The inaugural tour was exactly 100 years after the opening of San Lorenzo’s Casa dei Bambini
Montessori Tours and Travel had a decade-long gestation before a light-bulb moment in 2017. In 2007, founder Roelie Hartwig led the inaugural Montessori International Study Tour, 100 years after the opening of the first Montessori school, Casa dei Bambini, in San Lorenzo, Rome. The tour included the Centenary
Conference in Rome in January 2007, and significant places in the history of Dr Montessori’s life in Italy and The Netherlands.
The first tour was a success. In 2017, a second tour was arranged which brought together people from
seven nations across the globe to experience a similar itinerary to that of the tour in 2007.
“Something happened on that trip,” recounts Hartwig. She and her fellow travellers were inspired, moved, excited, amused and delighted by what they saw and experienced.
Montessori Tours and Travel (MT&T) was born soon after. Roelie (rhymes with truly) now continues to offer insight into the world of Montessori, past and current.
MT&T offers travellers many unique opportunities including: strengthening one’s understanding of Maria
Montessori, her life, her times and her legacy; a quality Montessori educational experience that complements and raises the profile of one’s Montessori training; creating new, and strengthen existing connections, and friendships whilst being immersed in cultural experiences; and developing broader and international perspectives on Montessori work around the world.
Roelie has vast tour and travel experience as well as connections from her global Montessori work over many, many years, her professional Montessori experiences, and her personal travel over many years.
Roelie now lives in the Australian Outback after swapping life in the city for life in the bush. She has taught in public and private schools overseas and in Queensland. She is Montessori trained and serves on the board of Caboolture Montessori School just north of Brisbane, Queensland.
Remote working allows her to travel whilst working on itineraries for MT&T, and she can sometimes be found at a Montessori event assisting attendees and conference organisers.
The next Study Tour is 01 – 13 October 2023, visiting sites in Italy and The Netherlands. Plans are underway for a Montessori Experience in the south of France and Italy in June 2024.
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