Our town and our school

Our town

Hello European friends!


We live in Anzio, a nice town by the Tyrrhenean sea on the west coast of Italy, about 60 km south of Rome, the capital city.
It has 55.000 inhabitants. It is a tourist location with a charming old town centre and it is well known for its beautiful beaches, its fishing port and its history.

The town
The fishing port
The town bears great historical significance as the site of a crucial Allied landing during World War II. Anzio is also the departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene.
In summer, quite a lot of tourists come to Anzio to enjoy the sunshine and the seaside, to eat fresh seafood and to visit places of interest.
A beach
The origins of the town are not certain. According to some historians, Anzio was founded by Anteus, the son of Ulysses and the enchantress Circe. Others believe it was founded by Ascanius, the son of Aeneas.
Antium was the main municipality of the Volsci tribe, before being conquered by the Romans in 338. Both Emperors Caligula and Nero were born here. In Roman times, Anzio became a popular holiday resort for many noble and rich people such as Cicero, Lucretius, Brutus, Cassius and Maecenas who built elegant villas along this coastline, some of which were sumptuously decorated.
 
During the Middle Ages Anzio was little more than a fishing village and the period of decline of the town ended in XVII century, when Pope Innocent XII ordered to build a new harbour. Several elegant villas were also built in the area by eminent Cardinals, such as Villa Albani, Villa Adele and Villa Sarsina.
 

 













In the early 1900’s Anzio developed into an elegant seaside resort with many buildings constructed in the “Liberty” style, such as the grand Casino known as “The Paradise on the Sea” that is no more active and now hosts cultural events.

 
 

In January 1944 Anzio was the place where the British and American Allied Forces landed in World War II, in order to liberate Rome from the occupation by the German troops. Anzio took a battering during the war, and much of the town has been rebuilt since, although with the same ageing fishing-town atmosphere.
Today Anzio is a bustling holiday resort, endowed with the necessary port equipment and services for those interested in sailing and surfing, with many restaurants and cafes too. The main square is Piazza Pia.
 
 
 
In Anzio you can visit:
·         the ruins of Nero’s Villa and of the magnificent Roman port  in the Archaeological Park on the cliff-top headland of Capo d’Anzio;
·         the ruins of a Roman Amphitheatre; 
·         The Commonwealth Anzio War Cemetery and the Beach Head War Cemetery;
·          the Landing Museum;
·         A WWF Natural Reserve with typical mediterranean flora and fauna, sulphur springs and a medieval Tower, Tor Caldara, at about 8 km north of the town.
The Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial is in nearby Nettuno.
 






 





 
 
Our School
 
"Istituto Comprensivo Anzio I" is a group of 4 schools managed by one Headmistress, Mrs. Elisabetta Spaziani.
Two of them are situated in the town centre, close to the Townhall and the main square: "Via Ambrosini" is both Infant and a Primary School for  pupils aged 3-11; "Falcone" is a junior school for pupils aged 11-14.
Two of them are situated in the outskirts: "Quartiere Europa" is an Infant school for pupils aged 3-6; "Saragat" is a Primary School for pupils aged 6-11.
The total number of the students in Istituto Comprensivo Anzio I is 1.177.
Our Primary Schools are attended by 500 pupils and 71 teachers work there. There are 28 classes. All the pupils wear a school uniform with the school badge: a blue shirt and a blue sweater in winter and a white or blue or yellow t-shirt in spring and summer.
We have lessons from Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Our school subjects are: Literacy, Maths, English, History, Social Studies, Science, Geography, Art, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education.
We usually have activities in our classrooms and also in our science lab, computer lab and languages lab. We practice sports in the school gym. In the morning we have a break of 15 minutes at 10.30. Some classes have lunch in the school canteen and other ones in their classroom. After lunch we have one hour break and then lessons again.