News Archive

Italy Tour

A taste of the Bel Paese

Nine days of history, art, fashion, and food left a Shawnigan group with memories to last a lifetime.
 
Thirteen Shawnigan students joined teachers Vito and Cathy Pasquale for an educational tour of Italy this Spring Break, fulfilling one of Mr. Pasquale's long-held Shawnigan ambitions.
 
Visiting both big cities and small towns, the group enjoyed a private coach tour covering much of the country that included behind-the-scenes glimpses at traditional lifestyles, gastronomical specialities, and military history.
 
Beginning their tour in Venice, the group toured famous sites including the Piazza San Marco, the Palazzo Ducale, and the departure site of Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot).
 
In Florence, the contingent enjoyed a first-rate walking tour of the old city as well as tours of the Galleria Dell'Accademia, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Boboli Gardens.
 
A stop in Assisi included a visit to the Basilica of St. Francis and also a homemade pasta-making workshop followed by a family-style meal.
 
Moving on to Pescara and Ortona, the group explored key sites from World War II's Italian campaign, including the Battle of Ortona Musuem, the newly-named Piazza of Canadian Heroes, and the Moro Canadian War Cemetery. Students were also fortunate to hear a firsthand account of the war from Ortono native Tommas, who was 10-years-old when war ravaged his community.
 
The military history continued with visits to a battle site and to the Abbey of Cassino – which was bombed during the war – as well as to the sombre Commonwealth War Cemetery of Cassino, where 853 Canadians including two former Shawnigan students (M.A. Cotton and S. A. Martin) are buried.
 
Finishing their tour in Rome, the group visited Vatican City, witnessed Roman ruins including the Forum and the Colosseum, and enjoyed a walking tour through the historic centre of the City of the Seven Hills.
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We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.