After canceling the well-awaited Seniors’ trip for two years in a row due to the Pandemic, a very exciting and loved tradition for AAT students was renewed. The Senior Class of 2023 had the fantastic opportunity to visit Florence and Rome for six days and explore the magnificent sights of the cities together. With 65 students going on the trip, the journey was filled with excitement and fun for everyone, including the teachers (Eka Tatishvili, Irina Chkheidze, Marika Dadiani, Ruso Abramidze, and Ninka Bakradze) who accompanied the students. They created unforgettable memories that they can keep and admire forever!
To get more intel and details on this pleasurable trip, a senior student, Elene Chinchaladze, was interviewed, as well as Eka Tatishvili, for two perspectives on the trip.
Interview with one of the students, Elene Chinchaladze:
What expectations did you have for the trip? Were they fulfilled?
I had high expectations for the Italy trip this year. Especially considering Covid-19, everyone was excited for Italy. I would say my expectations were met, for at the end of the day, I was satisfied with the trip. It was definitely an experience to be remembered.
How did you spend your time?
Every day we would have a tight schedule to follow, and later, after visiting all the places on the list, we had free time until 9 pm, when we ate great food and went shopping. I would say the food was amazing, and after walking at museums for hours, it felt rewarding. In Florence, we visited Galleria Academia and saw Michelangelo’s David. Then we went to Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza del Duomo, and Galleria Uffizi. In Rome, we visited the Colosseum and saw Baroque architecture in Rome – Trevi Fountain, Palazzo Doria Pamphilj. We saw Caravagio’s work at the church of San Luigi dei Francezi. We visited the Spanish Steps and went to the Vatican museum. At – the Santa Maria del Popolo church, we saw the work of Caravaggio, Raphael, Pinturicchio, and Bernini. I know this seems like a lot, but I probably left out some places.
What was your favorite part of the trip?
My favorite memories are those we shared mostly after going to the museums and at the hotel with my classmates, roommates, and teachers.
Eka Tatishvili was also interviewed and she summarized the trip:
“The trip was fantastically planned; Ninka Bakradze (the art teacher) had planned it exceptionally well, and the students were on their best behaviour. It was all fantastic! All the students bonded with each other.
We did not get tired; we were all very organized as we went sightseeing. There were many of us, and it usually was hard to organize a large group of students, but the students managed to stay put. There was a strict regime we followed, starting from 9 am. In Florence, we visited the Church of Saint Augustine, Church of San Luigi de Francezi, Accademia Galleria, and in Rome, the Piazza Del Popolo Obelisk, Piazza Spagna, Basilica of Saint John in Laterano and the famous Trevi Fountain, and many more highly fascinating places! The students also had free time, which they used very well. From my perspective, this was an extremely delightful adventure for the students, and this trip was extremely important for students to experience."
Edited by Zura Gigineishvili