Last week, from 13 to 19 April 2026, 24 members of the Association “Brotherhood of St. Giles” from Mikorzyn travelled to Italy to discover and experience Italian culture. The Association “Brotherhood of St. Giles” is based in Kępno, Poland.
Within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme, the project “Active Ageing and International Mobility” enabled a group of senior participants to visit Umbria. The Polish association developed the “Active Seniors” initiative for people over 60 and individuals with disabilities, with the aim of preventing loneliness and social exclusion.
For most participants, this was their first time abroad. Throughout the week, they had the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and workshops.
The programme included both manual and physical activities. On Wednesday, they began with one of Italy’s most iconic foods: pasta. At the Taverna Rione Badia in Foligno, they prepared traditional Italian tagliatelle with the cook Anna Lisa Benedetti. On the same day, they also discovered gioco delle bocce, a popular Italian sport. The Bocciofila Città di Bevagna welcomed them for an introductory session, offering insight into this traditional game and its competitive aspect.
On Thursday, they took part in a sewing workshop led by Professor Raffaella Bartolucci, focusing on the traditional Punto di Assisi technique. In the afternoon, they attended a local dance class led by a CrackLab employee, Jonatas, where they explored different styles of dance.
On the final day, they visited Città di Castello to see a modern art exhibition. They also experienced olive oil production at a local mill, where they had the opportunity to taste freshly made olive oil.
