During March of 2008, 43 of us explored the Italian peninsula, tracing the steps of kings, apostles, emperors and artists. As we explored the history, art and culture of ancient civilizations, we discovered the foundations to our own. We all agreed that it was the “trip of a lifetime!

We discovered the charms of Venice as we traveled her canals and marveled at her beauty. We reveled in the echoes of the choir during mass at St. Mark’s cathedral, were awed by the glass blowers’ skill and enjoyed the ancient tradition of a gondola ride down the same canals that once were home to both Vivaldi and Marco Polo.

We traveled on to the charming town of Ravenna, adopted home of the exiled Dante and site of some of the most famous and beautiful Byzantine mosaics in the world! From there, we enjoyed the beauties of the Italian countryside as we approached Florence, the capital of the beautiful region of Tuscany.

In Florence, our private guide led us through the streets of Michelangelo, DaVinci, Galileo, Dante and the powerful Medici family. We lingered on the famous Ponte Vecchio, the bridge of the gold merchants, as we gazed at the Apennine mountains over the Arno River valley. We marveled at the works of Michelangelo, Raphael and Cimabue as we explored the Accademia Gallery with its central masterpiece, Michelangelo’s David. We went on to see leather and gold craftsmen demonstrate their skill and show us their wares. We learned about the engineering marvel of Brunelleschi’s dome and the differences between Italian gothic and French gothic architecture as we learned why the Baptistery Doors were called “The Gates of Paradise” by Michelangelo.

We shopped for leather goods in the famous San Lorenzo markets and watched artists at work in the courtyard of the Uffizzi Gallery. We marveled at Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” at the Uffizi and enjoyed exploring this gallery which used to house the offices of the Medici family. We also enjoyed the best gelato in all of Italy here!

We left the Tuscany region and traveled on to Assisi, home of St. Francis. There we toured the wonderful basilica built in his honor and reveled in the beautiful frescoes there showing details of his life by Giotto and Cimabue, the two most famous painters of their time. Then we explored this picturesque, walled Medieval village with its hidden courtyards and rooftop terraces that are simply breathtaking.

Then it was on to Rome where walked in the steps of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Nero. We explored the forum of Julius Caesar that was the center of Roman commercial life for hundreds of years. Our students re-enacted the scene from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at the steps of the Senate Building where Mark Antony delivered his famous, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…” oration. To make it especially memorable, this all took place on the “ides of March,” the anniversary of Caesar’s death.

We descended into the cell of the Mammertine Prison where tradition holds that both Peter and Paul were imprisoned and where Paul most probably penned 2nd Timothy. We visited the Roman Coliseum, and spent some time there reflecting on the early days of Christianity when so many believers were martyred at sites like this.

We wondered the streets and alleyways as we explored the most famous sites including the engineering masterpiece of ancient Rome, the Pantheon. We dined near the Trevi Fountain which still operates using water pressure from the aqueducts laid over 2000 years ago. We climbed the Spanish Steps before taking our evening bus tour showing off the famous monuments spectacularly lit by night. Several had an audience with the Pope and we all explored the beauty and marvels of the Vatican Museums culminating in the breathtaking Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Then it was further south to Pompeii, a merchant city of Ancient Rome that was locked in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 73. Daily life from the first century came alive as we stood in the courtyards of a typical home, saw the first “fast food” shops.

We stayed on the “Neapolitan Riviera” in the charming hillside town of Sorrento where we learned about their famous inlaid wood and saw a craftsman demonstrate and explain his art. Launching from the ferry dock, we were transported to the Isle of Capri, considered so beautiful that Caesar Augustus purchase the entire island. Both he and his successor Tiberius spent their last years here overlooking the aquamarine waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. We spent time walking among the gardens of Augustus Caesar and enjoying the spectacular views from the hilltop palaces of Tiberius.

We said Ciao to the land of the Caesars and returned to the land of our forefathers as we finished off our tour in London. There, we enjoyed the stories of the Yeomen Warders at the Tower of London where we were awed by the crown jewels and Henry VIII’s armor! A night or two at the theater topped off a most memorable trip where we all took home memories that will last forever.