Italian Immersion: Atlanta Classical Academy

We believe in better student travel. Student immersion programs should be authentic, educational, and value-packed experiences—not generic bus tours. What does this look like in practice? 

Our recent week-long immersion Italy immersion trip for students from Atlanta Classical Academy and their leaders Emily and Matt Flynn is a great example.

Discovering Rome: Ancient History & a Hiking Excursion

After working with us to build a seamless itinerary aligned with their academic goals and learning objectives, the ACA group arrived in Rome. Stefano Parenti, our Senior Program Director in Italy, greeted them. He worked alongside Matt and Emily throughout their time abroad to share his local knowledge and insight with the students and ensure everything went to plan.

“It's always a real pleasure to lead these groups from ACA,” Stefano noted, “because their students are above and beyond in terms of having open minds, curiosity, and maturity. ACA does a great job sharing through their educational experiences their values/virtues, and I have the pleasure to see this attitude (or gift) during our learning trips.”

After an orientation session introducing their program, cultural diversities, the daily itinerary, and a few important safety tips, the group headed outside and up the hill to Pincio for a walk in the park and a stunning panoramic view of the Piazza del Popolo, the majestic dome of San Pietro on the horizon, and the cityscape of Rome stretching out below. They finished their first evening with a traditional Roman dinner.

The next day, they set out for a long walk around Rome’s historical center where they focused on the history, art, and architecture behind the incredible cultural heritage of this global city. They took in the Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, Pantheon Square, Santa Maria del Popolo, San Luigi dei Francesi, and much more along the way, before enjoying a Roman-style pizza dinner and heading to bed for a good night of rest before a full day of hiking ahead.

On day three, they packed their water bottles and pulled on their hiking shoes for a day trip to Circeo National Park. In one of Italy’s oldest national parks (founded in 1934), also an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, they participated in a hike with the theme: “On the Trail of the Sorceress Circe.” The name of the mountain that gives the park its name (Mount Circeo) comes from Circe - a main character in Homer’s The Odyssey who gives birth to their son Telegonus. Many stories were told along the hike as the students explored a diverse landscape—from mountains to forests to wetlands to the sand dunes on the beaches. The area is home to wild boars, badgers, bats, foxes, fallow deer, falcons, lizards, 260 waterfowl species, and many other animals including the endangered Hermann’s Tortoise, so there was a lot of wildlife to spot along the way. The group stopped to eat cannelloni with a view over the sea and later enjoyed a traditional “apericena” dinner focusing on local products.

Stefano noted that this hike is one of the highlights of the trip for the students—spending time in nature, disconnected from technology, and bonding over a shared sense of wonder.

The next day, they stepped back into the city to explore the remnants and stories of Ancient Rome. They walked through the city’s greatest gladiatorial arena, the Colosseum, which, at its peak, hosted 50,000 spectators. From there, they headed “downtown” to the Forum which dates back to the 6th century BC and was once a chaotic district of temples, basilicas, markets, and public spaces. They also visited St. Peter’s Basilica and Piazza before packing their bags; the next few days would be spent in Florence!

Exploring Florence: Art, History, Food & Photography

Arriving in Florence around lunchtime, the group headed to Fedora Bistro. This is the pastry shop and bistro that is also the creative learning lab of Florence University of the Arts hospitality division. After a welcome lunch, the group was treated to a “Florence Food and Cultural Experience Culinary Lab” (with plenty of tasting as they learned about Tuscan cuisine and ingredients) and then a delicious dinner. 

Day six tied in the students’ new knowledge of Rome. They embarked on an art walk called “Inside the Roman Walls” with a special focus on 2nd-century Roman Florence where they discovered hidden traces of ancient Roman Florence. In the afternoon, they enjoyed an hour of Italian language learning with a focus on communicating in Italian and the local culture. After a few hours of free time, they gathered again for a dinner made from fresh Tuscan ingredients.

On their final day in Italy, the group focused on understanding Florence’s nickname: “The Cradle of the Renaissance” with another art walk. The Renaissance was a time of huge social and cultural change in Europe and this was seen in Florence more than in any other European city. They saw private palaces that could testify to the uniqueness and cultural richness of this extraordinary time in history. Later, they immersed themselves in the whirl of street life in Florence through a street photography workshop. They learned about Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “decisive moment”, and approaches to street photography that encourage interaction between the photographer and subject. They wrapped up their week with a farewell dinner.

“I'm always surprised and happy to see how much the students appreciate walking without complaining and enjoying being outdoors under the sky,” Stefano said. “It’s great disconnecting from the go-go-go lifestyle, from being inside with a strict schedule, and from the obsessive digitalization of our modern world. I enjoy watching students re-discover their enjoyment of the small things and the magic of in-person interactions.”

A 2025 trip is already in the works for the next ACA group.  

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We’re fellow educators, avid travelers, and study abroad experts that build custom programs around your goals and learning objectives that are experiential, authentic, and educational. Our programs are full of value-packed experiences and plenty of guidance and support from our team! 

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