we had lightly breaded chicken cutlets, but the sides! We had Ascolani Olives (green olives stuffed with meat, breaded and fried), standard issue french fries, fried green pepper, salad, and a kind of fried cream squares. With each plate the waitress would return offering more to whoever wanted it, so by the time dessert arrived, most of us were not expecting it. 

After lunch we headed off to the day's final destination, the Basilica of San Nicola in Tolentino.  We stopped along the way for 10 minutes so students could take pictures of a 16th Century fortress. 

Everyone thinks of Rome, Florence and Venice when thinking of Italy, but gems like this are all over the countryside. Every time I promote this program, I tell students to see the real Italy, rather than programs that take them only to Rome and Florence. I taught in one of those programs once, and it doesn't hold a candle to the experience these students get. 

San Nicola of Tolentino is not the St. Nick we think of, but there are connections. 

This little church has many interesting features, but Filiberto probably spent the most time explaining the frescoes in the capellone. A point he has made repeatedly about the use of art as a way of teaching lessons to an illiterate society was brought to life in this colorful room. This is one wall: all four walls and the vaulted ceiling are frescoed this way. 

We got back to Macerata about 7 p.m. Kim, Jake and I were still full from lunch, so dinner consisted of walking down the street and having gelato.