Convivio Society and its San Diego Italian Heritage Commission were proud to host thirty-eight students and five chaperones from La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi (La Scuola), a bilingual Italian school based in New York City. La Scuola D'Italia is one of only two schools in the United States that provides K-12 bilingual education firmly rooted in the best Italian, European and American traditions for internationally oriented students.

The evening began with a tour of Little Italy by Anthony Davi and included a scavenger hunt. It ended with the group meeting at Amici House for a belly full of homemade pizza, cannoli and tiramisu from Cucina Caprese's Giuseppe Monaco, and Tarantino Sausages provided by Bernadette Tarantino.

Convivio volunteers and members from the community, including LIA's own Lou Palestini, joined in the event along with the deputy consul to the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles, Pietro Bellinghieri. But the greatest highlight of the evening was the students meeting Sergio Davi, the adventurer and environmentalist who arrived in San Diego on Thursday after traveling 10,000 miles by sea in a ribbed inflatable boat (RIB). Sergio spoke in Italian and explained a bit about his journey after which the students’ asked questions about his incredible accomplishment. 

Convivio's involvement with La Scuola d'Italia furthered its important objectives including to: Cultivate partnerships with academia; Promote the study of Italian language, arts, and culture; Support scholarly research in Italian Studies.

As Convivio's SD Italian Heritage Commission continues its work to bring an educational component to its goal of establishing a cultural center and museum to San Diego County, our efforts in support of Sergio Davi and La Scuola d'Italia couldn't have been a better way to spread the message of our mission.