Attending this study abroad trip to Italy was one of the most life changes experiences I have ever had. The places, the food, and the people were just phenomenal. Staying in Rome for the first half of the trip was wonderful also, the entire city had so much to offer, like tasty food and even greater historical places, as well as particularly good-looking graffiti style that you do not really find in the states.
My favorite monument that we all visited was the Colosseum. In person this stadium was bigger than I could have imagined, and when entering the stadium, it was hard to imagine it filled with thousands of people thousands of years ago, but the idea of it was great and the pictures were awesome. Our tour guide was also very entertaining and constantly interacted with students, he also gave us a few treats like food and desserts. Overall, you could tell he knew what he was talking about as well as knew his way around Italy very well. The hotels we first stayed at were also nice and organized and the workers there were available 24/7 and were truly kind and patient when trying to communicate.
For the other half of our trip, we visited the city of Florence. This city was very nice and had some similarities and difference compared to Rome; The roads were bigger, there was less graffiti, and everything felt bigger environment wise. Visiting the Cathedral was also a lovely touch and was also much bigger than I could have imagined. While all the places we went to were beautiful the people I went with were also great, as were the teachers. The teachers were very responsible and made everyone feel safe, while they were teachers, they also knew how to be our friends and engage in very entertaining conversations with the students and me included. Professor Earl and Professor Rich were awesome, and I really hope I can have them on my next study abroad trip. Everything about the trip was magical and the memories were even better.
– Sean, SPC Italy (High School) Study Abroad Program, March 2024

I had a wonderful time studying abroad in Italy. Firstly, I really liked immersing myself in the new culture. I would say I was much more prepared for this trip than last year’s France study abroad since I had been in Europe before. My favorite place that we visited was definitely Florence. Although it is a major city, we mainly stayed within one area near the Duomo and even though we were only there for a couple of days, I already knew the area’s layout pretty well. I ate the best pizza of my life in Florence! I wish I got to stay there longer. Rome was nice too, but it just felt a bit busy, plus it was super rainy there so maybe I’m biased. My favorite landmark that we visited had to be the Roman Forum. It’s incredible how those huge buildings have stayed there for so long and how they’re just in the middle of the city! I didn’t really know just how big and powerful the Roman empire was until I saw a portion of it up close and personal.
Pompeii was fun, but I wish we spent a bit more time in Naples to explore. The museum was very interesting though, and it is incredible to think that generation after generation of people have dedicated so much time to preserving this disaster for the purpose of education when it would be much easier to just tear it down. I am so glad to have been able to see a glimpse of what life was like in these ancient times! Some of my favorite moments, however, were spent either walking into random churches with my friends or simply people watching on the streets.

Overall, I am very happy to have gone on this trip. It has made me even more exciting to travel various parts of the world, and to push myself out of my comfort zone. Finally, here is a picture of one of the huge hallways leading up to the Sistine Chapel inside the museum at Vatican City.
– Lucy, SPC Italy (High School) Study Abroad Program, March 2024

Wow, there are no words I could use to describe this study abroad that would do it any semblance of justice. Before this trip, I had never been out of my time zone, let alone out of the country. Italy specifically holds a very special place in my heart, as it’s where my great-grandparents grew up. I’ve grown up with the Americanized Italian culture and have recently within the past two years started learning the language, hoping to one day be able to use it. When I learned the next high school study abroad would be to Italy, I knew I had to go. My expectations before this trip were extremely high from the stories I’ve been told and pictures I’ve been shown, and it sure did not disappoint.

On our trip, we visited Rome, Naples/Pompei, Florence, and Pisa. Out of all of those places, my favorite has to be Florence. Aside from the amazing food and delicious gelato, there was one piece of architecture that took my breath away: the Duomo. Throughout the trip, we came across amazing pieces of architecture and art, but in my opinion, none compared to the Duomo. You don’t realize how truly magnificent and enormous it is until you’re standing 20 feet away from it, close enough to truly see all the fine details. I also really liked how small Florence was. The city areas in Italy were indeed created to be walkable, but that fact was the most obvious in Florence. On the very last night, a few of my friends and I walked from our room at the Villa Royal to a McDonald’s only 10 minutes away for a late-night snack. On the way, we passed aqueduct-fed fountains spouting pure drinkable water, the academia housing the very famous statue of David, and squares with beautiful fountains and statues. It was truly an unimaginable experience for someone from Florida, where the nearest grocery store is a 10-minute drive away.

Overall, I think it’s safe to say I had an amazing time in Italy and will make it a personal goal to return in my lifetime. Ciao!
– Alexis, SPC Italy (High School) Study Abroad Program, March 2024

The trip to Italy was one of the most stimulating, educational, and fun ventures I have experienced in my life. Going to another country is such an enriching experience and really shows you new perspectives and ways of life that you might’ve never even thought of before. I made many new friends with the people on the trip, I had been worried about not knowing many of them, but it wasn’t an issue because everyone was so great!

The food was amazing (especially the gelato), and the people there were very interesting to talk to. One of my favorite parts was how different and good-looking the architecture was. In both Rome and Florence, the buildings all had an otherworldly presence in my eyes. They were all so unique and interesting to view and walk into, especially the churches and museums. Even with all the beautiful artworks inside I still found myself staring at the arches and ceilings, wondering why the buildings back home all didn’t look this amazing. However, a downside of staring at the architecture all the time was that I found myself a bit lost when I decided to listen to the tour guide again, but I’m still glad I got many opportunities to appreciate the beauty of Italy.

Another big part of going to Italy, or another country in general, is experiencing their cuisine. I learned a lot about how they make their food and how different it tastes from “Italian” dishes in the United States. A word of warning though, the pasta dishes they have there are very deceiving, looking at them one might think it wouldn’t be that difficult to finish a meal and then the next thing you know you’re full halfway through eating it. Despite that everything looked and tasted amazing, even if I wasn’t hungry, I still tried because it was all great. After arriving home, aside from the incredible drowsiness and our garage door having fallen off, I felt a sense of accomplishment and improved understanding from the trip. Studying abroad helps a lot with expanding one’s horizons and to form new appreciation for the differences in culture, and as a plus it’s really fun and enjoyable!
– Daniel, SPC Italy (High School) Study Abroad Program, March 2024