Arrivederci, Rappahannock! Twenty-five Wakefield Country Day School students and twenty faculty and parents spent their winter break on an unforgettable trek through Northern Italy, Southern France, with a jut in Switzerland, immersing themselves in ancient Roman history, rich cuisine, and some of the world’s most notable architectural wonders.
Starting the 13-day trip off strong, the jet-lagged but espresso-fueled travelers landed in Milan with a full day of history ahead of them. Arriving at the Duomo di Milano, one of the world’s largest gothic cathedrals, the group climbed to the rooftop, soaking in expansive views of the city, and studying the magnificent stained glass, black and red marble floors, and the towering organ inside. Traveling through Padova, the group spent the day in the majestic, floating city of Venice. Maneuvering through the canals via gondola, bus boat, and by foot, students wandered along the historic streets and palaces.
Julianna Butler, Washington, VA, senior, commented, “Visiting the Basilica of San Marco, and walking along the canals of the capital of the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods was incredible. And as it was just a few days before the start of Carnivale, there were hundreds of amazing Venetian masks on display and many gorgeous character-actors including Harlequin, Pantelone, and Pierrot!"
Over the next few days, students made their way south, driving down Roman roads and stopping in numerous smaller towns, each notable for having original Medieval or Renaissance era infrastructure, making every street and building unique. At the halfway mark of the trip, the group spent a day enjoying the Renaissance splendor of Florence. After climbing the 463 steps through the walls of Brunelleschi's dome, they reached the top of Florence’s Duomo. The cathedral is notable for being an impossible engineering feat of the time and features artwork by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Giotto.
Departing Italy, the group made its way into France, driving along the stunning roadways of Cinque Terre. After a visit to the Fête du Citron in Menton, and a visit to the ancient Roman monument built by Julius Caeser in La Turbie, the group hiked in Nice and then spent a day visiting the Pont du Garde and a massive Roman amphitheater better preserved than the famous Colosseum in Rome.
Leaving the coast, the group headed north along the Rhone River Valley to Grenoble, host of the 1968 Winter Olympics, and stayed overnight in Annecy, a beautiful city that showcases French alpine architecture.
Next, making the way to Geneva, the group had an exceptional opportunity for a private tour of CERN, the home of the Large Hadron Collider and the world's premier particle physical laboratory. The subatomic particle collider ring at CERN extends 26-miles across the border into France.
Finally, the group crossed back into Italy through the heart of the Alps, crossing under Mont Blanc, and taking a cable car to its peak, before staying in Torino for the final night of the trip.
Next year, intrepid tour guide and WCDS Latin and History teacher, Welby Griffin, will lead the 7th and 8th grade classes on their biannual trip through Great Britain, reinforcing their study of British History. The following year, it will be back to Italy for upper school students, though this time the southern region. Students fundraise so trips are affordable for everyone. Field trips, near and far, are a mainstay a WCDS education, and the lessons learned — and reinforced, the strengthened friendships, and a deeper understanding of the greater world are something impossible to learn in a classroom.
See the original article, written by junior Tana Brady, as it appears in the Rappahannock News