Trip to Rome
Our class participated to a European competition called EUROPA ALLA LAVAGNA. We created a web site about Europe named EUROPA D'AMARE that was classified as one of the best 15 in Italy , so 14 of us, as class representatives were invited in Rome for the prize-giving and to celebrate Europe Day with other Italian students.
On May 8 th at 9 a .m., we left for Rome . On our bus there were also students from Voghera that soon became our friends and, during the journey, some students from Bologna joined us.
We arrived at 3 p.m. in Crown Plaza Hotel. It was fantastic! Our rooms were incredible and there were two swimming pools and a gym. Of course everything was paid by the European Commission and I think this was another reason why the hotel seemed so amazing to us!
Anyway, after putting our luggage in the rooms, we immediately went to visit the city since we had some free time during the afternoon. We decided to reach the Basilica di San Pietro and to have a look at the buildings around, such a Castel Sant'Angelo, facing the Tiber . We couldn't stay out for long because we had to return to the hotel at 8 for the welcome speech of the director of the European Commission in Italy , Mr Pier Virgilio Dastoli.
In the evening we met some students from other towns, all very friendly. Then my classmates and I decided to spend some hours together before sleeping: we were 14 in a bedroom!
The next day we woke up very early in the morning and, after a big breakfast, we went to visit the Quirinale and then the Campidoglio where we had lunch and where we were given a nice medal representing Rome . Before leaving for Rome , they had told us that Mr Ciampi and Mr Veltroni would be there to meet us. But none of them was present. We met Mr Franco Frattini, instead, who talked about the importance of feeling European. The view from the top of Campidoglio where we were served wonderful food was great.
After lunch we visited the beautiful Musei Capitolini and the room of Orazi and Curiazi. Then we had some free time until 8 o'clock and we walked through Piazza Navona, Via della Scrofa, Via del Corso, Via Condotti, Piazza di Spagna. We were left some free time there to do some shopping.
In the evening we had dinner in the hotel with 200 other students and then another night without sleeping. The next morning we returned to Parma . At 3 o'clock, when we arrived our mums were waiting for us.
I think we had a great experience in Rome . It was fantastic to walk through the wonderful city and see amazing churches and buildings. We have been lucky and we're happy and proud of our trip, which we have won with hard work.