Photos by Tessa Beazley, (The George Washington University), Student Correspondent for CET Florence, Fall 2022
After settling into and falling in love with Florence, I became extremely excited to explore other parts of Italy with such a beautiful home base to come back to. The first free weekend I had, a group of friends and I traveled to Palermo, where my family is originally from. One of the reasons I wanted to study abroad in Italy was my Italian roots, so being able to explore both the cities and beaches of Sicily was so fun!
My Florence Sketchbook class has definitely been one of my favorite parts of the CET program and involves going out in the streets and museums of Florence to capture what we see. Here is a contour I did of an alleyway. While I was sketching, an artist came and talked to me and took me to a hidden garden, which she believed was the “most inspiring” place in the city.
My parents visited one weekend in September and we took a trip to Cinque Terre. It is only a short and easy-to-access train away and it’s stunning views and super fun hikes make it, in my opinion, a must see while studying in Florence.
There is so much beautiful and historically rich artwork in Florence, I am constantly finding new places to explore. Our museum passes get us access to the Uffizi and the Pitti Palaces, two of my favorite museums so far.
Milan is a quick day trip away and studying in Florence during the fall meant my time in Italy would overlap with Milan fashion week.
This past weekend I went to a photography exhibit at the Bardini Museum comparing contemporary and historic women photographers. It is a temporary exhibit but I am excited to see what others they have in the future!
The cathedrals in Italy are gorgeous! My favorite so far was the Duomo in Siena, though Santa Croce – just a few minutes from my apartment – is a close second.
We go on many field trips for class, including the incredible Gucci Garden! Others have included trips to art filled piazzas, wine cellars, and gelaterias.
We have had a lot of rainy days in Florence the past few weeks. Honestly, the rain adds an extra layer of magic and makes for great museum days. The days without rain are that much more beautiful too.