C.C.I.C. “PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA”
CENTRO DI CULTURA ITALIANA CASENTINO
Italian Language and Culture School
Piazza Amerighi 1 – I-52014 Poppi (AR) – Italia
www.parlital.it - arno@parlital.it - tel./fax 0575529774
The C.C.I.C. "Piero della Francesca" has been a school of Italian Language and Culture for Foreigners
since 1982. Our Courses are held in Casentino, a splendid Tuscan valley, famous for its connections with
Dante Alighieri, rich in medieval castles and romanic churches within the National Park of the Casentino
Forests.
The school has its centre in the historical town of Poppi, a medieval village which retains the traces of a
noble past and which has been recognized as one of "I BORGHI PIU' BELLI D'ITALIA" (The Most Beautiful
Villages in Italy) by the National Association of Italian Municipalities – ANCI.
The C.C.I.C. "Piero della Francesca" carries out its role as cultural operator under the patronage of the
Unione dei Comuni Montani del Casentino and of Poppi Council.
Our courses of Italian Language and Culture take place in a friendly and informal atmosphere, in direct
contact with the daily life of Poppi.
The C.C.I.C. boasts a well established staff of qualified, highly experienced, Italian Language teachers.
The Italian Language Courses are held in the morning and are supplemented in the afternoon by an
intense program of cultural activity, in the environment of which the students – guided by the same
language teachers – come into contact with different historical, architectural and naturalistic aspects of
Casentino.
The C.C.I.C. also proposes Seminars on Dante, Seminars on Piero della Francesca, Latin Courses, Italian
Language Courses on Lyrical Opera, Cookery Courses, Painting Courses and Courses on Manual
Workmanship in Stone.
Italian Language Courses
Lessons are held in the classrooms of the school building from Monday to Friday.
The four daily lessons, each lasting 50 minutes, are subdivided into two sections with two different teachers. There will
be an interval of 30 minutes between the two sections.
At the beginning of the course, participants will be divided into small, homogeneous groups based on a written test
and a brief interview with the teachers. Each group has four or five students on average, with a limit of eight.
The primary objective of the course is to develop ability in the spoken language, constant attention being given to the
written form and grammatical aspects. Working in small groups encourages communication and stimulates active
participation by the whole class.
Italian only is spoken during the lessons, as from the initial stages. The presence of two teachers who alternate in
class work favours high efficiency in scholastic activities. Apart from the text book, the teachers make use of material
which has been prepared by themselves in response to specific problems in connection with both class work and
individual students. Particular attention is given to theatrical techniques, role play, audio-visual aids and sound
equipment. The teachers are present during afternoon activities, excursions, guided tours and at meal times. This
creates a strong link between class work and external activities.
Standard Course: 20 weekly lessons in classes of 5 to 8 students.
This course is designed for those who wish to learn or to improve their knowledge of Italian language.
The lessons comprise language-grammar sessions and periods of conversation practice.
The participants are divided into homogeneous groups, based on a short written test and a brief conversation with the
teachers.
There are 6 levels scheduled for the Italian Language courses: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2.
Trio Course: 20 weekly lessons in classes of 3 to 4 students.
This course has been organized to satisfy those who wish to gain a quicker more personalized understanding of Italian
language.
The course begins automatically if the minimum number of 5 students – necessary for the Standard Course – is not
reached.
Duo Course: 20 weekly lessons in classes of 2 students.
This course has been planned for those who desire a more efficient and highly personalized instruction.
Intensive Course: 20 weekly group lessons in the classroom + 5 individual weekly lessons of 60 minutes each.
This course is aimed at satisfying those who wish to learn and perfect their knowledge of Italian, linking the benefit
derived from the group lessons to the deepening of their knowledge through the individual lessons.
One-to-One Course: 10/20 individual weekly lessons of 50 minutes each.
It allows a very efficient interaction between the teacher and the student and can be tailored to suit the student's
specific requirements.
Latin Courses
The lessons concentrate on phonetics and morphology, paying particular attention to the syntax constructions
(infinitive, time clauses, causative clauses, final and consecutive clauses) which permit the translation of texts which
are not too difficult.
