From April 6 to 15, 14 Gunn art students and three chaperones, including art instructor Deanna Messinger, traveled to Italy for an in depth look at the culture, history and art.

Students on the trip ranged from freshmen to seniors who traveled throughout Italy for 10 days on this specialized tour. Students came from different artistic backgrounds and were enrolled in classes ranging from Drawing and Painting to AP Studio Art.

Participants traveled to Florence for three nights and Rome for six nights. The previous trip was held three years ago, but Messinger hopes have it every two years. “If held every two to three years, I hope to give students the chance to take this trip at least once during their high school career,” Messinger said.

Messinger organized the trip in accordance with Education First (EF) Educational Tours. Messinger attempted to reduce the pace of the tour to provide ample time for students to be able to draw and paint comfortably. Even after this trip, however, she still wishes to slow the pace down even more.

The trip was designed so that in addition to studying art, students could see and experience the culture and history of the city, particularly the beginnings of the Renaissance. “This excursion really opened their eyes and minds in ways they probably did not expect,” Messinger said. “I hope the students can come back with strong sketches and an understanding of the birthplace of the Renaissance.”

The group visited at most two sites a day, where the students could stop and paint in the afternoon and return later in the day. Sites visited include the Spanish Steps, the Duomo, Bargello and Uffizi Museum, Vatican City and the Colosseum. “There is so much to see in Italy, but given the time restraints, I wish we could have seen more and still have had time to paint,” Messinger said.

One aspect of the tour Messinger would like to change was to have stayed in a hotel in Rome. Instead, the group stayed in Aranova, a town thirty minutes away from Rome by bus. “It was inconvenient that we had to wait each day for the EF bus,” Messinger said.

Sophomore Dennis Chan was quite impressed by the Italian cities. “The trip exceeded my expectations and Italy was much more modern than I had anticipated,” Chan said.

Junior Radha Karra thoroughly enjoyed the trip and recommends it to anyone who has the chance to go. “I particularly enjoyed seeing the artwork, the Forum and the Sistine Chapel,” Karra said.

During the trip, Messinger was moved by how well the group meshed and how responsible the students were. “Travel really connects you and it was clear that deep friendships were developed,” Messinger said.