A Visit to Rome for Y11-13

Year 11-13 pupils had a culture-packed October half term, going on a 5-day visit to Italy to see some of Europe’s most iconic landmarks.

The trip was organised both to support pupils doing Italian at GCSE, as well as for anyone interested in seeing the religious, cultural and historical sights of Rome, including those relating to Christian pilgrimage and Ancient Rome.

The girls spent a morning visiting St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican museums, including the Sistine chapel, and later enjoyed seeing the earliest Christian burial places with mosaics and an underground church, deep in the Catacombs. With Rome’s rich religious past, it was an amazing experience gaining a deeper insight on Judaism at the Great Synagogue of Rome.

History was a strong theme of the visit - seeing the Colosseum and Forum, as well as a guided tour of the centuries-old Basilica Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church. More landmarks included the towering Trevi Fountain and the famous Spanish Steps.

Modern sights were certainly not forgotten however. Artists in the group could learn about different styles of art at the National Gallery of Modern Art, and no one could pass up the chance to go shopping. Everyone enjoyed sampling Italian pizzas and ice cream at the end of the long days exploring.

There was something for everyone to enjoy - historians, artists, and linguists alike - and all the girls had an extraordinary time.