"On Friday, 26 September, we finally arrived in Rome after a long flight. Everyone was tired and jet-lagged. The first thing we did was collect our luggage and leave the airport. Then we got into mini buses and went to our hotel. Once we checked in, we went for a short walk to explore. We visited the Pantheon and sat by a fountain before heading off for dinner. We had fish and chips which was a lovely meal, before walking back to the hotel for a quiet night."
"We woke up and had breakfast, ready for our first full day in Italy. In the morning, we went shopping in small groups and enjoyed a delicious panini for lunch. Next, we crossed the Ponte Bridge toward Vatican City. Once there, we toured the Vatican Museums and visited the Sistine Chapel. We also participated in the Jubilee Pilgrimage Walk through St Peter’s Square, exploring St Peter’s Basilica and admiring the church’s stunning architecture and intricate details.
For dinner, we went to Piazza Campo de’ Fiori in central Rome which is surrounded by many restaurants. We had the freedom to choose where to eat, making for a relaxed and enjoyable meal. Later that evening as a group, we walked to the Trevi Fountain, an incredible experience and even more breathtaking to see in person. To top off the night, we witnessed a proposal at the fountain, ending the day on a truly memorable note."
"On our last day in Rome, we got up bright and early to prepare for our departure. We spent the morning packing and had breakfast at the hotel before loading our bags into the vans. Our first stop was a meeting with the Ambassador to the Holy See, which was a wonderful and inspiring opportunity. We then visited the beautiful Santa Sabina Church, followed by the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. From there, we admired the famous keyhole view where you can see the territories of Malta, Italy and Vatican City all at once.
Next, we took a short trip to the bus depot to board our bus to Chianti Village in Tuscany. The journey took about five hours, including a stop at an Autobahn service station for a lovely lunch. When we finally arrived at Chianti Village, we had some time to relax and settle into our rooms before enjoying a delicious pasta dinner. Afterwards we headed to bed, ready to take on Tuscany the next day!"
"On Tuesday, 30 September, we spent the day in San Gimignano. The day began with our arrival at an old medieval street, where we explored the many shops that led us to a monumental well at the top of the hill. The highlight of our day however, was browsing the historic stores and finding meaningful gifts for ourselves and our loved ones back home. San Gimignano was definitely a favourite among everyone on the trip, and we are so grateful to have had the privilege of visiting such a beautiful place."
"On Wednesday, 1 October, we had an experience of what the Italian school system looked and felt like first hand. We arrived in to Tavarnelle school at 9.00am, greeted by lots of welcoming and excited Italian students. From there, we gained insight on how their usual school day went about and how their school system worked from a presentation presented by a few students, as well as various conversations we had while sitting in on the Italian student's classes. Then, we traded them back knowledge on how the Australian school system worked! Needless to say, so many things were learnt - from the importance of clear communication (even when it's through a language barrier!) as well as how laughter is something that can be experienced in any language.
We also enjoyed a scenic walk from Tavarnelle to Barberino, finishing at a nearby lake where we played games such as tug-of-war and football. Later, we broke into smaller groups for discussions and reflections, rounding off a fun and meaningful day outdoors."
"On Saturday, 4 October, we visited the Badia a Passignano Monastery, a peaceful and historic place of worship for monks. The monastery was surrounded by beautiful gardens filled with animals such as bunnies, squirrels, turkeys, ducks, peacocks and other birds, all helping to keep the garden healthy. We noticed artworks in the courtyard that are still waiting to be restored, and the garden itself featured a maze, green trees and a few small park benches out the front where we could sit and take in the view. The monastery’s architecture was incredible, with stunning paintings, sculptures and glass doors that reflected its deep history. Later in the afternoon, we visited Il Museo di Arte Sacra di San Pietro in Bossolo, where we continued exploring more of the region’s rich art and culture."
