Lonato Students Explore Local Heritage through History, Art, and Restoration
An invitation not to forget the heritage that has been handed down, to love it and get to know it better. Launched some time ago within the nursery, elementary, and middle school environments, it gained considerable success thanks also to the interest and patient guidance of some teachers. The goal of creating a “laboratory” on Lonato for fifth-grade elementary and first-grade middle school students was achieved. “School tells the story of Lonato”, the title of the initiative, as explained by Professor Anna Federica Stranieri, laid the groundwork for a very specific program, namely to review, through the eyes of the students and thanks to their commitment and enthusiasm, our town so rich in history and in artistic and natural beauties.
The results were evident. Some classes focused on the Morenic Hills, others on famous historical figures, still others on trades from the past, and finally, 5ª C and 1ª C revisited the most important artistic monuments with the help of expert Lino Lucchini, who is also known for his in-depth knowledge of Lonato’s history. The middle school students decided to tackle something more challenging: adopting a monument, specifically an old washhouse located in a quiet square in front of the Canossian Sisters’ monastery, not far from the school itself.
For several years now, Anna Federica Stranieri notes, a European-level project has been promoting among students of all school levels an interest in the artistic beauty of their town, suggesting the adoption of a monument to study, enhance, and possibly restore with the support of local administrations. Even Lonato’s Department of Public Education, among the first in the province of Brescia, has shown sensitivity to the directions from the students and immediately offered its help, resulting in a council resolution.
Taking an interest in the washhouse meant for the young researchers to ask what function it once served for the local population, what other similar structures existed in town, how waters reached the fountains, and also how irrigation occurred in the fields. Gradually, they managed to reconstruct a small glimpse of daily life, rich with testimonies, memories, and curiosities provided patiently by many adults.
Conclusion and results of the project
“A truly exciting experience,” notes Professor Stranieri, “to which everyone participated with pleasure and without ever backing down from the numerous extracurricular commitments, because the laziness sometimes shown by our students in studying disappears when something truly interests them. And surely, rediscovering their own past, learning to recognize the value in even small things, and experiencing the method of historical research piqued their interest.”
At the conclusion of the entire work, three different ways were chosen to convey the result of many efforts to others: a computer-produced text created with the collaboration of Professor Langella, IT teacher, available on CD to everyone, an exhibition with the photos taken and the restoration projects created by the students under the guidance of Professor Casari, art education teacher, and finally, a day in the square to relive the old washhouse through small plays and songs.