Senior Students Classics Rome Trip 25th-28th February 2024

When we landed and arrived at our hotel, we dropped our bags off and ran to the Pantheon to later have a nice walk to the Trevi fountain where we threw a coin over our shoulders into the fountain to wish to return to Rome one day. On our 2nd day we woke up bright and early to set off to see the Colosseum in all its glory. After the Colosseum we walked to the Palatine Hill, which is located right beside the Colosseum, during our walk through the Palatine hill we were amazed by the architecture created by the ancient Romans. After a good few hours of learning we were allowed to have lunch and try the Italian cuisine which I must say was out of this world. Shortly after our lunch break, we went to see Trajan’s column where everyone was amazed by the detail on the column, but we only stayed for a few minutes since we had an exciting trip to the Capitoline Museum.

After a long day of learning we all went off to the Stadio Olimpico to watch the Roma Vs Torino football match, Stratford chanted for Roma. Some students bought Roma t-shirts, scarves, and hats to express their support for the team. After an exhilarating 90 minutes the match ended 3 – 2 in Romas favour which we were all delighted with. We all headed back to the hotel on our coach for a well-deserved sleep. On day 3 we had some time to grab breakfast and have a chat before heading off in our coach to Ostia Antica to visit the ancient ruins. Later we all sat in the theatre to have lunch and a sing and dance since everyone was so lively during the whole trip.

After Ostia we headed to the Circus Maximus where everyone did a lap of the huge track that once sat a quarter of a million people. After our time at the Circus Maximus, we went to visit the Ara Pacis. We went off to do a bit of shopping and to have lunch. Unfortunately, a thunderstorm happened as we all gathered outside the Pantheon. Despite the cruel weather it did not bring our moods down as we sang our favourite songs on the 40-minute walk back to the hotel in lashing rain and flash floods. People came out of restaurants to watch our group pass by singing our hearts out in the rain. We eventually arrived back at our hotel, but we didn’t have time to chat as we had to get ready for our exciting formal dress dinner which everyone was ecstatic about. We had pizza or pasta finished off with some lovely gelato which concluded our last full day. On our last day we visited the Museo Nazionale Romano right beside our hotel to see the Garden of Livia fresco.

Shortly after we headed back to our hotel but stopped on the way for some gelato thanks to the kindness of our teachers Ms Donohoe, Ms Mahon and Ms Caspi who bought it for us. We arrived back at our hotel disappointed as we couldn’t believe our trip was over. We headed back to the airport and got home safely. This trip will definitely stay with us for the rest of our lives as we made great memories, made closer friends. and obviously we had an amazing learning experience. I hope future years love the trip as much as we did.

For more photos go to the 2023-2024 web gallery.
Daniel Corboy (6th Year)