by Angela Bowden
Students may all be different from one another, but one thing that can often unite their interests and boost collaborative learning is the magic of school tours. Such trips offer a number of benefits: an inspiring destination, new experiences, and the chance to learn while having fun, far from the bounds of the classroom. Venice, one of Italy’s most celebrated cities, provides all this in abundance.
The Canals
Venice is almost synonymous with its canals, which number 117 in total, including the Grand Canal, creating the 177 islands that make up the city. Used instead of roads, they are the city’s most famous feature, and exploring them on a traditional gondola is a memorable aspect of school tours to Venice. As well as being an important piece of Venetian history, gondolas offer the perfect opportunity to take in all the dazzling sights of the city from a unique vantage point, making them the ideal introduction to your trip.
Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s Square, is perhaps the place that best showcases the grandeur of Venice. This magnificent square is surrounded by three of the city’s oldest and most important sights: St. Mark’s Basilica, established in the first century to house the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist; the 15th century clock tower; and the Doge’s palace, formerly the political seat of power in Venice.
Galleria dell’Accademia
For artistic students, school tours to Venice are a real treat; this is a city bursting with incredible works, left over the centuries by artists who were inspired by its spectacular beauty. Instead of being confined solely to museums, many works by the city’s greatest painters and sculptors can be found in its churches – but the museums that do exist are spectacular collections of work, particularly in the Gallerie dell’Accademia
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto district is the financial heart of Venice, and has been since the 11th century when it became the site of the city’s main market, leading to the need for a permanent bridge to access the area on the bank of the Grand Canal. The original wooden bridge needed constant maintenance, and was replaced by the stone Rialto Bridge in 1588. It is thus the oldest existing bridge spanning the canal, as well as being one of the city’s most beloved architectural gems.
Museo Vetro
Among the areas of Venice that can be visited on school tours, there are some that stand out for their history – chief among them is Murano, one of the oldest glassmaking communities in Europe. The exquisite glass produced in Venice has long been one of its most valuable products, and the history of this wonderful art can be discovered at the Museo Vetro, or Glass Museum, housed in an ancient palace on Murano island.
Angela Bowden works for STS (School Travel Service), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing tours for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. School tours with STS can encompass a focus on art/design, foreign languages, history, science/nature, geography and more, to worldwide destinations.
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