24/04/2026
Over three days, we traveled through the Calabria region in southern Italy, from Rosarno to Reggio Calabria.
We visited towns such as Polistena, Roccella Ionica, Camini, and Riace, where students explored migration and the region’s long-standing Mediterranean history of cultural exchange and hybridity.
Through meetings with local officials, NGOs, and reception centers at key arrival ports—where migrants along the Balkan route receive first assistance—we gained first-hand insight into the role of social cooperatives in migrant integration. We experienced, in a very concrete way, the deep spirit of universal hospitality that characterizes these communities.
In Roccella Ionica, we observed frontline humanitarian response at a key arrival point. In Riace and Camini, we encountered inspiring community-based models that connect migration with local revitalization and social innovation.
At the end of our journey in Reggio Calabria, we visited the National Archaeological Museum, home to the famous Riace Bronzes.
Special thanks to Mayor , Mayor , the Coast Guard of Roccella Ionica , and Rosario Zurzolo for their generous invitation and hospitality.
More than a field trip, this experience offered valuable critical insight into human rights, labor dynamics, and global migration. .illinois
