On 11 March last, the “Aeneas Route” Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme has been launched with its first online session. It is a project conceived and organized by prof. Filomena Giannotti, a member of the Aeneas Route Association and a teacher of the Department of Philology and Criticism of the Ancient and Modern Literatures (DFCLAM) at the University of Siena, with the collaboration of her colleagues prof. Stefano Ferrucci and prof. Alessandro Fo.
This innovative pilot project, which aims to ideally retrace the journey of the mythical hero Aeneas from Troy to the coasts of Latium, involves 24 students and more than 10 teachers affiliated with six Universities from all the Countries along Aeneas’ route and from Ireland: besides Siena University, Koç University Istanbul, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Tirana University, Carthage University and Trinity College Dublin.
It is also termed “Blended” because it is implemented in blended modality, partly online (Virtual Exchange) and partly in person (Physical Mobility).
During the seven online sessions of the Virtual Exchange, the students, working in transnational groups, have the task of developing various research lines in an interdisciplinary perspective, ranging from Greek and Latin literature, ancient history, archeology, art history, to communication and valorization of the Mediterranean heritage, while the societal challenges of this project focus on conflict and migration of the Mediterranean area, not to mention its future environmental sustainability.
The first on line session also saw the participation of dr. Giovanni Cafiero and dr. Elisa Falcini, who brought the greetings of the Aeneas Route Association and illustrated its birth and objectives, and the progress that has been made so far, until the prestigious recognition as “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe”.
The Virtual Exchange, whose conclusion is scheduled on 3 June, will be followed by a virtual exhibition of all the works created by the participants. The exhibition will be hosted on the Aeneas Route Association website, in accordance with the Protocol signed with the University of Siena last year.
The second part of the project (Physical Mobility) implies, among other things, the organization of a Summer school. It will take place from 5 to 9 September 2022 and will see all the students and teachers converge in Siena, together with some experts, among which is dr. Sandra Gatti from the Aeneas Route Association, in order to resume in presence the activities on the Aeneas’ Route, as a symbol of the long road that Mediterranean peoples have travelled together.