Welcome back to the Young Historians Corner, where we get to hear from rising historians. In this series, every story is dreamed up and written by students with a passion for the past.

This month, we're heading to Italy with Eva! We'll explore everything from the iconic Colosseum in Rome to the ancient food stands of Pompeii. Ready to uncover some history? Keep reading!

Introducing ...

TRAVELS IN HISTORY

By Eva B.
Age 11

Ciao Lettori! Hello readers! Two years ago, my family set out on a month-long adventure across the sea (from Pennsylvania to Italy) to explore not only ancient history, but our family history as well. My father’s ancestors came to America in the early 1900s from the region of southern Italy called Calabria. While we spent most of our trip in Calabria researching our roots and living la bella vita (the beautiful life), we were also able to travel to other parts of Italy, including Rome and Pompeii. I will focus on these historic cities in this blog post.

Destinazione Uno: Roma

Our first stop was the city of Rome. It was one of my favorite stops, and one that was heavy with history and art. There is so much to see and do in Rome! After we were fueled with amazing local pizza, we walked to the Colosseum. During ancient times, the Colosseum was built to entertain the people of Rome. Brutally, prisoners or criminals fought wild animals, gladiators, and more to please the seemingly bloodthirsty citizens as they cheered from the stands. Walking alongside this imposing structure, I couldn’t believe I was standing that close to ancient history! 

Surrounding this site is a legend that states that if you tell it a lie and stick your hand in its mouth, it will bite your hand off. 

 

I was sad to be leaving Rome, but I knew there would be another adventure waiting for me further down “the boot”. We took advantage of the vast train system, TrenItalia, to connect us to our next destination. My family spent 3 weeks exploring Calabria before turning our sights north and traveling towards Pompeii.

Destinazione Quattro: Pompeii

After a comfortable ride on the Italian train system, we arrived in modern Pompeii. In AD 79, the ancient city of Pompeii was destroyed by Vesuvius, a large volcano that still looms over the ruined city. When the volcano erupted, the people of Pompeii, knowing little about volcanoes, were scared and attempted to flee. Most were killed and covered with ash, thus preserving their story for us to learn from. When I visited the ruins of this ancient city, I was blown away not only by the devastating loss but also by what was still left behind.

It is the closest I’ve ever been to history because I was actually walking in history. I was able to walk into the remains of all the homes, stores, baths, and food stands of the ancient city.

Casually, I walked across the street's stepping stones just as the residents of Ancient Pompeii would have done to avoid the unsavory street floor. Unlike the residents of ancient Pompeii, my family and I left the ruins at the end of the day alive and ready for more adventure.

We returned to our apartment famished from the day’s explorations. Fortunately, food is a large part of Italy's culture, from savory to sweet. Most of the food is grown locally, and all of it is delicious. Apertivo is my favorite part of the day. It is an afternoon snack usually including fruit, vegetables, nuts, cheese, bread, and olives. We enjoyed just such a delicious snack on our terrace, all under the faithful watch of Vesuvius.

 

Destinazione Cinque: Roma

Our final destination before boarding the plane back to the United States was Rome. We decided to see a few more iconic sights in this amazing city. 

After a delicious lunch in a small local restaurant, we took in the Spanish Steps. Understandably, they are famous for their beauty and are a common tourist destination. Although tourists are now unable to sit on these iconic stairs, I’m so glad we took time to visit them. It was incredible how the architect Francesco de Sanctis was able to make something as functional as stairs so beautiful.

Walking down the steps felt like walking through a sculpture!

After a good night's sleep, we rose early to visit the Trevi Fountain. This large baroque fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi, but was completed by Giuseppe Pannini and several others in 1762. Artfully located where three streets meet, it is an amazing example of public art!  Despite the many people, we were still able to throw our coins in the fountain in order to ensure a return trip to this eternal city. 

Our apartment, which we had been renting, was only a short walk from the Pantheon. Before heading to bed on our final night in Italy, our family enjoyed our gelato on the steps of this magnificent ancient temple. Being late in the evening, the crowds had thinned out. It seemed as if we had the Pantheon to ourselves. Blissfully, we savored our last sweet treat on the steps of this ancient wonder. It was a magical end to an amazing month in Italia. 

Italy is truly beautiful, from the sand and sea to the mountains and cities. It is full of history, culture, food, and beautiful views. I learned so much on my trip about family, art, and history. I feel so blessed to have been one of the 134 million people who visited Italy in 2023.  I learned much about Italy’s long history. From the mountains to the clear blue sea, there is so much to explore in Bella Italia. I can’t wait to go back!

 

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Cover image of the Colosseum from rawpixel.com