Europe Trip

IHA Students Visit Italy in 2026

By Skylar Blake ’27 

This year’s unforgettable IHA trip to Europe brought 31 Blue Eagles to the beautiful country of Italy from June 22-30. Our moderators were Ms. Ana Echeverría P’05, world language teacher, Ms. Ellen Donoghue ’76, guidance counselor, and Mrs. Jeannine Woolley P’20, director of studies. 

After arriving in Rome and quickly stopping at our hotel, we took a bus ride down to the Via di Condotti to stretch our legs and explore the city. Even during the intense heat wave that hit Europe just as we arrived, there was indeed no shortage of water as we stopped at two major fountains on our first day: the Fountain of Four Rivers and, of course, the Trevi Fountain. Our tour guide informed us that throwing in one coin means you will return to Rome one day, two coins means you will find love, and three means you will get married in Rome. What great odds! We also had to make sure we tossed it over our left shoulder with our right hand. Superstitions had nothing on the Blue Eagles.

Our next day started bright and early in Vatican City, where we attended a papal audience with Pope Leo. We took our seats in St. Peter’s Square and were honored when IHA received a shout-out from the Vatican officials for attending the papal audience, which was spoken in a multitude of different languages.

Next stop was the Colosseum! Our guided tour taught us the history of the Colosseum, what it was originally used for, and how only the skeleton of the structure remains. We took pictures and soaked in the glory of the Romans. Afterward, we attended a pizza-making dinner where we made our own pizzas using only the best and freshest local ingredients. It was safe to say that we were so happy and well fed by the end of the night! 

Our last day in Rome included tours of the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica, where we received firsthand art history lessons. We were in awe seeing these famous and beautiful sights, and seeing the Sistine Chapel in person was a moment we will always remember.

Next up, we visited Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, where we toured the fascinating Basilica. While there, we did not just learn about St. Francis, but also the recently canonized St. Carlos Acutis. What stood out to us was that St. Carlos dressed in ordinary clothes rather than traditional religious garments. In his glass casket, he wore his jeans, regular sneakers, and a plain sweatshirt. As teenagers, we deeply appreciated this. Leaving the church where he rested, we strolled the quiet streets of the medieval town, which was both eye-opening and deeply moving.

We traveled on to Florence, where we learned that the powerful Medici family helped Florence become the center of the Renaissance, allowing art and culture to flourish. While visiting, we were able to see the Ponte Vecchio, a famous bridge that dates back to 1345 and was the only one spared from destruction during World War II. As we entered further into the city, we explored the Piazza della Signoria and admired remarkable sculptures, visited leather shops, and browsed the famous gold jewelry stores along the way. Later on, we visited the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David as well as his Prisoners of War sculptures. We were especially moved by Michelangelo’s unfinished Prisoners sculptures because they seemed to symbolize people struggling to break free from the stone. After the museum, we explored the exterior of the beautiful Duomo, Florence’s Cathedral. It was an especially hot day in Florence, so we ended a perfect day with a generous helping of gelato! 

After Florence, we had a quick stopover in the beautiful Tuscan town of Montecatini, famous for its rich thermal springs. Here we had a chance to unwind: some of us went to a spa known for its hydrotherapy muscle relief, while others chose to use the hotel pool and lounge in the sun. Either way, we relaxed and enjoyed spending quality time with each other. 

Our next stop was Bologna, where we walked underneath the famous porticos and discovered why Bologna is the food capital of Italy! Before exploring the city, we attended Sunday Mass at a local church where the Mass was celebrated in Italian — truly beautiful to hear. Some of our students studying Italian even practiced their language skills throughout the service. Afterward, we treated ourselves to a delicious lunch and enjoyed the hot Italian sun. 

Our final destination was the seaside city of Venice. Once we settled in our hotel, we made our way onto the Vaporetto and toward the piazzas of Venice. We dined on Venetian cuisine and visited the Rialto Bridge, where everyone took fantastic pictures of the Italian landscape. We then strolled to St. Mark’s Square, listening to live Italian music and soaking in the allure and romance of Venice. No trip to Venice would be complete without a gondola ride through the city, which was a treat on our final morning in Italy. Seeing Venice through this perspective on a quiet morning ride was an experience our group will remember forever. After shopping in the Piazza San Marco, we learned how glass was made at the Murano Glass factory and why it is so special compared to other countries. We wrapped up our final day celebrating over dinner with our chaperones and IHA sisters.

This once-in-a-lifetime trip allowed us to experience Italian culture while immersing ourselves in the beautiful language. We enjoyed all Italy has to offer, and while we will absolutely miss the late-night gelato runs and Spaghetti Carbonara for lunch, the opportunity to experience it with our IHA sisters encouraged us to travel more and appreciate the different cultures of the world.