Twenty-five year 12 and 13 students embarked on the journey of a lifetime across Europe, accompanied by four very enthusiastic teachers.

We travelled all throughout Greece and Italy, making lifelong memories and friendships along the way.

Our first destination was Rome, Italy. Despite being exhausted after a whole two days of flying, we were all incredibly excited to land in Italy. Rome was truly unparalleled to anything we had seen before. Our days there were filled with stunning views of ancient buildings, visits to bustling markets, tours of jaw-dropping museums and we even danced with some Dutch students who were also on a school trip! Most importantly, while in Rome we visited several of the buildings and artworks we study in Classical Studies, such as Ara Pacis Augustae, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Arch of Titus, Roman Forum, and perhaps most spectacularly, the Colosseum. We were also fortunate enough to take a few day trips to places such as the Vatican City where we visited the museum and St Peter’s Basilica. We also visited the beautiful town of Tivoli and toured Hadrian’s Villa and Villa D’Este with its grotesque wall paintings and spectacular water fountains. Another day trip took us to the Cerveteri tombs where we entered a 2,500 year old tomb! And of course, each night was completed with an authentic, Roman dinner of pizza and pastas; we particularly enjoyed the meals from Mario’s Pizzeria and the well-earned pizza and pasta from Lil’ Mama, just outside the Vatican City.

On one of our evenings, a group of us went to an Opera (La Traviata) which was held inside a spectacularly decorated, ancient cathedral.

After a jam-packed schedule in Rome, we enjoyed a more relaxing 5 days in the gorgeous town of Sorrento on the Amalfi coast. While staying in Sorrento we took several day trips to places such as Sperlonga, the ancient city of Pompeii, Naples, and the spectacular island of Capri where we enjoyed several guided tours from Mrs Fernandez, saw magnificent artworks from the Level 2 and 3 Classics course, and ate a lot of delicious gelatos. And of course, we couldn’t leave Sorrento without doing a bit of shopping; we explored the lively markets, ate limoncello chocolates by the dozen and one student even purchased a high-end Armani suit! One of the highlights was a night’s clubbing with a group of Sicilian students in a ‘Disco’.

Though we were sad to leave Italy, our excitement about reaching Greece was palpable. First stop, was the absolutely gorgeous island of Santorini where none of us were prepared for the total luxury we were about to experience at the hotel El Greco. From gourmet buffet breakfasts every morning, to swimming in one of the hotel’s 12 swimming pools at night, our stay there was a dream come true. Needless to say, we also travelled to the most ancient of places, the 4,000-year-old archaeological site of Akrotiri, the museum in Fira, and the picturesque town of Oia where we enjoyed the most stunning sunsets as they perfectly illuminated the stunning town. One of the highlights, was our day at the beach in Perissa where we spent the day swimming in the crystal clear, turquoise waters of the Aegean sea and basking in the sun. Whilst travelling to and from these places, the group was entertained by student-led quizzes and lessons from Mrs Fernandez on the history of the area. One of the best memories of Santorini is eating delicious souvlaki and delicious gyros and finishing off with kataifi (Mrs Fernandez’s favourite dessert).

Leaving Santorini was difficult; however, the promise of what awaited us in Athens motivated the group to embark on the last leg of our journey. Athens was everything the students had hoped for and more. It was busy, thrilling, and full of gorgeous ancient buildings. Whilst in Athens we explored the Plaka (the quaint old town full of restaurants and souvenir shops) and Monasteraki (market) and of course the Acropolis with its amazing temples, including the Parthenon and ancient Agora. Fun-filled day trips included the iconic village and ancient site of Delphi, Mycenae with the tombs of ancient kings, the spectacular theatre of Epidauros and the gorgeous town of Nauplion among others. The students had a blast exploring the markets, trying new foods, and learning to bargain for affordable prices.

After a spectacular 6 days in Athens, it was time for the group to say goodbye to their travels and begin the long journey home - with suitcases at least 10KG heavier.

All in all, the 2023 Classics European Tour was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience that none of us will ever forget. Not only were we fortunate enough to see the artworks we had studied in class in person, as well as deepening our understanding of Classics, but we also formed incredible friendships with each other and memories to last a lifetime. The trip would not have been possible without the incredible effort made by Mrs Fernandez, Miss Gold, Mr Cattell, and Mr Robertson (known to the students as Aunty Gina, Aunty Serena, Uncle Hammy, and Uncle Alan) and the support of our parents and the Senior Leadership team.