Salve Italia!
This past summer, from June 9th to June 17th, Loyola’s very own Junior Classical League (JCL) “itinera ad Italiam”, or journeyed to Italy, marking the club’s first trip to Rome in several years. From exploring The Parthenon and ancient ruins to setting sail for Capri, JCL members were able to see their textbooks come alive.
After landing in Rome, the Cubs visited the Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli and the Church of Gesù while on their drive to Sorrento. Fred Muth ‘13, Latin Magister and one of the all-time greats of the Junior Classical League, commented, “The chance to tour some of the Ignatian sites, such as the Church of the Jesu, which was guided by a Jesuit, in addition to seeing the rooms of St. Ignatius, was a really great and unique experience.”
Once arriving in Sorrento, the group embarked on a tour of the famous cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Muth ‘13 added, “I visited Pompeii before as a student, but now coming back as a teacher, where I’ve taught from a Pompeii-based textbook these past few years, being able to visualize ancient life on such a large scale was also a really good part of the trip.”
The following two days were packed with action. Cubs boated to the beautiful island of Capri and the Blue Grotto sea cave, immersed themselves in a gladiator experience, toured the Naples Archaeological Museum and even wandered the Colosseum at night.
In addition to the formal tours and various activities, they were also given the opportunity to explore the Italian streets. Latin Scholar Roman Camarillo ‘26 remarked, “My favorite memory was getting stuck eating at a tourist trap with my buddies and then staying up all night in the hotel to play some card games.”
The last days of the trip were spent in the Eternal City of Rome. Whether visiting the Vatican City sites, walking around Piazza Navona and the Roman Forum, or even seeing the skeletal decorations of the Capuchin Crypt, Cub scholars had an unforgettable experience in Europe.
Reflecting on the trip, JCL’s Archivist and AP Latin student Matthew Almendarez ‘26 said, “I loved going on the trip, and I thought that how there are still remnants of Latin culture today is really cool.”
JCL’s trip to Italy was a chance for many to share their passion for Ancient Roman culture with other Cubs they may not have known.
To those interested in joining the Junior Classical League, Magister Muth ‘13 exclaims, “JCL is a great opportunity to transport yourself in the mind and physically as we visit the Classics and Roman culture in time and space!”
JCL has more exciting things in the future and is excited for new recruits to join. They hope to see you there! Vale!
