We conquered the chaos of Rome, we braved and endured the heat of Florence, and we revelled in the serenity of Venice (aptly called la Serenissima). Each day brought its challenges, each day its victories. We were incredibly fortunate to have an exceptionally beautiful last day in Venice. 

Students explored the contemporary side of Venice at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, including its temporary exhibition that one student wrote about for her blog post. With thunderstorms looming over us, we headed to dinner and then on to a concert at the Chiesa della Pietà. The musical performance of the famed composer Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was extraordinary. Vivaldi was an ordained priest associated with this church during his lifetime, and he composed for the orchestra and choir and taught violin.

We began with the Galleria dell’Accademia which houses Michelangelo’s David as well as his famously incomplete series titled “Prisoners.” These works convey to us the intensely physical process of crafting sculpture and symbolize Michelangelo’s philosophy that the block of stone contained the statue and the sculptor set it free. 

This morning we left the chaos and grandeur of Rome behind, but not the heat. After a beautiful drive up the Autostrada through Tuscany, we were excited to explore the wonders of Florence.

“On our third day in Rome, our last full day here, we looked forward to visiting the Vatican and seeing these holy sites within the context of the Jubilee year. The Jubilee celebrates another 25 years of the continuity of the church and welcomes pilgrims from all over the world to the center of the Catholic church. Of course, that meant we were engulfed in masses of others who had come to do the same. The heat and crowds made it difficult to slow down and engage deeply with specific monuments, but all were grateful for this perhaps once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the Jubilee. “

“Villa Farnesina was definitely fancy, but not in an overwhelming way. Every room was covered in detailed frescoes that wanted to be admired. It didn’t really feel like a home, more like a space built to make a statement and art. Walking through it, you can’t help but slow down and take it all in.”

“For many of us, we feel that we have already gotten to see so much of the beauty of Italy through only scratching the surface of Rome. The elegant designs, combined with its complexity and history of the Pantheon, left us all quite amazed, along with the unique architecture of all of the apartments and stores. A lot of us were still quite jet lagged from the late night plane, but the pick-me-ups from dinner, gelato, and fine Italian cuisine not only energized us, but allowed us to experience a rich part of Italian culture. Getting to be immersed within the way of life here was what made the day so special.”