A Greek and Italian Odyssey

Following a delay of almost five years due to the disruptions of COVID-19, the Classics and History Departments were delighted to reintroduce students to the incredible sights and sounds of Greece and Italy during a trip in the Term 2 holidays.

Such was the demand for the adventure, that the 61 Classics and History students and seven staff who participated, travelled in back-to-back groups, each completing a 17-day journey.

During their busy itinerary, the students were guided through numerous museums, historical sights, and places of significance to New Zealand. In the major cities of Athens, Chania, Florence, Rome, and Sorrento they visited some of the world’s most incredible sights, from ancient ruins in Athens, to the Colosseum in Rome, and artistic masterpieces in Florence.

Other highlights included visiting Náfplio, Crete, Monte Cassino, and the ancient city of Pompeii, says Teacher in Charge of Classics and History, Hamish Faulls.

“In Crete, the students enjoyed exploring both Minoan history and World War II history, which was a theme that continued once we got to Italy. We visited the Commonwealth War Cemeteries at Monte Cassino, where some students placed plaques alongside the graves of lost relatives, and in Florence, where both groups briefly met and attended an ANZAC Service together. These visits were especially meaningful for students whose family members served during the war, including Harris Steel (Year 13) who is named after his great- grandfather’s uncle who served at Monte Cassino and was an ex-All Black. The students’ reverence after these experiences was deeply moving.”

Visiting the ancient city of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was buried by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79AD, was another unforgettable moment, adds Hamish.

“We packed a lot of learning into the trip, which was balanced by some downtime and the opportunity for the students to experience Greek and Italian culture, and some of the amazing foods both cultures are known for.”

Hamish says History and Classical Studies teacher, Beka Roest, did another incredible job of organising the trips. “It was a massive job co-ordinating two trips this time, and Beka did a fantastic job.”

The great feedback from students has made it all worthwhile, he adds. “We worked hard to ensure the itinerary had a good mix of fun and education, and really brought our curriculum to life. To have the students tell us it was great and how much they enjoyed it was a highlight.”