Cultural courses

Castle of Rivoli - Museum of modern arts


L’Italiano Porticando offers to its students a wide range of theoretical and pratical courses and seminars on many aspects of history, arts, architecture and traditions of the Piedmont area and of Turin. These courses can be combined with all our courses, from individual lessons to our mini-groups courses, to our standard courses.

We are convinced that to learn Italian, it is also important to learn about the many cultural aspects which are characteristic for the places you visit or you are staying at.

The teaching method requires the students to participate actively in their lessons. Audio-visual media, photos, films, documentation and itineraries in and around the city will complete the theoretical part of the lessons.

Most of the courses will be held if there are students interested.

              Schedule:   from 14:30 to 17.30 o’clock in the school’s rooms
              Price:         € 15,00/person
              Includes:  - 3 hours of theoretical classes on the topic chosen,
                               - documentation and further educational materials,
                               - walk with the teacher and visit of the places related to the topic chosen.

Topics suggested:

Architecture:         

The topics of the course will be related to architecture and urbanization of Turin. After a general introduction, the students will have the possibility to choose among one of the following epochs:

     

Roman Turin:     the foundation of the city and the places and monuments which witness the
                           presence of the Romans in Turin;

Turin capital of Baroque:    the marvellous Royal Residences, witnesses of a time of splendor and
                           reminder of the Savoyan family in Turin.

                           From Guarini Gaurino to Filippo Juvarra, two famous architects who made the
                           city to the capital of the Savoyan State.

Art Nouveau in Turin: Turin at the beginning of the 19th century, the "flower style" of the villas
                           and buildings of the city's new areas. 

Changing Turin:     Turin, a city which is changing as far as its urban layout and its architecture
                           is regarded, a city where renowned international architects - like Gae Aulenti
                           and Arata Isozaki - and artists - like Michelangelo Pistoletto, Jannis Kounellis,
                           Giuseppe Penone, Mario Merz and Per Kirkeby - meet and work to create the
                           Turin of the future.

Religion:

The course will introduce with photos, slides and guided tours the following topics:

               

 

The route of the pilgrims: presentation of the route of the pilgrims of the Middle Ages on their
                                way to Rome, of the places, the abbeys and the monasteries which
                                witness the spirituality of the past and of the present.

The history of the Holy Shroud: the course or seminars aims to present to the student one of
                               the biggest mysteries of Christianity: the Holy Shroud, which has been
                               kept in Turin since several centuries. Part of the course will also be a visit
                               at the Museum of the Holy Shroud.
 

Literature:       Italy's and Piedmont's most famous authors

During this course the students will get to know several authors, who were born, grew up and lived in Piedmont and who in their works described and spoke about this region.

Some of those authors have been important for the Italian literature and are, sometimes,
also internationally renowned, as for example Alfieri, Pavese, Soldati, Ginzburg,
Fruttero & Lucentini.

During the course the students will also read and analyse extracts of their works and
will make excursions to the places where they used to live or where they
found their inspiration, in order to understand better the atmospheres described in
the stories read.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                Cesare Pavese

Traditions, Arts, Industry and more …
 

WORKSHOPS

Applied and decorative Arts:

The school organizes upon request courses in applied and decorative arts, as for example:

                       

Waterpainting:     the course includes a theoretical part on the basic knowledge of colours
                           and waterpainting techniques and a practical part carried out partly in the
                           rooms of the school and partly outside, on Turin's beautiful hillside.

Bandera stitching: an introduction to Piedmont's typical stitching techniques which were used at
                         the Savoyan court during the 17th century. The main topics of the course will
                         be some information on the history of this stitching technique, on the textile
                         materials used and on the main characteristics of piedmontese baroque
                         drawings.

Schedule:                   On 2 afternoons, from 14:30 to 17:30 o‘clock
Price:                          € 25,00 (if there are at least 2 people)/person and afternoon
Includes: 
                  - Introduction to the different techniques
                                  
- documentation and further educational materials

              The price does not include the necessary working materials. The participants will have to buy
              the materials requested by the teacher.

 

Workshops on wine and cuisine in Piedmont:

The school organises monthly courses on piedmontese wines and cuisine which are normally held in the afternoon. The participants will be introduced by professionals to the wines and cuisine of Piedmont.

       

The famous wines of Piedmont

            Schedule:                     from 14:30 to 17:30 in the school
            Price:                           € 40,00
            Includes:                    - Introduction into the famous wines of Piedmont and
                                                  their combination with typical dishes;
                                               - documentation and further educational materials;
                                               - tasting of typical wines and products

The cuisine of Piedmont:

            Schedule:                     from 15:30 to 18:30 in a cooking school in the centre of Turin/in a typical
                                                restaurant

            Price:                           €
65,00 (minimum 4 participants)
            Includes:                    - Introduction into the preparation and presentation of piedmontese dishes
                                               - documentation and further educational materials;
                                               - dinner with the dishes cooked

Further workshops organised:

Piedmontese chocolates and pastry: introduction into the typical pastry and chocolate specialities of Piedmont, how they are prepared and served.

                               

Please contact us for more information and prices: info@italianoporticando.com       

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