A Trip to Rome by Erasmus Programme

In 2026, the Knowledge Mediation Department of the Museum of Ethnography will participate in the Erasmus programme. During the first trip, three colleagues visited Rome, where they explored the capital’s museums and cultural heritage; the following days were spent discovering the treasures of the surrounding towns. Here is their account of the trip:

On the first day in Rome, we attended an orientation session that covered the relationship between ethnography and contemporary art, the Vatican’s photo collection, and the archaeological site in Lanuvio.

The next day, we visited the Guglielmo Massaia Ethiopian Museum in the Capuchin Friary (Convento dei Frati Cappuccini)  in Frascati. The collection is the result of the work of missionary and collector Guglielmo Massaia, who was himself a resident of the monastery. Afterward, we took a guided tour of Villa Falconieri, home to the Vivarium Novum Academy. What makes this institution unique is that education is conducted in Ancient Greek and Latin.

On the third day, after a long drive, we arrived in the town of Cellere, where we were given a guided tour of the local bandit museum. The museum is based on a work by journalist Adolfo Rossi, which recounts the story of the “reign” of the bandit Tiburzi. From there, we traveled on to Viterbo, a town with a medieval atmosphere, where we learned about the history of the first conclave.

On the last day, we explored Albano’s cultural heritage and also discussed various forms of knowledge exchange. To wrap up the day, we were able to tour the city’s catacomb system.

Overall, we participated in extremely enriching and useful programs. It was particularly valuable for us to visit places that are not among the usual tourist destinations. During the trip, we gained many new insights and professional experiences.

- Knowledge Mediation Department