SAN GIOVANNI VALDARNO, ITALY (WENY) -- Last Thursday, members of the Corning San-Giovanni Sister Cities Association flew off to visit their friends in San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy. During the 10-day trip, the group has been able to strengthen the bond between the Sister Cities with sight-seeing and the exchange program for Corning-Painted Post Area School District students. 

“It’s starting a new generation,” Tim Ball, a chairman of the organization, said. “We’re starting with the new school, Licei Valdarno and ultimately will be Isis Valdarno, as well. Kind of a new regime.”  

Two CPP students are taking part in the exchange program on the trip to ring in a new era for association. Ball said this trip has given everyone a chance to learn about Italian culture and create new international partnerships for Corning. 

“We’ve had quite a few associations reach out to us to try to further our twinning partnership such as sports teams,” he said. “The high school band wants to reach out to our band, as well. It’s been pretty cool.” 

Aside from the city mayors re-signing their agreement to commemorate their special union, the group has had a chance to get up close and personal with historic landmarks in Italy. Ball said they can check Tuscany, Siena, Rome, Florence, and Cortona off their bucket lists.  

“We actually got a private tour of the Vatican from one of the Pope’s priests that someone from San Giovanni knew,” he said. “So, we got to go backstage and go down into the grotto and see some amazing things.” 

Ball said despite the cultural differences, Corning’s Italian friends are always warm and welcoming, whether it is a trip to the United States or hosting in Italy. 

“There are a lot of similarities,” he said. “They’re just happy to have us here but also happy to lean about Corning and keep this friendship going.”  

The group is flying back home to the Southern Tier on Sunday, Feb. 24th. Our friends from San Giovanni Valdarno will be returning to the Crystal City in April.