Day 5 in Italy: June 15, 2025
Dr. Cook - Reflection on the day:
Happy father’s day to all our father figures out there reading this blog!
We had a lovely day today despite the unrelenting heat.
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.
After a visit to a leather factory to learn from our tour manager’s friends how the leather is made, and some time to explore Florence over lunch, students were asked to find some ways to be creative. Most sketched their visions of sites or artworks they had seen. AHI values sketching not necessarily as a means to creating beautiful artworks, although it sometimes does that, but as a way of differently knowing what you are looking at; their drawings are a record of their acquisition of knowledge about the scale, proportion, forms, shadows etc of art or architecture as well as their personal interpretations and ways of seeing.
In the afternoon, we braved the heat for a climb to the top of the Duomo, the architectural marvel that surmounts the Florence cathedral. We had a chance to walk between the two domes that make up the structure and view Florence from above. We also visited the Museo dell’Opera, which educates visitors about the construction of the cathedral and dome and houses many of the more delicate decorative work from the outside of the cathedral that have been brought inside for preservation and replaced with copies. It was a spectacular experience in every way.
Tomorrow, we move from Florence to Venice as we near the end of our trip.
Dani Vanover - Galleria dell’Accademia:
While not as big as some of the other museums, the Academia was incredibly beautiful and interesting. The hall of Michelangelo statues showed off his unfinished works amazingly and the David statue shone in the middle of it all. Additionally, the plaster molds of statues were incredibly detailed and well made, having the same beauty and detail as the work they imitate. The paintings were also beautiful, with many different representations of Jesus and other Bible figures. Overall, the museum was an incredible experience that everyone enjoyed.
Raiya Bhat - Duomo
Climbing the Duomo in Florence was an unforgettable experience. We made it all the way to the top (all 463 steps up). The staircase inside was incredibly narrow and some of the steps were so steep they almost felt vertical. It was a bit of a workout, but once we got to the top, the view of the city was amazing and completely worth it. Inside the church, the ceiling was so pretty with intricate artwork. Of course, we got gelato afterward because we definitely earned it.
