What happens when a school packs its suitcases, wears its brightest smiles, and travels through time, art, and history?
For us… that was our trip to Nafplio!
We set off full of excitement, eager for an experience that would be both educational and alive — full of images, emotions, and that special sense of “togetherness.”
Our first stop: Mycenae, with the tombs of kings and a mythical veil wrapped around every step. We visited the tholos tomb and the museum, marveled at the artistry of 3,000 years ago, and were struck by both the beauty of the view and the strategic brilliance of the acropolis’ location.
Then we headed down to Nafplio, starting with a tour of the old town. We wandered through alleyways filled with color, scents, and stories — about neoclassical buildings, lively squares, cannons, and seas once sailed by pirates and merchants.
With the help of our guide, we imagined Kapodistrias, Manto Mavrogenous, Ypsilantis, Kolokotronis, King Otto — and we were especially impressed by the strong presence of Kalliopi Papalexopoulou, a remarkable figure of her time.
Our path led us to the Folklore Museum, a small treasure chest of culture. There, the students didn’t just see clothes — they discovered the symbolic meaning of garments. Why did Kapodistrias wear European-style clothes? Why did Otto choose the traditional fustanella?
A simple outfit suddenly carried weight, message, identity.
We had the great pleasure of being welcomed by the Department of Theatre, where our students, under the guidance of teacher Ms. Christina Zoniou, attended a rehearsal of physical theatre by student Amanda Veloso. They also had a taste of university classes from the Department of Performing and Digital Arts — one on dance, led by special teaching staff member Katerina Kanelli, and another on digital media in theatre, taught by Assistant Professor Katerina El Raheb.
They laughed, they played, they participated in theatre-pedagogical games, in a circle, and realized that art is not just theory — it is experience.
And then… “Palamidi Fortress“! High above, the view was breathtaking — but so was the realization that we stood in a castle full of secrets. We entered Kolokotronis’ prison and wondered how a hero who fought with such self-sacrifice for his country could be imprisoned in the depths of the earth by his own people.
We counted steps (many!), laughed, and snapped photos.
The journey ended in the most magical way: at Epidaurus. There, on the ancient orchestra floor, with special permission from the archaeological authority, our students formed a circle and recited verses from the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey”.
The sound, raw and unamplified, traveled crystal-clear to the last stone.
It was truly moving.
Our final stop: Chalkida, for a bit of rest and a peaceful epilogue, watching the Euripus Strait change direction — just as “we, too, were changed” by this experience.
Because this trip wasn’t just places and stops.
It was “connection” and “sharing”.
It was the “together” that brought us closer in a whole new way.
And if you ask us whether we came back full?
Without a doubt.
And if the goal was to open up our horizons, to look just a little further out… then yes — we’d say: “It was a beautiful journey…”