Pre-session Summer 2018
(May 16-May 30) 
in I
...Author: CheyenneHWilson
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Overall, Italy has been absolutely amazing and with great people, great stories, and great laughter during the trip, I am truly sad to go. Despite the sadness that follows leaving this wonderful place, I am so glad I had the opportunity to the visit Lake Como on my last day. I expected it to beautiful, but nothing could have prepared me for the scenery that awaited me. When I stepped off the train, I was in awe of not only the beauty of the lake, but also the Alps standing tall in all their glory. This great destination offers beautiful views, along with many lovely, small boutiques and restaurants to visit as one travels to different towns surrounding the lake. Ferries offer an affordable and enjoyable alternative for transportation, that allows one to fully take in the lake from different places. Reflecting on my own experience here, I am so glad this was the last destination because when all the exhaustion and irritation builds up towards the end when the trip is nearly over, it can be miserable, but this lake renewed a sense of calm not only within me, but in others. This trip has been life changing for me and although I would love to stay and explore, I know it is time to say goodbye. No doubt, I will take my renewed perspective, passion, and admiration with me as I continue on my life journey. Perhaps this is not a true goodbye and I will be back, but as of now, ciao and thank you for all you have given me Italy.
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When visiting Italy, it is very easy to simply visit the big staple cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice, with lots of people and big arrows basically saying “tourists go here,” but through limiting oneself to big cities, people often lose the full experience and identity of Italy as a whole. Having traveled outside the big cities recently, I highly recommend a beautiful small town tucked up into the mountains called Poppi. This small town has an amazing charm that instantly greets you as you walk into the quaint community and is surrounded by amazing scenery that overlooks the vast countryside. Take it in, but do not let the small appearance fool you, as there is many amazing sites to see. Among the places I saw there, the most amazing sites were the remains of tall castles that once held many people and participated in movie-like battles over territory and social or political issues. Located about 20 minutes outside of town, lies one of the less preserved castles called Castello Di Romena, that sits on top of a hill and has a well preserved drawbridge that tourists are able to walk over. This castle also contains a prison tower where the prisoners with the most severe crimes would sit in the lower portions. Interestingly, it is also suggested that Dante Alighieri got inspiration from this specific castle. Located within the town of Poppi lies another castle that is referred to as Castello dei Conti Guidi, which is one of the most well preserved castles that was built in the 12th century. Amongst the amazing frescoes and other details, by far one of the most fascinating places within the castle is the library. The library in Castello dei Conti Guidi contains a collection of 25,000 books that date all the way back to the 12th century. Adding to the appeal, the library often features book exhibitions focused on a specific themes or people. I was lucky enough to experience the Dante exhibition featuring editions of the Divine Comedies, dating all the way back to the 14th century. Although small, Poppi is not a town that should not be glazed over and it is truly amazing to take in. My advice to those considering this charming destination is to be prepared to go back a few decades and experience what it truly means to live in a castle.
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One who truly comes to travel and lose a part of themselves, just to reconstruct a more refined version, is one who truly understands what it means to grow. Although it is safe to say Italy is a beautiful country as a whole, one of the most amazing cities I have visited so far is Venice. When one arrives at the train station in the city, they are instantly greeted by beautifully swaying, blue, sparkling, water, that performs a melody, so if one listens close enough they can hear the history and magic that flows up from the sea to the very ground people walk on. Where cars should be lies people, with boats serving as the main way of transportation, and many restaurants overlooking the canal. My suggestion to those who are visiting this miraculously floating city is to go on the gondala rides. The gondala rides not only offer a fun way to explore the city, but also allow you to feel the power of the water in which you are floating on. In a way, the rider is learning to rise with the tides. These rides may seem extremely expensive and one may truly question whether or not they are worth the expense, but in all honestly every penny is worth the experience. Also, if visiting, I highly recommend seeing the city at night. When I walked through the city during the evening it had a whole new personality with music and lights everywhere. My favorite place to visit was the Rialto bridge, which overlooked the city. If I were to give just one piece of advice to someone who is traveling to Venice, I would tell them to be prepared to rise with the tide, go with the flow, and truly experience the strength of the sea.
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If you are a fellow traveler that wants to see a place where history unfolds before your eyes, Firenze is a place that reveals all of the fascinating characteristics of the Italian Renaissance. The deep history can be seen through stone roads that people walk on and the the beautiful buildings that paint a lens into what the Italian “rebirth” really was. As a whole, the Renaissance was a period in which art aligned with social and political issues to transform the human persceptive. It was the combining of all skills to make a powerful city have an inspired transformation This amazing transformation can be seen through the famous statue of David by Michelangelo. Having visited the statue of David, I can truly say that photographs have not done this piece of art any justice. I was truly unaware of how massive it was as I approached the huge, historical statue, but what really took my breath away was the extent of detail on the piece. The body of the seemingly frozen human form captures every muscle as if they were flexing and every vein as if he was an alive individual simply standing in place. The power of the human body is truly portrayed through this piece of art. Through David, it is almost as if you can see into the moment it was built. This statue is only one example of the human rebirth and transformation during the time of the Italian Renaissance. The only advice I can give someone who comes to Firenze is to be prepared to be amazed and feel the deep history of the city surround you or, if done right, even feel the history within yourself.
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