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Florence Experience:
I can’t believe how lucky I am to have had the opportunity to live in Florence for 6 weeks! I definitely became very comfortable living in this city. By the end of the trip I felt like more of a resident of Florence rather than a tourist of Florence. Everyday during the week we would have class with Dr. Kirkegaard, Tuesday and Thursday we would have Italian class, and then we would have a tour of a museum in the city. My roommates and I really enjoyed exploring the city of Florence. We found the best gelato, the best pizza, and the best pasta! Florence was a very lively city at night. In each of the popular squares there were live musicians, tourists walking around, and locals sitting on the outskirts of the square enjoying a drink. I can’t think of a better city to have spent my study abroad experience.
Renaissance Artwork:
Florence is the best city to be in to study Renaissance artwork. Being in the city where the Renaissance began, the artwork from this time in history was amazing. We went to countless museums filled with artwork from the Renaissance. Learning about the history and artwork of the Renaissance in the classroom is a whole different experience then being able to see the artwork in person. Being able to go to all of these museums and being able to see all of the amazing artwork that we did is something that I will never forget.
Etruscan Ruins:
Coming into this study abroad class, I was not educated on the Etruscans at all. I am amazed about how much I learned about the Etruscans society, their way of life, and their burial techniques. We visited a few sites where Etruscan tombs still exist today. We were even able to walk around the sites and go inside the tombs! I loved being able to experience these tombs in person along with learning about them in the classroom. Within the Etruscan museums we would visit, a numerous amount of artifacts are on display. We were able to see the ancient vases, pots, and kitchen tools. Its remarkable to think how well a lot of these artifacts have been preserved so we are able to study them today.
Weekend Trips:
Not only was I able to explore Florence and its’ surrounding cities, I was able to travel to different countries in Europe! Maddie, Emma, and I visited Prague in the Czech Republic and Barcelona in Spain. Luckily my parents’ Europe trip and mine overlapped, so we met up and traveled around Croatia! Florence is by far my favorite city that I visited. Behind Florence, I really loved exploring Prague! The architecture throughout the city was so beautiful, the culture of the city was really fun, and the food was great! Croatia was a tropical dream! Going on a private boat tour Hvar and the island was unforgettable. There are so many private coves that consist of beautiful beaches with clear blue water. Barcelona was a great city and I am very glad I visited it, however, the city did not have as much Spanish culture as I expected and had hoped for. I loved traveling around different countries in Europe and experiencing the differing cultures that each country offered.
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