PMHS Students Travel to Italy over February Break
February 28, 2020
Over the winter break, twenty students from the PMHS Italian program traveled to Italy to immerse themselves in the culture they have been learning about over many years. The trip had been in planning for the past two years, organized by Italian teacher, Mrs. Caparotta, and the ACIS program. The students, accompanied by Mrs. Caparotta, Mrs. Rice and Mr. Powers journeyed to Venice, Florence, Pisa, Assisi, and Rome. The jam-packed trip took place over seven days, beginning with a departure on the Thursday before February break began. Each student received a once-in-a-life-time experience exploring the new country with their peers and teachers.
The first stop for the group was Venice. Over a two-day stay in the city, the students took in views from the terrace of the T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi, explored the city’s maze of string-light entangled streets, and had the most authentic Venezian experience of all: a gondola ride through the city’s map of canals. In addition, students got a private tour of the Doge’s Palace prisons and observed a glass blowing demonstration on the island of Murano, famous for its intricate glass creations.
After a long bus ride, the group arrived in Florence. Students explored the statues of Piazza della Signoria, and walked alongside the Arno River. In the traditional Florinian leather shop, Misuri, the group was taught how genuine leather goods are made, and how to determine real Florinian leather when navigating the street markets. After a demonstration in the Palazzo Vecchio, students created their own Fresco-style paintings, a technique used by Michelangelo. The group was provided with a guided walking tour of some of the city’s largest attractions, including the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to the sculpture of David by Michelangelo. By train, they then traveled to Pisa to see the leaning tower and explore the petite city.
En route to Rome, the group made a stop at Assisi, home to the patron saint, Francis. Students explored the hills of the tiny town and took a walk through Basilica di San Francesco. Once in Rome, the tour guide conducted a nighttime tour of the city for the group, visiting the Pantheon, the Fiumi Fountain, taking a stop at the Trevi fountain to throw in coins of good luck, as well as the Spanish Steps. The second day in Rome began with a guided tour of the Colosseum, followed by a tour of Vatican City where students walked through Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and explored the city’s vast museums.
The trip was an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the Italian culture, enjoying experiences they had only previously read about in textbooks.
Junior Andrew Terraciano said, “Being in Italy transformed my understanding of the language, culture, and world in inexplicable ways. It’s just such an absurd world, that to explain it wouldn’t do it justice, but it begs to be seen.”
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EDITORS’ NOTE: THIS TRIP OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN ITALY.
