This year, in honor of the 40th edition of the Athens College High School magazine "As You Like It", from April 22-24, 2024, nineteen members of the Club embarked on an educational expedition to Italy, exploring an expansive area of north-eastern Italy, including Venice, Verona, Padua, and Treviso. We were based near Venice, a crucial location that contributed to the advancement of typographic discoveries. On our two days in Venice, we learned about the city’s history, architecture, monuments, and most renowned artists as our tour guide navigated narrow streets and bridges along the canals. We also visited the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies and  San Giorgio dei Greci, the seat of the Greek Orthodox Church in Italy.

The following day, we headed to Verona, a city immortalized by Shakespeare, taking in beautiful sights from Juliet’s balcony to the Arena di Verona, where legendary opera singer Maria Callas made her debut in 1947. Next was Padua, renowned for its ancient, esteemed university and St. Anthony basilica, jeweled with intricate marble and golden sculptures.

On Wednesday, we travelled to Treviso, to the Tipoteca Museum of Typography, which houses a vast collection of printing machinery and equipment. In a workshop led by our knowledgeable hosts, we learned firsthand how to type-set using the moveable-type system. For a team dedicated to publishing, this part of the trip was eye-opening! Without a doubt, As You Like It’s first educational expedition was an unforgettable one.