Eleven Bridgeport High School students and two teachers awoke on June 19 in Spain’s capitol city after flying overnight from Pittsburgh. The journey was the first for many of the students and involved immersing themselves in the language, culture and art of Madrid, Barcelona, and Rome over the 10-day tour.

 

The initial visit focused on Madrid, which is the largest city in Spain.  The group was led on a walking tour of the city, including the Plaza Mayor, which is known for its history of bull fighting, royal weddings and public executions.  Afterwards, they toured the Royal Palace interior.  With nearly one and half million square feet, the official residence of the Spanish Royal family has 3,418 rooms filled with frescoes, porcelain wares and hand-woven rugs.

 

The tour also took the group to Toledo Spain, known for being a walled city that houses gothic cathedrals and castles.  The next leg of the trip included Barcelona, perhaps best known for its unique architecture. Many buildings throughout the city were designed by the famed architect Antoni Gaudi, the most famous one being La Sagrada Familia church.

 

“The tour of La Sagrada Familia was so fascinating,” said BHS Spanish teacher Alicia Kidd.  “It was so ornate and beautiful and we all loved hearing about the history of the city and its architecture.”

 

Barcelona is also known for its art, namely Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.  The group visited museums, cathedrals and the 1992 Olympic Stadium while in the area and enjoy an evening of flamenco dancing as well.

“There was a lot of walking involved on the trip but it was totally worth it,” said BHS Senior Ella Flowers.  “I loved learning about the culture, getting to speak Spanish, seeing how to cook Spanish dishes and making new friends.  It was also really neat to shop at all the markets with fresh food.  My favorite was the Barcelona La Rambla, which used to be a river coming down from the mountain and is now a really cool market place.”

 

Midway through the trip, the group had the opportunity to experience a “Taste of Spain” on the night ferry taking them to Rome.  Once they arrived in the Italian capitol, the toured the Colosseum, visited the Roman Forum and even had the opportunity to see the Roman Catacombs.  One of the highlights of the visit was seeing Vatican City, where Michelangelo’s famous painting adorns the Sistine Chapel.  They also toured St. Peter’s Basillica, Trevi Fountain, and the famous Spanish Steps.

 

“It was truly a remarkable trip,” said BHS Spanish teacher Dr. Jenny Santilli.  “We were so fortunate to have students who worked all year to raise funds to make this possible, but also worked on their language skills and cultural intellect prior to the trip.  It was an unforgettable adventure!”

 

Those who attended included Dr. Jenny Santilli, Alicia Kidd, Nicholas Allen, Veronica Archer, Marena Elliott, Ella Flowers, Adeline and Nancy Hill, Katie McDaniels, Mason Miller, Joshua and Cara Noonan, Ethan Rich, Alden Smith and Autumn Wilson.