C.C.I.C. "Piero della Francesca" – Centro di Cultura Italiana Casentino is working under the Patronage of
Unione dei Comuni Montani del Casentino
Comune di Poppi
C.C.I.C. “PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA”
CENTRO DI CULTURA ITALIANA CASENTINO
Italian Language and Culture School
Piazza Amerighi 1 – I-52014 Poppi (AR) – Italia
www.parlital.it - arno@parlital.it - tel./fax 0575529774
The method used is first of all the reading and comprehension of sentences and short passages in latin, in order to
arrive at the learning and formulation of the underlying grammatical rules, gaining in this way the fundamental
elements of latin culture and literature.
No previous knowledge of latin is required, but some preparation in the basic principles of Italian is necessary.
Seminars on Dante Alighieri and "On Dante's Tracks in Casentino"
Casentino is incessantly present in the life and the work of Dante Alighieri and Dante Alighieri is constantly present in
the history and imagination of Casentino.
If it is true that numerous critics recognize in Casentino the inspirational source of enchanted natural landscapes
described in Purgatory and even indicate the morphology of the Casentino Valley as a model of the same physical
stucture of Purgatory, undoubtedly, in addition to the illusions and evocations, precise and effective citations of
particular places of Casentino appear throughout the Divine Comedy.
Study Seminar "Dante Alighieri in Casentino: moments of Dante's human, political and artistic
experience"
The one-week seminar, aimed at non-specialists, has an historic nature. The objective of the seminar is to provide the
participants with a thorough interpretation of Dante’s work, starting with the analysis of the literary elements and
clarifying their relationship to the artistic and political events of the time regarding the Poet’s Casentino experience.
The program foresees four sessions, the conference "Casentino in the life and works of Dante Alighieri", four sessions
of reading and interpretation of the Divine Comedy, guided tours to the Dantesque places in Casentino.
"On Dante's Tracks in Casentino": the Divine Comedy in the inspirational places of Dante
The objective of the Itineraries is to accompany participants – guided by the reading of the Divine Comedy – in the
discovery of the marvels of Casentino, both known and unknown, which left a deep impression both on Dante himself
and on his masterpiece.
The participants in the Itineraries will be able to see with "Dante's eyes" the medieval villages, the castles and
landscapes which have remained quite unchanged, even intact, as are the austere forests preserved within the borders
of the National Park of the Casentino Forests.
The program foresees three study sessions, three sessions of reading and interpretation of the Divine Comedy, five
guided tours to the Dantesque places in Casentino, three dinners; two lunches in a typical Casentino restaurant; three
overnight stays with breakfast.
Seminars on Piero della Francesca
Piero della Fancesca: an indisputable cornerstone of Renaissance art, but, above all, an artist able to seize the stimuli
and entreaties of the culture of his time, leaved an indelible mark in the history of art.
The course unravels a fascinating journey which, departing from Piero’s place of origin, accompanies the student
through the Renaissance courts, reconstructing their climate, culture, protagonists, exchanges and encounters, by way
of the figure of the Master and the echoes of his art.
The one-week seminar, not aimed at specialists, has an historic character. Its objective is to get the participants to
examine and interpret Piero della Francesca’s painting, starting from the analysis of its iconographic elements and
clarifying those relationships with events and religious and political ideas of the time.
The program foresees four seminar meetings, two conferences of specialists invited by C.C.I.C., guided tours to the
works of Piero della Francesca housed in Arezzo, Sansepolcro, Monterchi and Urbino.
Courses of Italian Language and Wellbeing
The wellbeing of body and mind. This is the theme of the courses.
The pleasure of studying, learning and perfecting one’s knowledge of Italian culture and language. The pleasure in
discovering new and delightful corners of Casentino and in enjoying the places and views at the pace of a slow walk.
The pleasure of taking an invigorating sauna at the end of a long walk. The pleasure of enjoying a relaxing massage.
And, to complete the day, enjoying dinner with traditional Tuscan and local dishes.
The Course lasts for one week with a total of twenty lessons of Italian Language and Culture, three guided walks and
two cultural in-depth studies with a guided tour in the most evocative places of Casentino, two saunas, four dinners in
gastronomic theme, two lunches in typical Casentino restaurants and three packed lunches, six overnight stays with
breakfast.
