In June 2025, 20 Kingswood Oxford students and two faculty departed for Italy for a 10-day trip, visiting Rome and Puglia while enriching their cultural experiences and building community.
The trip was organized by former Upper School history teacher Stacey Savin and Upper School Administrative Coordinator Lindsay Perkins. The planning process began 10 months in advance of the trip in order to book enough hotels and arrange for many activities and tours.
This group of KO students departed for their Italian adventure on June 8, 2025, flying out of Boston Logan Airport and landing in Rome for the first part of the trip. On the first day, KO members took a private tour of the Coliseum and also enjoyed the view of many cultural ruins.
The second day, they visited the Vatican and received valuable information from their knowledgeable tour guide, Liz Lev. “She went through every nook and cranny of the Vatican and gave us the most personalized experience, which we will all never forget,” Ms. Perkins said. This part of the trip was extremely special for the KO students and faculty because they were able to see firsthand the sacred places within the Vatican, and it had a significant cultural impact on all students.
The third day was spent exploring Rome and taking in the culture, food, and stunning views. Students visited various restaurants, admired the gorgeous architecture and historical structures, and, of course, savored some delicious gelato and Italian baked goods.
For the second half of the trip, the group flew to Puglia and stayed at two different resorts. One resort was located on the water, so the group was able to swim in both the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea. It was a nice change of pace; rather than exploring the history of Rome, the students were able to relax and enjoy the warm, beautiful, and beachy part of Italy.
In addition to culturally changing their lives, this trip was an excellent opportunity for KO students to build community with one another. The students bonded over the culture in Italy, whether it was the tasty gelato or the extraordinary sites. “We had a couple of group dinners where we would all sit together and share meals,” Ms. Perkins said. “We kind of broke up in different groups and explored areas of interest. We had a lot of gelato, we tried a lot of different things.” This trip demonstrated that traveling to a new place can bring people together.
The group returned from Italy on June 17, and the trip had lasting impacts on everyone. There were educational aspects to every day of the trip, as well as parts dedicated to fun group bonding and various activities. Traveling to Italy gave each student a new level of global awareness. Being able to see the incredible things and experience a new culture had a lasting impact on everyone. “It makes you want to travel,” Ms. Perkins said.
This trip was an excellent opportunity, and it would not have been possible without Ms. Savin, a beloved history teacher who retired last spring, bringing to a close her 23 years at KO in Italy. Ms. Savin is exceptionally passionate about traveling and Italian culture, and she had a remarkable experience. KO will truly not be the same without her, and everyone is so thankful for everything she has brought to the school.
Overall, the Italy June trip was an incredible experience for everyone who went, and it brought a new level of culture and community to KO summer in Italy.
