The Consulate of Italy in Detroit has started a new program to bring knowledge about Italy to the schools and libraries in the Consular Jurisdiction (MI, OH, IN, KY, and TN). Consul of Italy in Detroit Allegra Baistrocchi and Pierluigi Erbaggio from the Italian Consulate staff visited the Père Gabriel Richard Elementary School in Grosse Pointe Farms on May 19, 2023 to take almost 300 students on “A Journey to Italy”.  

Twelve groups of over twenty students each participated during the day, including Consul Baistrocchi’s daughter Vittoria.  Posters, photos, and maps were used to create interactive sessions with the students, who were also given pages to color, from Romulus and Remus and the gladiators by way of Italy’s most favorite food, pizza, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  

The day marked the opportunity for the Consulate to also donate two copies of the Geronimo Stilton book A Thousand Wonders. A Journey to Discover Italy to the school’s library, which already contained a rich Geronimo Stilton collection. The book is a special project of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has the aim of introducing girls and boys from all over the world to the artistic and cultural wonders of Italy.

Consul Baistrocchi plans to bring this program to other schools during the 2023-2024 school year, as well as to local libraries to expose as many young people as possible to the culture of Italy.  If you would like to have a presentation at your school or library, please contact [email protected] .

This initiative is in addition to the others organized by the Consulate to

Together with the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, the Consulate is also planning to have a day dedicated to kids within the LoveITDetroit framework of events that will take place for the whole month of September in downtown Detroit. On the 24^th of September, in 1001 Woodward Ave, beyond the Italy presentation and a talk on the Geronimo Stilton book, there will Italian fairytales, crafts, dancing, snacks and a movie.