Courses of Italian Language and Tastes of Casentino
The Courses are arranged to guide participants in the study of the language and culture of Italy at the same time
introducing them to "The Tastes of Casentino" offering them traditional Tuscan and Casentino dishes using local wellknown, typical products.
One cannot visit Casentino without tasting the local, traditional dishes. The recipes, frequently of medieval origin,
reflect the old, peasant culture. We can discover how and where these typical products are prepared by visiting some
of the most well-known local producers and trying out their quality products on the spot! Under the guidance of an
expert cook the participants have the possibility to prepare meals taken from typical Tuscan and Casentino recipes.
C.C.I.C. "Piero della Francesca" – Centro di Cultura Italiana Casentino is working under the Patronage of
Unione dei Comuni Montani del Casentino
Comune di Poppi
C.C.I.C. “PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA”
CENTRO DI CULTURA ITALIANA CASENTINO
Italian Language and Culture School
Piazza Amerighi 1 – I-52014 Poppi (AR) – Italia
www.parlital.it - arno@parlital.it - tel./fax 0575529774
The Course lasts for one week with a total of twenty lessons of Italian Language and Culture, three guided trips to
discover "The Tastes of Casentino", a cultural in-depth study with guided tour through the most evocative corners of
Casentino, a course on typical Tuscan and Casentino cookery – followed by dinner, four dinners in gastronomic theme,
lunch in a typical Casentino restaurant, six overnight stays with breakfast.
Italian Language Courses on Lyrical Opera
The Course comprises the study of the libretti of the various operas, including reference to their lexical and
grammatical content. Students will listen to some of the more outstanding arias. In this way it will be possible to
appreciate the rendering of the operas and the musicality of the Italian language which in itself induced foreign
composers, such as Mozart, to couple his music with lyrics in Italian.
The Course lasts for one week with a total of 20 lessons.
This Course has been prepared for those students who already have a good knowledge of the Italian language and
who wish to deepen and perfect their understanding through the study of lyrical opera.
Cookery Courses
The Course consists in the study of recipes, the preparation of ingredients and the creation of Italian dishes, including
those typical of Casentino – under the guidance of an expert chef.
Every meeting will be followed by a dinner during which the students will taste the meal prepared by themselves.
The Course comprises 2 weekly lessons each of 3 hours, including dinner.
Painting Courses
The engaging teaching method which C.C.I.C. has developed for its painting classes is based on students’ creative
participation in the learning process.
Indeed, students will engage in the realization of an actual work of art under their Maestro’s direction. Such work will
gradually take shape, from the drawing of the subject to the finishing stroke.
The Course comprises 2 weekly lessons each of 2 hours.
Courses in Stone Workmanship
The Course comprises the theoretic study and the practical techniques of manual stone workmanship.
The students – under the guidance of their Maestro will be put to the test by trying out their skill in creating a work of
their own, as from the moment the subject has been sketched, and which will develop progressively until the final
stage of applying the finishing touches has been reached.
It has been prepared for those who wish to learn and deepen their knowledge of this important and expressive form of
traditional Casentino culture.
The Course comprises 4 lessons each of 3 hours to be held within a period of 2 weeks.
Courses for High School students from abroad
For some years the C.C.I.C. "Piero della Francesca" has been offering its own thirty-years experience in the teaching of
Italian language to classes of High School students from abroad where Italian is already taught.
Courses of Italian Language and Culture for Scholastic Institutes
The C.C.I.C. "Piero della Francesca" organizes Courses to perfect knowledge of the Italian language.
The Courses last for 1–2 weeks and are designed for High School students from abroad with the aim of providing them
with the opportunity of completing their studies which originated in their own particular schools.
The Course includes an in-depth study of specific aspects of the grammar, syntax and lexicon and, above all,
conversational practice. As far as the syntax-grammar parts of the Course are concerned, these can be agreed upon
by the C.C.I.C. teachers together with those of the foreign schools, paying particular attention to the precise didactic
needs highlighted by the latter.
The practising of the spoken language privileged by the C.C.I.C. teachers, both in morning courses and in the in-depth
cultural afternoon studies, is particularly stimulated by the opportunity to meet and socialize with local, contemporary
age groups and with the people of Poppi, facilitated by the calm and relaxed environment of Poppi and by the openmindedness of its inhabitants.
