Written by Presley Privitera (Colby College), Student Correspondent for CET Florence, Spring 2024
Spring is almost in the air in Florence! We just finished midterms and returned from our week-long spring break. Although our attitudes reflect a cheery and excited spring, the weather has been in a bit of a raining spell for the past month. I even purchased an umbrella to keep up with walking in the city. Rain or shine, exploring all the history in Italy is still enjoyable.
Lucca, Tuscany
CET planned a day trip for students in the Tuscan town of Lucca, best known for its Renaissance fortified walls, originally constructed in the 16th century. We had a walking tour around the city, learning about the different churches and towers that have remained untouched for hundreds of years. My favorite sight was Chiesa (church) di San Michele in Foro, which features unique columns of different colors and styles; this is unusual to see on a church facade in Italy. In Florence, I am more familiar with seeing symmetry and order in the architecture. In addition to the walking tour, we spent some time at a nearby spa. It was a great way to relax right before the midterms. Despite the rain, we were able to make the most of the time spent in Lucca.
Calcio Storico Match
Located steps away from our Benci class location is the church of Santa Croce, one of my favorite churches in Florence for its facade. Throughout the past few weeks, different cultural events and markets have been taking place in the piazza in front. I always like to take a quick peek over in this square to see what the action is. Calcio storico, was always something my brother told me about, a medieval Italian relative to present-day soccer or rugby. Lucky for me, I was able to watch the game that takes place every year around February 20th in Piazza Santa Croce.
It was a wonderful cultural experience to see local Italians dressed in medieval outfits with a ceremony before the game and witness their sportsmanship during the game. It is not something I would see every day at college in the US. Other events that have been held in Piazza Santa Croce include a chocolate and dolci (sweets) market as well as an artisan and craft makers fair. Piazza Santa Croce is one of my favorite places to go when I want to be outdoors and see if anything interesting and new is happening in Florence.
Medici Chapels and Palazzo Vecchio
As mentioned in my earlier blog posts, a highlight for me when studying abroad is the ability to go on site visits for my art history classes while in Florence. For my Passion, Power and Pestilence: Art in Italy 1500-1650 class, I went to the Medici Chapels and Palazzo Vecchio to look at paintings, sculptors, and architecture by Michelangelo, Vasari, and Bronzino. The Medici Chapels left a lasting impact on me as the inlaid stone was so impressive and colorful. The New Sacristy, completely designed by Michelangelo, includes sculptors representing the allegories of day and night and dawn and dusk. I will definitely be bringing my family here during their visit to Florence in a few weeks.
Palazzo Vecchio is located in Piazza Signoria, another one of my favorite places in Florence where you can find many important statues commissioned by the Medici family. The original place of Michelangelo’s David was positioned right out front of Palazzo Vecchio, although now a replica has taken its place to protect the original from the elements. Palazzo Vecchio was initially a political center for Florence but became the private residence of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici and Eleonora di Toledo.
They commissioned Giorgio Vasari to redecorate the place when they moved in. I particularly enjoyed the art in Eleonora’s private rooms as they all reflected important aspects of her role in Florence as a negotiator, businesswoman, and loyal wife. My favorite fact about Eleonora di Toledo is that she used personal money to buy Palazzo Pitti and attached it to Giardino Boboli (The Boboli Gardens), not her husband’s money. I love learning about Eleonora’s impact on Florence, and I am very happy that her touch can still be felt in both places.
Bardini Gardens
For the celebration of International Women’s Day, on March 8th, all Museums in Florence were free to enter. I chose to visit a new garden museum I had been itching to go to, Giardino Bardini. I loved it. There was an unbelievable view of Bruneleschi’s Dome, which was quiet, unlike the Boboli Gardens, which many tourists flock to. I enjoyed reading my book on the terrace of these gardens and soaking in a quiet, sunny day above the city. It was particularly nice to spend a restful day in Florence, as the next day, I left on a seven-day trip for our spring break.
Porto, Lisbon and Barcelona, Spain
While studying abroad in Europe, the number one place I wanted to visit outside Italy was Portugal. For spring break, I traveled to Porto, Lisbon, and Barcelona, Spain, before returning to Florence. I love being able to embrace new cultures, even if just for a few days. Some highlights of the trip were eating the Iberian cuisine, including tapas and patatas bravas, as well as seeing new architecture and design styles, from the blue and white painted tiles in Portugal to the abundance of Gaudi’s unique work in Barcelona. I always wanted to see the Sagrada Familia in person; I think it may be my favorite church I have ever seen, as Gaudi’s architecture is so creative, modern, and whimsical—definitely a pinch-me moment.
Although seeing other European destinations was very exciting, I was so excited to return to Florence, as the city really does feel like home! I know the second half of the semester will fly by, with many CET activities, school projects, family visiting, and independent travel planned. I cannot wait for our rainy spell to pass so that we can enjoy a sunny and warm spring in Florence. As I am writing, it is 70 degrees out and sunny, and the city is bustling with tourists and locals soaking in the sunlight.
