BSM Students Take in Historic Italian Sights

Yesterday, St. Louis Park Patch reported on a group of students that spent spring break . Today, we highlight another smaller group (seniors Nico Basil, Michael Conry, Anders Hendrickson and Tanner Speltz, junior Stephen Bauer and former BSM student Caleb Nesser) that took a historic, sight-seeing tour of Italy during the break. The following is written by BSM Latin teacher—and group leader—Rob Epler:

Six students and four adult travelers went to Italy for this year’s spring break (March 26-April 4). The itinerary included overnight stays in Venice, Florence, Sorrento and Rome, with morning or afternoon jaunts to Orvieto, ancient Pompeii and the island of Capri. Despite a potentially soggy forecast, the travelers enjoyed excellent weather for all but one day, and really, a light rain suits the canals of Venice quite well! And Venice’s St. Mark’s cathedral presented a unique opportunity for the group to attend Mass (in Italian!) and to receive communion.

The trip had many highlights, though a particular favorite was the ancient core of Rome, including the Roman Forum (the geographical, political and religious center of the ancient city), the Palatine Hill (with its sprawling imperial residence, the origin of the word “palace”), and the breathtakingly huge and splendid Colosseum. Relaxing sunny afternoons in charming medieval Orvieto and glamorous Capri were also highly enjoyable, as was the extensive walking tour through the streets and buildings of the ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed and yet preserved by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. One evening in Florence, the group made its own dinner at the Apicius culinary school, under the guidance of its chef instructors. Four of the student travelers even got to see a soccer match between Roma and Juventus at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

It was a whirlwind 10-day trip, and BSM’s Italy travelers arrived back in Minnesota happy and tired. I have no immediate plans for future tours, but intend some day to take student groups to Greece and Great Britain, as well as returning to Italy.