Classics Trip

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"IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME"

See Europe on a shoe string with the MAGS' Classics trip

34 Mount Albert Grammar Students are eagerly looking forward to the end of the term. Just as school is finishing for the majority of our students, these lucky 34 will be checking in for an exciting two weeks in Greece and Italy. This will be the fifth time that Mr Cave has taken a group of Classical Studies students on a two-week tour to see in person many of the things which they study in class. In addition they will experience a little of Greek and Italian culture, experience new taste delights and perhaps come home with some souvenirs of their time away.

The flight to Athens takes about 24 hours and we arrive on the Saturday afternoon. We spend three nights in Athens visiting many of the ancient sites and museums – the Acropolis, the ancient theatre, and the agora which was the centre of democratic life. Then we travel to Delphi which was the home of the god Apollo, to Olympia the home of the ancient Olympic Games and to Mycenae, the home of the legendary king Agamemnon who led the Greeks against the Trojans. We spend two days at the seaside town of Tolon where we can relax as well as visit the ancient theatre at Epidauros which is still used for performances today. From Tolon we travel to Corinth, and then to the port of Patras where we board an overnight ferry to Italy.

After landing in Italy we travel to Naples to visit the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum which were destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Naples is a beautiful city, and the city where the pizza is said to have been invented. From Naples we head north towards Rome, stopping at the town of Monte Cassino where we visit the war cemetery which contains the graves of over 800 New Zealand soldiers who were killed in the space of about a week in 1944. Towering above the cemetery is the hill on which the famous monastery stands. This was rebuilt after the original buildings were destroyed during the battle. The drive is long and slow but the views from the top are spectacular and the monastery is beautiful.

Our final destination is Rome, the eternal city where we stay three nights. There are far too many sights to include them all but the highlights for most people will be the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum. In addition, the students will have the opportunity to visit the famous shopping districts of Rome before we board our plane for the long trip home.








Classic architecture may appear to be all Greek to you and so that you may have a greater appreciation of Greek columns I give you this (helpful) diagram:
 Just kidding. Here it is:


This is the largest group yet to go on this tour to Greece and Italy. The next tour is planned for 2016 but if there was enough interest it is possible that there could be a tour next year. Students who want more information about the tour should see Mr Cave in the student centre – and most importantly to start saving.

Thanks to Mr Cave for putting this rave together! :)

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