Inaugurated on May 8 1884 the Liceo Ginnasio Benedetto Cairoli stands as a beacon of classical education in Vigevano. It is located on Via Cairoli. But let’s take a step back. It is a continuation of an ancient school. This school taught Grammar Latin and Greek. It existed since the 14th century.
Originally the Scuola Comunale was managed by the Barnabiti. These were members of the Church of San Paolo. They maintained it until 1772. After that the Magistrato della Riforma of Turin took over. This happened to all higher secondary schools in the Savoy kingdom.
During the Napoleonic era Vigevano was under Novara’s administration. The school focused on Latin studies. Later in 1849 the Collegio Saporiti became a Ginnasio. By 1868 it transformed into the Regio Ginnasio. Finally in 1887 the Liceo ginnasio statale of classical studies was inaugurated in Vigevano.
Two years later in 1889 the school was named after Benedetto Cairoli. Who was he? Benedetto Cairoli was a significant figure in Italian history. He was a patriot. He fought for Italian unification. Also he served as Prime Minister of Italy. Naming the school after him honored his commitment to the country.
From 1967 the Liceo Classico added a scientific section. Then in 2011 a humanistic section followed. By 2020 a linguistic section specializing in Spanish and Chinese was established. Moreover the first Ginnasio classes were named after Andrea de Bussi from 1940. For many years they were housed in Palazzo Saporiti. Today Palazzo Saporiti is an aristocratic residence.
The palace itself has a history tied to education. In 1828 Marchese Marcello Saporiti acquired the building. He wanted to donate it to Vigevano. The purpose was for it to become a school. Almost thirty years later Apollinare Rocca Saporiti donated another building. It was near the first. This was also for educational use.
Today the Liceo Ginnasio Benedetto Cairoli continues its mission. It provides students with a strong classical education. The curriculum emphasizes literature history and philosophy. These subjects help students understand Western civilization’s development. The school also focuses on sciences. This allows students to see connections between different fields.
The Liceo Benedetto Cairoli joined the Rete Nazionale del Liceo Classico in 2017. This network allows classical schools to collaborate. They discuss the future of classical education. The school also joined a regional network. This network shares ideas at the local level.
The Liceo Benedetto Cairoli actively embraces modern tools. The school uses digital payments. These payments reduce paper use. This helps the environment. The community has saved many trees. It has saved kilometers of travel. Also it has saved hours of time.
The Liceo Ginnasio Benedetto Cairoli stands as a testament to Vigevano’s commitment to education. It blends historical roots with modern innovation. As you pass by remember the centuries of learning within these walls.