Lindsay
FIRENZE
It is hard to put into words my time spent in Firenze (that’s Italian for Florence).
I have never done anything like this before and the idea of spending six weeks on my own in a foreign country was nerve wracking. At first. Now I can’t believe that the time has come to say good bye to this amazing city.
…perhaps that’s the best compliment I can give to this city and this program. I don’t want to leave.
TOMB TIME
(the Etruscan way)
If there is one thing you will learn from taking part in this program its this: the Etruscans are weird.
They focus on putting some weird things in there tombs. Like these terracotta head topped burial urns that maybe siting one some type of throne (below).
This is just scratching the surface of what you will learn and discover about the Etruscans. Not all of it as weird and some of it weirder this class allows you to explore a group of people that most people don’t know about. And you get to do so in their “backyard”.
It was really nice to walk through the tombs of Chuisi and the necropolis of Orvieto (above). These places are better than any museum because they take you back in time to when the Etruscans were living. Everything you have learned about tombs is right there in front of your face. Everything you have learned about Etruscans is there too.
They came alive for me while walking through the city of the dead, discovering their ways of living. Making the lectures come alive.
Just watch out for mosquitoes and other bugs…
ART WALK
(through the renaissance)
One of the greatest things about being in Florence is that so many of the great Renaissance artists lived and worked here. The greatest paintings, sculptures, architecture from the Renaissance are in the Florence museums. It is so easy to see the work that made the Renaissance.
It practically lines the streets.
It easy to see the work of other, less well-known artists too. Who ever knew there was a shield painted with Medusa’s face on it? I didn’t, but it sure is a beautiful piece.
The tours of the Uffizi, the Academia, The Duomo museum are worth it. Even if art isn’t you thing, GO.
Trust me you’ll regret not going. The tour guides are awesome and there is noting like seeing the David in person. (the one outside of Palazzo Vecchio doesn’t count).
Let the Renaissance come alive for you and take these tour.
WANDERINGS
For me, one of the greatest things about this study abroad experience is that you get the opportunity to travel around on the weekend if you want. And you should want to.
Now I didn’t go to any other country, but I went to several other Italian cities. If there were passport stamps for cities I would have a lot.
Don’t worry about having to travel alone, so many people want to visit places like Pisa or Venice. Just put it out there that these are the places you want to visit and someone will join you.
That’s what I did and I never had to travel alone.
Don’t not go because of that. This whole program is about experiencing new things.
This program makes it easy to go off on short weekend trips.
Plus there is the added bonus of optional trips to Venice or Rome. I totally recommend Rome. It was worth the added cost to stand in the Colosseum and walk through the Sistine Chapel (no pictures allowed).
Go to different places. Take a daytrip to Lucca and walk along the city walls (for free…it’s a park now) or spend the weekend in Cinque Terra (above). You won’t regret going. I sure don’t.
Remember to make these trips yours. Don’t freak out if you can't go to all of Cinque Terra or forgot to see Saint Mark’s square in Venice. Take your time and enjoy. You’ll be able to remember your trip better that way.
STREET ART FINDS
Street art is every where in Florence.
You can watch it being made on the cobble stone streets. (Although it's not permanent...they use chalk)
I was never interested in street art before coming to Florence, but now I look for it. I look for a new Chet (below-right) and for a Blub (below-middle)I haven’t seen before. I constantly found myself looking at street signs or down side streets to see if I could find any more. They aren’t always where you expect them to be.
Once last word of advice: (and I’m going to sound like a cliché)
Find something that makes this trip enjoyable and memorable for you, whether its food, history, architecture, or art.
This trip, this program, its for you.
Enjoy your six weeks in Florence!