Italy: High School Service Learning (2025)

Fly overnight to Rome, Italy, and be met by the Stone & Compass staff as you arrive and check into our hotel. You and your travel companions will get settled and then stroll to the Historic Center for a traditional Italian meal along with visiting The lovely Piazza Santa Maria in Trasteverse. We will finish most of our travel days with a traditional gelato.

We are scheduled to visit the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center from 9:30-11 for a unique service learning experience about the JNRC. A typical visit includes: An informative presentation on the refugee phenomenon, an overview of their mission and a tour of the center. A presentation from a guest speaker (refugee) and Q&A session which gives the chance to find out more about their personal experience.

In the afternoon and evening, we will step back to the age of gladiators with a visit to the Colosseum. Wander around the arena and appreciate the skill it took to build such a structure in the era of the Roman Empire.The day will be filled with exploring archeological and historical sites from the Roman Empire. There will be time to explore the cobblestone roads of Rome where you can pick up traditional souvenirs and handmade crafts.

Today we will find ourselves in the smallest country in the world, the Vatican. Observe the seat of the Catholic Church Explore the home of the Pope, Vatican City. We will visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museum. Admire the artwork of Renaissance and Baroque artists as you explore the small country that is the Vatican.

In the afternoon and evening, we will make a special visit to the Piazza Venezia and the Trevi Fountain. Piazza Venezia is the very epicenter of the Eternal City. Within a 360-degree turn, Roman history unrolls right in front of you. The Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful fountain in Rome. It measures some 20 meters in width by 26 meters in height. We will make sure to make our wishes.

Once we are settled in, we will do a beach clean up and take a refreshing swim in the beautiful Gulf of Naples, while gazing at the famous Mount Vesuvius in the distance. Please bring your bathsuit and water shoes for an amazing dip in the Mediterranean Sea.

At 6:00, we are booked for an Underground Entry Ticket and Guided Tour. We will enjoy a fascinating guided tour underneath the city of Naples. See Naples’ development from its beginnings until the present day, in the heart of the historic center. A pizza dinner will be served after.

Travel to Pompeii; this UNESCO world heritage site was once a prosperous Roman city but was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Spend the day exploring the excavation of the once great city and admire the history preserved beneath the ash.

We will fly to the largest Mediterranean island just off the toe of mainland Italy’s boot.

As a stop before we get to our hotel destination, we will visit the breathtaking Beach Taormina and visit this quaint town. We will have time to swim, eat, shop, and explore.

After we get settled into our hotel in Palmero and freshen up, we will have a pasta dinner on the roof deck. We will end the evening with a gelato and/or cannoli.

From 10:30-1:30 we have our own private food tour! This classic Palermo Street Food & City Tour in English is a great way to experience Palermo’s culture and get in touch with local people. This tour lasts about 3 hours, covers many of Palermo’s street food specialties, and highlights much of Palermo’s artistic and architectural points of interest. The morning tour is dedicated to the exploration of historical markets and street food (Capo e Vucciria).
On this tour, you will also learn all about the food and its history, the recipes, and all the secrets of this unique world of colors, smells, and rich humanity. Also during this tour, your guide will point out the particular architectural, artistic, and structural elements of the city of Palermo.

In the afternoon, we will do some shopping and get to know some of the local favorite gems of the city.

We will have a leisurely morning and make sure to fill up on a yummy breakfast before embarking on another day of embracing this beautiful city.

We have day passes to visit Palmero’s famous Opera House. We will explore the auditorium and admire this opulent place.

At 1:00 we are scheduled to discover the Palazzo dei Normanni, the oldest residence in Europe and we will visit the most spectacular chapel in all of Italy: Cappella Palatine

At 10:00 we are meeting Dr. Anita Bestler, the foremost academic on the history of Sicily. Walk the city as Dr. Bestler takes us back in time 3000 years.

We will spend the afternoon taking in our favorite spots, getting last minute souvenirs and pictures. We will have our last Italian dinner/gelato before packing and going to bed early to prepare back for home.

Enjoy one last glimpse of this amazing country as you enjoy breakfast. Then, it is off to home with memories that will last a lifetime.