Our Rome students visited Ronciglione over the weekend to experience their famous Carnival that takes place in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday. Our Resident Director, Mary Handley, sent some photos of their daytrip that I wanted to share. There were processions, marching bands and cheerleaders, and a famous horse race where riderless horses race through the medieval town.
I hope all students take advantage of the traditional festivals that take place in their host countries while they study abroad. I will never forget attending the Carnival in Ivrea (Piedmont) in Italy way back when I studied abroad. You sometimes see clips on this carnival in the news around this time of year - they have a battle of oranges. If you don't wear red, you are pelted with the fruit. I witnessed a woman in a fur coat (and no red) just get bombarded with oranges! Which, of course, I thought was very funny at the time.....
Enjoy the photos!
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This is the procession of the horses and the Ronciglione banner.
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Brandon, Cortny, Bruna, Mary , Luca, and Aldo all enjoying the day in Ronciglione.
The procession continues....