The fun began as soon as the bus left Belgrade. Joined by their teachers, the students laughed, sang to shorten the long journey to Montecatini Terme, a town in Tuscany, their first destination for a well-deserved rest. Savremena’s students proved capable of making a good atmosphere.
A visit to Florence
Day two was dedicated to art and culture. International School Savremena’s students visited Florence, the Italian capital of the Renaissance. The students first enjoyed a guided tour of the city. They visited Santa Maria Novella, the Medici Chapel, San Lorenzo Church, the Baptistery, the Giotto Tower, Signoria Square, Ponte Vecchio…
After the tour, the students had the opportunity to see and touch the most famous symbol of Florence – the bronze fountain of a boar which when touched is believed to ensure a return to the city.
Visiting the ancient city of Rome
On the third day, the students headed to Rome, a city they had learnt a lot about in history lessons. During their two-day stay in the Eternal City, the students could experience the things they had learnt about by visiting Rome’s best-known sights: Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Roman Forum, Trajan’s Column, the Pantheon and the Colosseum, as well as other ancient cultural and historical landmarks.
A walk along Rome’s most beautiful squares, including Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia and Campo dei Fiori, showed the students that Rome is not just a city, but a museum boasting some of the finest works of Renaissance and Baroque masters.
The students were most excited by the sheer size of the monument built in honour of Vittorio Emanuele II, the first Italian king, while the beauty of the Trevi Fountain left them breathless. They were particularly excited about the coin throwing tradition, where you throw two coins into the fountain – one makes your wishes come true and the other guarantees another visit to Rome.
Visiting the smallest independent state in the world
A visit to Rome would not be complete without visiting the Vatican. Accompanied by a tour guide, the students became acquainted with the history of the Papal State and visited St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, as well as the museums in the Vatican. The students had the opportunity to see some of the greatest works of art, including antique sculptures, ancient maps and tapestries hanging on gallery walls, as well as the magnificent Sistine Chapel, painted by the greatest Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo, who painted the The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment frescos on the chapel’s famous ceiling.
Our students also walked along the famous Via del Corso and saw for themselves that fashion is an integral part of Italian culture. Tourists mustn’t leave Rome without having a taste of the famous Italian ice cream and the students were particularly delighted by this activity.
Taking a stroll through Trieste
Trieste is the capital city of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in northeast Italy. A port city, it occupies a thin strip of land between the Adriatic coast and Slovenia’s border on the limestone-dominated Karst Plateau. Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Slovenian influences are all evident in its layout, which encompasses a medieval old city and a neoclassical Austrian quarter.
The students were told a short history of the city as well as the interesting things about it, after which they had free time to explore the city and enjoy its sights.
Memories for a lifetime
This trip brought many great memories to the students who got to know one another better, and whose adventures will be discussed for many years to come. To commemorate their study trip, the students brought many souvenirs.
Check out more photos in the gallery!