The basic 'packet' course of Italian Language and Culture includes 4 morning lessons from Monday to Friday with the
possibility of agreeing upon particular aspects and topics of the Italian Language and Culture. Such a 'packet' can be
integrated by in-depth cultural studies which envisage afternoon excursions and possible lunch in restaurants which
specialize in typical Casentino dishes.
It is possible, however, to create personalized 'study packs' for the needs of every single institute and work out free
estimates without commitment.
It must also be remembered that it is possible to organize guided tours to Arezzo and Florence.
C.C.I.C. "Piero della Francesca" – Centro di Cultura Italiana Casentino is working under the Patronage of
Unione dei Comuni Montani del Casentino
Comune di Poppi
C.C.I.C. “PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA”
CENTRO DI CULTURA ITALIANA CASENTINO
Italian Language and Culture School
Piazza Amerighi 1 – I-52014 Poppi (AR) – Italia
www.parlital.it - arno@parlital.it - tel./fax 0575529774
"On Dante's Tracks in Casentino" for Scholastic Institutes
The Itineraries have the aim of accompanying participants – guided by the reading of the Divine Comedy – to discover
the deep effect which the places of Casentino had in the work of Dante and to analyse the Casentino experience of the
poet reflecting the artistic and political trends of the time.
A Tavola con gli Insegnanti
During their stay at Poppi the students enjoy lunch and dinner together with their teachers in typical Casentino
restaurants. These convivial moments give the students an opportunity to savour the gastronomic specialities of
Casentino, to practise their conversation and to deepen their knowledge of spoken Italian.
Approfondimenti Culturali
In the afternoons it is possible to take part in excursions together with our teachers so that students can appreciate
the very significant local history and culture.
These outings include a visit to Poppi and other medieval villages with their parish churches and castles. The
monasteries of Camaldoli and La Verna are of particular importance where one can feel immersed in the spirituality
they offer. Also included is a visit to Arezzo to see the frescoes of Piero della Francesca.
Cucinare Insieme
Under the guidance of an expert cook the participants have the possibility to prepare meals taken from typical Tuscan
and Casentino recipes. "Cucinare Insieme" is a brief cookery course which, in a friendly atmosphere, offers participants
the opportunity to learn the secrets of local, traditional dishes.
At the end of the meeting there will be a dinner during which the participants will taste the courses prepared by
themselves in the company of teachers and friends.
Free Afternoons
During the afternoons when no school activity is scheduled, students can deepen their knowledge of Casentino by
visiting local architectural and historic masterpieces and also museums in Florence (40 kilometres away).
It is also possible to enjoy trips through the National Park of the Casentino Forests whose centuries-old woodlands
offer the opportunity to admire and enjoy the splendid colours of a still-intact nature.
Sports and Amusements
In Casentino it is possible to play tennis and golf. Students at the school enjoy the use of facilities and price discounts.
Swimming is possible in two well-equipped pools, as is horseback-riding at one of the many sites in the area.
At Poppi and its nearby towns there are four cinemas, a discothèque, numerous bars, pubs and open-air cafés.
On every summer weekend a local festival in the piazza ("sagra") can be found, each time in a different village, where
one can eat, drink and dance the "liscio".
Accommodation
During your stay in Poppi the school offers various types of accommodation. You can choose one of the local hotels, an
agritourism structure in the surrounding countryside or share with other students a 2 or 3-bedroomed flat in the
historical centre of Poppi, or nearby.
The school will, on request, provide information and a list of the agritourism structures, hotels and rooms in which it is
possible to lodge; also accepting the responsibility of eventual booking.
It is also possible – for a limited number of students – to be accommodated with an Italian family.
An alternative arrangement is to occupy a flat in the historical centre of Poppi – or neighbourhood – either alone or
with friends and family. In such cases the school will provide, on request, a list of the available flats with respective
prices.
Booking and Information
The Secretary’s Office is open for booking and information throughout the year.
Monday to Friday, from 10.00 a.m. to 13.00 p.m.
Tel. 00390575529774 Fax 00390575529774
Mobile 0039 393 6415418
e-mail: arno@parlital.it
website: http://www.parlital.it
C.C.I.C. "Piero della Francesca" – Centro di Cultura Italiana Casentino is working under the Patronage of
Unione dei Comuni Montani del Casentino
Comune di Poppi