Activities & Trips

Daniel Spoerri Garden (Il Giardino di Daniel Spoerri)

One of the major artists of the Fluxus Art Movement, Daniel Spoerri established a massive garden (16 Ha, about 40 acres) in the early nineties in Southern Tuscany. The garden, which houses many sculptures by different artists, opened to the public in 1997 and offers unique views of the region. The name "garden" is derived from old maps, in which this specific area was labeled as "il Paradiso," or Paradise, referencing a Garden of Eden.

The concepts behind Fluxus, a movement encompassing all media, originated in the 1950s in experimental music. The movement left behind the institution of the traditional art museum and encourages a "do it yourself" aesthetic.

Marble Paper Workshop

Just outside of il Duomo, there is a print shop called La Stamperia owned by a local Orvietano, Lamberto. The Institute works with La Stamperia in order to offer marble paper workshops to students. In these workshops, students learn how to compose marble paper of their own designs.

The shop also has an etching press and table at which prints can be made. In the past, students have arranged with Lamberto to make and print work using his facilities. This offers a kind of unique and authentic experience and environment for our students to work in.

Free Cooking Classes

Perhaps one of the most exciting and bona fide Italian experiences offered by Centro Studi and the Art in Orvieto program are the free cooking classes taught by our very own coordinator, Alba. During these classes, which any student can sign up for, students meet at Alba's home and learn how to make traditional Italian dishes, such as gnocchi and tiramisu. Sometimes, she'll even throw in a bonus, like how to use your espresso-maker or offer some of her mother's home-made snacks.

These classes are a group effort, at the end of which food is taken home by all of the students to share with roommates, friends and even family. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain some insight into the art of Italian cooking, get to know other students and Alba and even eat some delicious food.

Field Trip to Naples, Pompeii & Paestum

For one weekend during the semester, the students and faculty take a trip to Southern Italy to explore the historically fascinating and beautiful relics of ancient times and people (which, from a design and art standpoint are astonishingly relevant). The trip begins at the National Archeological Museum of Naples, after which students are generally given time to eat at one of the delicious nearby restaurants. After this the tour continues on to Pompeii, to give context to the relics just seen in the museum.

After spending a night in the beautiful modern city of Pompeii (just outside of the ruins), the tour continues on to Paestum, an ancient Graeco-Roman city in the Campania region.

The Clock Tower (il Torre del Moro)

One must-see trip is the clock tower. Through a bookshop entrance, visitors can climb several flights of stairs to reach the fully functioning top of the tower, which offers views of the entire city. In 1875, a mechanical clock was installed inside the Tower, with four illuminated faces.

On the way up the stairs, there's a multi-room gallery exhibiting contemporary art, like the cherry on top, really. In the image on the left, you can see the urban landscape (and the green beyond) including the magnificent Duomo, the city's main square.