My time in Italy was packed over 2 weeks, and I was able to experience much of the art, history, and amazing landscapes Italy has!
As part of the Art History course, we were expected to write about specific pieces in each city and discuss their significance to the development of Italian art. We visited many art galleries, historic sites, and cathedrals each day as a class to do this. We also explored additional sites on our own, making the learning experience even more fun and rewarding! As there was so much art to see and quite a few cities to visit, we had a day in each city left to explore on our own. Each city was satisfying in its own way; Rome had some of the best food, Siena was peaceful and had really pretty landscapes, and it was great being around lots of open water in Venice! It was super fun trying both new and familiar things in a different country as well, like Italy’s McDonald’s, local jewelry and craft shops, and other hidden gems! It was a little difficult balancing classwork and seeing new sights, but it all worked out well even though there was so much to see. Keeping a journal about what sights we saw and the history we learned helped a lot with both art history assignments and capturing memories.
During my time there, I encountered several societal norms along the way. I hadn’t expected a small fee charged for some of the public bathrooms and it caught me off guard a few times, as the rates could be different (1-2 euros or so). Having several coins handy was great just in case I needed to use a paid bathroom, especially for ones in rest stops/train stations.
Overall, walking throughout each city, and traveling by bus/metro to each city could be tiring, but very worthwhile. Thinking back on the trip, each experience during class and on my own allowed me to learn and view Italian art and history with a clearer perspective- I’m so grateful to have experienced this program!
