Global Studies Travels to Europe

Over Thanksgiving break a group of 26 St. Andrew’s students and faculty embarked on a study tour of Italy. Primarily composed of Latin students, the group visited the preserved ancient city of Pompeii, the Renaissance powerhouse of Florence, and Rome with its mix of ancient, renaissance, and modern Italian culture. With tours led by our own faculty, Mr. Riesenberger, Dr. Clark, and Dr. Bramlett, students were directed through the treasures of art, architecture, food, history, and culture of each site on the itinerary. Highlights included climbing the incredible dome of Santa Maria del Fiore (‘the Duomo’ of Florence), viewing Michelangelo’s David, the sculpture of Bernini, exploring the colosseum from the inside, and the nightly doses of incredible cuisine and gelato! "For me, the Italy trip was unlike any experience I have ever had before," said junior Luke Fender. "The knowledge of our guides, Dr. Clark and Mr. Riesenberger, in conjunction with the places we went, really made for a really good time."

 

Additionally, a group of 19 students and 5 faculty chaperones traveled to the United Kingdom and Ireland, visiting four countries in total. The adventure started in Dublin, where the group toured St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Phoenix Park, and the National Museum of Archaeology. They finished their time with shopping on Grafton Street and Irish dancing lessons. After a ferry ride across the Irish Sea, they explored the small town of Conwy, Wales, a highlight of the trip for many, before making their way to the Lake District and Wordsworth’s house near Keswick, England. In Edinburgh, Scotland, the group's time was filled with sweeping views of castles, cathedrals, and the North Sea. Everyone enjoyed the ghost tour in the underground city and the scavenger hunt in the National Museum of Scotland. The group even had time to meet up with Edinburgh resident and St. Andrew's alumnus Peter Clericuzio '01. During their time in York, students shopped and ate their way through the Christmas market and were amazed by the beauty of the York Minster Cathedral. The group spent Thanksgiving day in Stratford-Upon-Avon touring Shakespeare’s home and that night had a Thanksgiving dinner together followed by a night at the theatre in London’s West End seeing the musical Six. The final 24 hours of the trip were spent in London visiting iconic sites such as Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, climbing to the top of St. Paul’s dome for fantastic views of the city, riding the London Eye, having afternoon tea, and visiting the evening at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. "My favorite part of our trip abroad was traveling to London where we saw Buckingham Palace and Westminister Abbey, rode the London Eye, got afternoon tea, and saw Six the musical," said junior Caroline Lowery. "Traveling abroad this Thanksgiving was a fantastic experience, and I'm so grateful for my friends and teachers who made the trip even better."