History Tour 2024 – Germany and Italy

During the September/October school holidays 34 students and five teachers travelled to Germany and Italy for the History Tour.  

During our time in Germany, we visited Munich, Nuremberg, and Berlin (as well as taking a day trip to Salzburg in Austria) with the focus of gaining an insight into the rise and reality of national socialism before and during WWII. We were guided around key locations, such as the Nazi Rally Grounds, Courtroom 600, and the Documentation Centre in Obersalzberg, where Hitler’s infamous Berchtesgaden retreat is located.  

Visiting the Dachau Concentration camp was a particularly profound and confronting experience. Being present in a location where such devastating atrocities were committed, and hearing about the experiences of those taken to these camps, is something that we will never forget.  

In Berlin, we shifted focus to the city’s influential geographical and political position in the Cold War. We visited significant sights such as the Reichstag Dome, Soviet Memorial, Berlin Wall, and Brandenburg Gate, along with the DDR Museum and Topography of Terror, to solidify our understanding of Germany’s role in the Cold War. We can also confirm that we ate many pretzels, crepes, and Haribo lollies along the way! 

Following this we headed to Italy, landing in Naples. When we arrived the groups headed to eat some of the best pizza in the world before visiting the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Here, we explored collections of everyday objects and artworks, which allowed us to see what daily life was like in Ancient Rome. This was followed by a bus to Sorrento, and we all enjoyed the beautiful scenery on the way.  

The next day we went to Pompeii, where we learnt about the various city houses, lifestyles, and the evacuation attempts during the eruption. This was followed by a pizza-making class where we all learnt how to create the perfect pizza dough! 

The following day we headed to Herculaneum, comparing the ancient town to its neighbour Pompeii. From here we drove to Rome where a tour guide led us through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, providing fascinating details about the gladiators and daily life in Ancient Rome. We also visited iconic sites like the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. On our final day, we explored St Peter’s Basilica and toured around Mussolini’s fascist buildings before departing back to Sydney.  

We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to travel overseas and be immersed in culture and history.

– Amelia Armstrong and Amelia McNamara  (Year 11)