“From the forum to the canals of Venice, beauty was everywhere!” says one student who attended the field trip to Italy this year, which was run by the Lindenhurst High School’s Italian Club!

From the pavement on the roads to the painting on the walls, history was everywhere. This years Italian trip was attended by over 60 people from the school and ran for ten days. Traveling from city to city, many students got to experience something that many people will never have the chance to. The trip was led by the club advisor, John Rosillo, and was spanned much of the northern half of the Italian peninsula. This trip was a sight for sore eyes as most of the scenery could only be seen by post cards for the average person who cannot travel to a place so magical.

The trip commenced when the plane landed in, the fashion center of the world, Milan. It was a just short period of time before the students made their way to the famed city of Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Verona. Here students we’re able to see the tower that was dedicated to the fictional feud of the Capulets and Montagues which has made the city a very romantic place. After Verona, the students traveled to the canal city of Venice. Surrounded by hundred year old buildings and floating down the canals on gondola rides was understandably the highlight of the trip for many. A bit of time was spent on these cities before the next big stop in Florence.

A city pure in Renaissance history, artifacts were abundant. One of the highlights of Florence was the 437 stair walk up to the top of “Il Duomo.” This domed cathedral built in 1436, allowed some of the most beautiful views of a city renowned for a beauty and culture. From there, the trip went to the quiet, reserved, and religious city of Assisi. Known worldwide as the birthplace of St. Anthony, many students spoke about the old untouched style of the city that seems to have some aspects of daily life unchanged through the centuries. Respects were paid at the tomb of the patron saint of the graceful city.  From there the trip went to the center of the ancient world, Rome.

Rome was filled with adventure for the students to find and seek. From shopping to history, it is all there. The students went to the Flavian Amphitheatre which has stood the test of times. The inside of the theatre that once held 50,000 people is now a floorless reminder of the greatness of Roman power. Following their trip to Rome, the tour group made their way to the ancient city of Pompeii. Virtually untouched for the past two thousand years, this city showed the similarities and the differences from the world we live in today. The city once covered in ash from Mt. Vesuvius has been preserved the same way it was when it was covered in the year 79 A.D.

After Pompeii the trip closed with a short trek to the city of Sorrento. Not much was there other than lemons. Lots and lots of lemons. From lemon drinks to lemon cookies this town has infused their abundant amount of fresh lemons into their everyday life and culture. The trip was planned to end at Mr. Rosillos family olive oil farm, but due to the rare occasion of a snow storm the trip hung around Rome until they were ready to go home. Many students had the times of their lives and truly learned so much they they never knew about history and about the life and cultures of other people with whom they share this planet with.