I checked a while ago, where my grandparents were born: foggia they have a university and they fence, why not see if you can transfer to Italy for some art classes or something useless and meanwhile get on their fencing team!? That's what I would do.
The octopus was a symbol of the Early Roman Empire.
Epee is a weapon of deceit and guile. You tend to take your time and counter-attack. You can touch your opponent anywhere at any time.
The area in Italy is really not importation. I am trying to find out an excellent club that has a summer camp program and/or an excellent coach in sabre.
If you want to fence Saber go to the town of Frascati (you can take train from Rome) they hold a Jr. (cadet)World Cup saber tournament at their club there every year. Nice town.
Frascati is an excellent club in a great town. There is a Italian-American fencing camp there most years (with the exception of last because they were redoing the club) in the summer. I second the reccomendation of this place.
If you're interested in the camp, I haven't been on it (I've only been in Frascati for other reasons), but a friend has. I think it goes out of Lucchetti Fencing in California. www.lucchettifencing.com