This year, with the persisting tradition of Spring Trips, Concord Academy hosted opportunities for students to travel to Georgia, Germany, Italy, and Mexico. Spring Trips offered certain individuals a chance for language and culture immersion. Although the Georgia trip was canceled due to last-minute complications, the other three trips to Mexico, Germany and Austria, and Italy successfully took students on a journey of exploration and enrichment. Chaperones Benny Abraham, Aimee Lim-Miller, and Sally Zimmerli led the student group traveling to Italy. With a departure from Boston in the afternoon, they began their adventure as early as 7 a.m. upon their arrival in Italy.
After they landed, the group was greeted with a rainy Rome and a busy day ahead. Visiting famous attractions, including Palazzo Farnese, Campo dei Fiori, and the spectacular Piazza Navona, the group sought out remnants of the ancient past in modern-day Italy. The Pantheon—another famous location they visited—sparked a connection between the influential religious aspects of Rome’s history and a sense of multiculturalism. People from all over the world gathered under the oculus, a hole in the concrete dome acting as the only light source. Students explored the city in smaller groups during their free time, eating at local restaurants while actively uncovering new clues to the shaping of the characteristic neighborhoods. On most evenings, the group would reconvene for dinner, trying local cuisine ranging from pizza with bruschetta on the side to pasta amatriciana accompanied by a slice of chocolate cake.
In the proceeding days, the group continued to embark on sightseeing adventures. Stepping foot into the Colosseum, they visualized lively scenes of gladiator fights and animal hunts as described by the tour guide. Students and chaperones were able to engage in a mock gladiator fight later on during the trip. Near the Colosseum, the Roman Forum offered a breathtaking moment of respite from the hustle of modernization. The group entered a new world that had witnessed major political, religious, and economic turning points in Rome’s history. Due to the rainy conditions, the group adapted accordingly and decided to venture into an interactive exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s work, observing prototypes and models of his inventions.
Beyond Rome, the group also visited Vatican City, Pompeii, and Florence during their time in Italy. The Sistine Chapel contributed to the wonder found in the Vatican Museums, prompting the group to learn more about the Ara Pacis Museum and study Caesar’s lineage. Pompeii was found as a city frozen in time, having been covered in ash after the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 CE. A tour of Florence also brought the group to the Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, and Dante's house. After the tour, students had a chance to learn how leather is crafted; they took the chance to browse the wide variety of leather products while strolling through markets before catching the train back to Rome. Live music from talented street artists concluded many nights as the group waited to go to the hotel.
With wonder and excitement, the group visited the Catacombs of San Callisto during their final day in Rome. After having lunch near Villa Borghese, the group returned to the city center for some shopping and souvenir hunting. Shriya Reddy ’25 commented, “It was an interesting experience, full of highs and lows.” The surprise encounters among corners of the city proved to be another opportunity to further explore Rome. The group shared their last moments in the city with evening gelato, reminiscing the memories they made while savoring the taste of Rome.
While the trip has concluded, students and chaperones alike continue to approach the world around them with a curious eye, finding cultural intersections during different timeframes of history. Most members also contributed to the coin toss tradition at the Trevi Fountain, a sign that they would return to Rome. With a successful end to the 2024 Spring Trips, another group of students awaits to begin their adventure next month as the summer trips launch into action, bringing students along a promising journey of learning, discovery, and fun.