Entry 1: Museo Civico

This museum showcases the works of art by Piero della Francesca, a native of Sansepolcro. His works of art and the museum itself are a big part of the cultural and religious history of Sansepolcro.

We went to the museum with the IDS class. As we walked around it became obvious that the museum not only contains the artwork of Francesca but also other pieces by other artists that have a similar cultural history representing the town of Sansepolcro. Other important artists that house their work at the museum include, Matteo di Giovanni, Jacapo Carucci, Andrea della Robbia, Giovan Battista Mercati and many more.

The first room we walked into talked about Francesca’s birthplace of Sansepolcro. He worked there and lived there for many years always returning when away for work. He played important roles in the town itself as well.

The next room housed some of Francesca’s work including his “Last Supper”. Another interesting thing I saw in this room was two different pictures including the same woman. The backgrounds were different in each but her body positions were the exact same. I wondered the importance of her in each picture. One time she was the focus of the picture and the other time she was found in the lower portion of the picture. Another thing that looked different was her eyes. They looked more open and alive in one compared to the other but I wasn’t sure if it was just the lighting.

The next room held a triptych- three panels that formed one complete image. We had just learned about triptych in photography class and I didn’t know they dated back so far in terms of artwork. I found that very cool. The other rooms held many more of Francesca’s art and many others. The sizes of many of these pieces blew my mind, taking up nearly a whole wall. The most amazing piece I saw and what Francesca was most famous for was the “Ressurection”. I really enjoyed seeing his works of art I just wish I had known more about each one. I found it very interesting that he did a self-portrait within the “Ressurection”.

The basement held things completely different from the rest of the museum. Old locks and keys, books, silverware and huge sliver drinking cups and clothing that looked ancient and far more detailed and extravagant than anything worn my men today all shared the same space in the basement of the museum. I enjoyed seeing what Sansepolcro finds so important to their history and culture.

Entry 2: Travel Break 1: Roma
Our first Italian traveling experience completely on our own wasn’t the most graceful. The first train we got on was the wrong train. It left 10-15 minutes earlier than our train was scheduled (that was our first clue) and we arrived in Chiusi at the end of the line (that was the most obvious). We found another train that was going to Roma where we’d only be waiting 15 minutes. That 15 turned into 45. We didn’t know what was going on but no announcements were made and other people on our train looked just as confused as we did. After seeing others eventually grab their luggage and hop trains across the platform, we did too. Five minutes later and we would have been spending the night in Chiusi.

The station in Roma was crowded with more people than any of the other train stations we had so far traveled through. I clung to my purse ready to swing at anyone who dared touch me. After finding our way out onto the street it didn’t take long to realize we’d have to take a taxi. Not until later in this trip did we realize the street signs were actually part of the buildings. That would have come in handy when trying to figure out how to walk to the hotel but the cab driver got us there just fine. We flew down Nazionale St. holding on to whatever we could. Turning onto the street our hotel was off, my mouth dropped. At the far end of the street stood the Colosseum- strong and enormous. The shops and homes that lined our street acted as a passage way into history. Like the lights in the isle of a plane, they illuminated the road, guiding our eyes to its end.

After dropping off our luggage at the hotel and finding out it had dirty bathrooms and towels, a vaulted door, keys that had to be returned every time we left and an overall bad feeling about it, we walked to the Colosseum and let all our trouble go for the moment. We took a lap around it but would have to return the next day because it was already closed. A man dressed in a gladiator outfit asked if we wanted our pictures taken (nice right?). He even took individual pictures with each of us (even nicer right?). NOPE! Not nice at all. “Alright, 10 euros”  he’d say to us afterwards. Laura was nice enough to just hand it over to him so he would back of. We had just been hassled by a gladiator. I know I know…drop the baby…

We had gotten a map back at the hotel and decided would could walk to the Trevi Fountain before dinner. I can barely read a U.S map so I was a little skeptical about finding our way around Roma. It ended up turning out fine and I began to realize I wasn’t all that bad at it. We arrived at Trevi, saw more gladiators, took pictures (obviously not with the gladiators, we knew better), threw a coin in the fountain and took in the experience. That fountain was beautiful and had so much detail it amazed me. The water looked so crisp I wanted to go swimming but getting arrested for jumping in Trevi Fountain would not have made this trip any more graceful. It was getting late and we were getting hungry so we left in search of something to eat. Dinner was good but we weren’t going to stay out long, the next day was going to be a long one. We had quite the line-up: St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museum, The Sistine Chapel, The Spanish Steps and the Colosseum. Not enough sleep could have prepared me, my feet especially, for our excursion through Roma.

