STAYING HOME FOR spring break? Not these Latin students, who are off to Italy with teacher Krisanna Zusman to see for themselves the birthplace of the language and culture they've learned about in books.

Unlike the 2007 spring break Latin trip, however, the students will be based in Rome and stay mostly in southern Italy instead of Florence.

The 12 students and their chaperones will leave Urbana at 4 a.m. Saturday to catch an 11 a.m. flight from Chicago's O'Hare Airport.

The group plans to pack in a lot of sightseeing in just five days. The itinerary includes visits to the Herculaneum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum.

Not surprisingly, the students are excited about the trip. There will even be a few returnees from the 2007 excursion, such as junior Daniel Pearlstein and classmate Katherine Allen, who thoroughly enjoyed her previous Italian adventure.

"Last time was definitely one of the best experiences of my life," Allen said. "I love history, architecture, and learning about other cultures and languages. This is a perfect opportunity for me, and I am really grateful."

SPRING BREAK IN ITALY at a glance

• Who
  Latin teacher Krisanna Zusman
  junior Katherine Allen
  junior Tej Chajed
  junior Jasper Maniates-Selvin
  junior Arnav Pamidighantam
  junior Daniel Pearlstein
  sophomore Simone Ballard
  sophomore Kahlilah Cooke
  sophomore Ashley Huddson
  sophomore Amrutha Kumaran
  sophomore Heather Lin
  sophomore Michael Meyer
  sophomore Charlie Newman-Johnson
  chaperone Zanne Newman
  chaperone Steve Zusman

• When
  Saturday, March 21, to Sunday, March 29

• Where
  Destinations in Italy include Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Positano

• Schedule
  Monday, March 23 — Colosseum and Roman Legionary Museum
  Tuesday, March 24 — Visit Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Capitoline Museum
  Wednesday, March 25 — Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps
  Thursday, March 26 — Herculaneum and excursion to Amalfi Coast
  Friday, March 27 — Final day, chaperoned sightseeing