Over this past April vacation, Mrs. Diana Hampe once again created an unforgettable and unbelievably art-packed trip to Italy that left her students amazed. Covering three cities in only seven days,the students were completely overwhelmed by the amount of artwork, architecture and culture in Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Starting off the trip in Rome, the student travelers began to immerse themselves in the city’s rich culture by enjoying the ancient ruins, Baroque-style masterpieces, and incredible sights.  Mrs. Hampe first brought the students to the world famous Trevi Fountain, where everyone got a chance to throw coins into the fountain so that, as the legend says, they could ensure a return trip to Rome. Later on, the group saw more uniquely Roman architecture, visiting places like Capitoline Hill and Castel Sant’Angelo (just to name a few). The next morning, students got the chance to meet up with their tour guide for the day and see the ruins of the Roman Forum, once the political and religious center of the ancient city, as well as the Coliseum – easily the highlight of the stop in Rome. Next, after some shopping at the designer stores along the Spanish Steps, the group walked to the beautiful Borghese Galleries and Gardens, which features an enormous collection of paintings and sculptures by many of Rome’s most noteworthy artists like Bernini and Caravaggio. The group spent their final morning in Rome touring Vatican City where they gained access to St. Peter’s Basilica, admired the Sistine Chapel, and saw the largest collection of artwork in the entire world.

As the group left Rome on Tuesday afternoon, they felt as if nowhere could be as incredible – until they arrived at the Plaza of San Michele, which offers a gorgeous panoramic view of the entire city of Florence. After an evening of shopping in the city, Mrs. Hampe clearly felt as if her students needed a fresh dose of artwork, and early the next morning, she led us through Accademia, and we were able to see Michelangelo’s best known work: the awe-inspiring Statue of David. However, one masterpiece was not enough, for in that same morning the group walked through the city to see Ponte Vechhio, as well as the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, Signoria Square, and Giotto’s Bell tower – all before noon.

Just as the city began to overwhelm them, they boarded the bus and drove through the breathtaking Tuscany countryside, where medieval castles and fortresses were as natural as the Cyprus trees. We stopped in San Gimignano – a small, walled medieval town – and ended the day in the city of Sienna, where we saw the striped Cathedral of Siena, and had a drawing break in the Piazza Del Campo – one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares. Before departing for Venice though, the group made one last stop at the Uffizi Galleries, one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world. Here, they witnessed some of the most well-known pieces of artwork, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and La Primavera, an amazing collection of Raphael’s works, and countless other masterpieces.

Venice, though, was the perfect city to end their trip. The beauty of this city was unmatched by either Florence or Rome. The view from the hotel in Venice Lido was fantastic in itself: the students could see the canals, the city, and the snow covered Alps in the distance. The most enjoyable experience of the trip had to be the gondola ride through the canals of Venice Island, which allowed the group to witness some of the most picturesque sights in the city, while also giving us a glimpse into the culture of Venice. They toured the enormous Doge’s Palace that same morning, and walked across the Bridge of Sighs, the famous passage that offers a last glimpse of beautiful Venice, before leading into the tiny, stone prison of the Palace. After a few hours of shopping and exploration, they entered into our final museum of the trip: the Accademia. Here, they expanded their art knowledge even more so, to Mrs. Hampe’s delight, as they saw masterpieces by Bellini, da Vinci, and Giorgione.
Italy and everything the group witnessed in the country was unbelievably beautiful, and there was never a dull moment during the week. Even the boat ride to the airport on their final day was incredible, as they saw their final glimpse of Italy. The students owe a special thanks to Mrs. Hampe for planning such an amazing trip; to the chaperones – Ms. Lauren Culliton and Mrs. Beth Sullivan; as well as to Massimo, the Italian tour guide for the entirety of the trip, and especially to Giovanni, the boat-driver in Venice, who helped to keep the trip fun until the very end.

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