8:30: We left our hotel to get on bus 64 toward the Vatican. About 15 minutes later we got off and followed our map to St. Peter’s. Walking into Vatican City was an incredible experience. We stood in the center and took pictures. I felt like I was in a whole other place entirely, not Roma, not Italy, not Europe. It was breathtaking. 800 some seats were laid out in front of St. Peter’s. I could imagine the Pope’s voice echo through the city off its walls. A 3-story picture of the Pope was plastered on boards to the left of us- a tribute to him and a symbol of Vatican City.

After walking through security and buying a ticket to St. Peter’s (a ride not walk ticket) we rode up the elevator and found ourselves at the top of the Basilica. We were able to walk inside and look down into the church. Upon exiting, we saw another set of stairs and figured we would see where they led. Probably shouldn’t have bought the ride ticket because we had to hike up what felt like 1,000 steps. It wouldn’t have been bad if I was expecting it but I thought around each corner would be the end but instead, just more stairs. We took multiple breaks to stop and rest but we took the longest one at the top. The hike was so very worth it. As we walked out onto the cupola we looked down on all of Vatican City. From up there the layout had purpose. The main entrance opened up to a circle, statues lined the walls. I never found out what or who they were but they seemed to be protecting the city. I didn’t want to move. We walked back down the 1,000 some stairs and headed to the museum and Sistine Chapel. (I will talk about my experience inside St. Peter’s in a later entry- it was beautiful to say the least).

The museum was awesome, so many beautiful pieces of art surrounded us from history, the only problem was I didn’t know what any of them were or what they stood for (we needed you there Dr. V!) I also think I was so excited to see the Sistine Chapel that I rushed through the museum. The Sistine Chapel was AMAZING! The ceilings were so high it seemed impossible that anyone could have hand-painted it, especially in such a beautiful and detailed way that Michelangelo had. It was one of the most amazing things I’d ever seen. We weren’t supposed to take pictures but how could anyone resist (that’s why flashes kept flashing and security kept yelling NO PICTURES)? If hours had allowed, I wouldn’t have moved. Being surrounded by history so old and important was great. Here, being in the presence of one of Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces, was one, maybe my favorite thing in Roma. The colors were vibrant. It was beautiful.

After the Sistine Chapel, we stopped for lunch and I assume you have heard or will hear the story about our waiter and Caitlan, the whole bet thing…if you don’t know, well I’m not going to go into it, but it ruined it for Caitlan especially. After an over-priced beer we headed towards the Spanish Steps. There were so many people there it was kind of hard to enjoy its beauty along with the men trying to sell fake purses and sunglasses all up and down the steps. We walked up one side of the steps and then down the other. Even though it was just more steps, history beckoned.

Our last stop was the Colosseum, which I loved. The Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum were a close tie, not that there is any such thing as a close tie…alright close favorites. Being in the Colosseum and imagining what went on there was surreal. Walls seemed to be crumbling but at the same time projected a sense of stability and strength. What looked like cages/prisons were now visible as the original soil that was previously fought on was no longer there. The cages seemed to peer up from hell. I imagined the volume of cheers that echoed through the Colosseum during the height of its use. I imagined it comparable to that of a Superbowl game the difference being the Colosseum cheered on death. The Romans loved war…it was obvious in these walls.

6:30- we sat down for dinner. Ten hours of walking!! It was a longggg but very significant day.

Entry 3: Overall Experience
My study abroad experience was absolutely amazing. For so long I have wanted to go to Italy and finally arriving in Rome at the very beginning of our trip was the best feeling ever. Getting to our palazzo and unpacking knowing that I would be in Italy for the next 5 weeks followed close. I am so happy that Meredith College has the opportunity to provide its students with such a great experience. I feel so blessed to have been able to be part of such an amazing program. Meeting great people within the program as well as within the community of Sansepolcro has been so rewarding.

For 5 weeks we became part of the community in Sansepolcro, the musicians found comfort filling the cobble stone streets with beautiful music, we ate and drank great food and wine, we met people we’ll remember forever, we traveled all around Italy from Florence to Rome to the Amalfi Coast to Pisa and Venice and Verona, we saw great monuments such as the Colosseum, Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Pompeii, we fell in love with Juliet in Verona and hiked up one of Switzerland’s beautiful mountains breathing in its cool, fresh air. We did so much in 5 weeks. I learned so much about myself. While there were stressful and tense moments at times, we always overcame them whether from culture shock to stress from classes to stress just living constantly with 14 girls. It was a good time and I wouldn’t have changed anything about it.

I try to think what my favorite part of the trip was but I can’t decide because each individual piece collectively made it the amazing trip it was. I would go back at a moment’s notice.