The first NDA Italy trip will set off for an amazing 10 days of religious and art-filled experiences this summer.

The trip has been in the works for over a year and a half and was first advertised to students early last school year.

Theology teacher Katie Stanczak and art teacher Barb Brandtner decided to combine their backgrounds in theology and art to create a new experience for the NDA students who were interested.

This trip has 20 participants and three chaperones going. The cost per person is $4700.

The three chaperones are Stanczak, Brandtner and math teacher Denise Rykal.

“This trip is only about half the cost of the other Europe trips,” said Rykal.

Though this trip is lower in cost, it is also shorter than the other trips and aimed towards different things.

Some of the destinations of the trip are the “Eternal City” of Rome, Florence, Pisa, Pompeii and Assisi, according to Stanczak.

The travelers will be experiencing the art, culture, sights and foods of the cities they visit. Another focus is to make sure the travelers keep their faith involved in every aspect of the trip.

“We are going to be getting up early, sightseeing, learning and praying every day,” said Stanczak.

Traveling is different than vacationing, noted the advisers, and this trip’s aim is to let the participants travel and take in the culture, let them participate in real travel.

The whole trip is centered around a kind of “home base” with the opportunity to take in a very specific area and learn much more about it versus trying to see many destinations in a short period of time.