Curriculum

Italian Study Tour 2023

On the 1st of April, 20 Italian students from Years 10, 11 and 12, accompanied by Ms. Capobianco, Ms. Macolino, and Mr. Phillipson, departed Sydney International Airport for a 3-week Italian Study Tour. Our goal was to fully immerse ourselves in the vibrant culture and practice our linguistic skills, as we toured Pomezia, Rome, Sorrento, Florence, Venice, Como, and Milan.

After an uncomfortable 24-hour trip to Rome, we took a coach to Liceo Blaise Pascal, a school in the town of Pomezia, where we would meet our host families and stay for nearly two weeks. This was widely considered to be the highlight of the trip. We were stuffed with endless meals, engaged in various outings, and were treated as though we were members of the Italian families. Each day we would go to school with our host brothers and sisters. We took part in their classes, spoke with their classmates, and made new friends. We also had special Italian lessons that were targeted to our language level. 

On Wednesday of the first week, we saw the splendours of the Vatican Museum and the immaculate Sistine Chapel. We also walked around the ancient, but marvellous city of Rome, taking in the sights of the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.

On Good Friday, we left our families for the Easter long weekend as we headed off to the glistening coast of Sorrento. The days were jam packed as the group travelled to both Amalfi and Capri, absorbing the stunning sites of the Italian coastline. We had a memorable lunch in Amalfi, where an enthusiastic restaurant owner managed to fit a group of 23 people into a restaurant no bigger than 5 by 5 metres. He supplied us with delicious pasta, pizza, steak, and life advice.

As we returned to Pomezia, it started to finally dwell on us that our days with our host families were coming to an end. On our last evening, everyone gathered at a pizzeria to have one final celebration. It was a night no one would forget, everyone was laughing and telling jokes, and there was a never a dull moment. The next day, though tears were in all our eyes, we sadly had to say goodbye to our newfound friends. Despite being separated, the bonds that we made with everyone would never be broken. You truly don’t know how much you miss something until its gone. As for the rest of bus trip… well let's just say we were all so quiet. 

Our moods were lifted however, when we finally arrived in Florence, a city known for its culture, Renaissance art, architecture, and monuments. It definitely met our expectations. We visited the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which was such a sight to behold. We were able to climb Giotto’s Bell tower and we were treated to an incredible view of the entirety of Florence. In the evening we walked across the famous Ponte Vecchio. We even saw Michelangelo’s statue of David in the Accademia Gallery. We had all seen images of it online and in books, but it was such an amazing experience to finally see the famous statue in real life. 

After Florence, we took a 3-hour bus ride to Venice, a unique place and arguably one of Italy's most picturesque cities with its narrow canals, striking architecture, and beautiful bridges. During our stay, we visited many famous sites such as the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s square. We also went for a ride on a gondola through the canals which was a surreal experience. 

We spent our last days in Italy at Lake Como. The day we arrived, we relaxed and went on a walk to explore the town before our day trip to Milan. We saw Leonardo Da Vinci’s Cenacolo (The Last Supper), The Victor Emanuele Gallery and the Duomo (Milan’s incredible cathedral). The buzz in the city that day was very real, as passionate fans prepared for the Champions League match between Inter Milan and Benfica. That night we were able to watch the match surrounded by passionate fans at a nearby café. 

While the tour had its fair share of challenges, such as heavy rain, an interesting ferry trip on the Amalfi coast, various cases of misplaced hotel room keys, and a workers strike at Milan airport, it did not hinder the experience of the trip for both the boys and teachers in the slightest. Because of this experience, we developed a better understanding of the Italian culture, language, and lifestyle. Not only did we learn many new phrases and expressions, we also made countless memories and have formed strong relationships with our host families and with each other. 

Luke Goldsmith | Simon Barzan | Alessandro Salvato

Year 12 students