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Scuola dell'Infanzia Santa Croce – Casa dei Bambini Maria Montessori

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Santa Croce – Casa dei Bambini Maria Montessori Kindegarten was funded as a Moral Entity in 1871, and was the first Early Childhood Education centre in the Umbria region (Italy).

Santa Croce is the oldest existing Montessori school since Maria Montessori brought here her new Method in 1909 and is a teacher training centre since 1950 when Dr. Montessori returned to build an experimental observation classroom.

Currently, Santa Croce is hosting children between 2 and 6 years of age (125 children in total). The School employs 11 teachers trained on the Montessori methodology, and 7 collaborators, as well as a music teacher and an English teacher.

The School is leader of the “Umbria Montessori District”, a network that brings together all the entities (charities, Univeristy and schools of all levels) applying the Montessori method in the region of Umbria. Since 2024, Santa Croce has established the Montessori Education and Peace Centre. The Centre’s premises are designed as a laboratory for experimenting and developing new tools and new processes for the harmonious growth of children in a culture of peace.

The Faces of the Project

Matteo Ferroni
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Sara Belia
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Matteo Ferroni

Architect with a background in computer studies, founder of eLand, an AI startup based in San Francisco. Former Scientific Director of the Montessori Center for Peace and Education in Perugia, he has led projects at the intersection of social design, education, technology, and civic innovation. His work has been awarded by the City of Barcelona, published by MoMA, and exhibited internationally in museums, cultural institutions, and public spaces. He has been a visiting lecturer at prestigious institutions including the Royal College of Art in London, Cooper Union in New York City, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona, and other leading universities worldwide.

Sara Belia

Sara has been a teacher at the Santa Croce Montessori nursery school in Perugia for 8 years. In the past she worked in primary school. She has acquired specific master’s degrees in Montessori method for preschool and primary school. In addition to being a section teacher, she is a responsible for coordinating teacher within the school. In the near future, she would like to start the course to become a teacher trainer, so that she can continue her professional growth.