Photos taken by Asher Savel (Bowdoin College), Student Correspondent for CET Florence, Fall 2024
Taking a tour of Rome
CET arranged a weekend trip to Rome for our cohort, and I was not disappointed. I grew up studying Latin and Roman History, so I finally got to practice my studies! After taking a quick train from Florence, our first stop in Rome was the Colosseum. It felt utterly surreal. It still towers over the Roman skyline, and our tour guide was terrific! She had a great sense of humor and told us some fascinating facts, such as how the Colosseum was one of the first buildings in the world to have public restrooms. It was difficult to believe how old and still somewhat functional the arena stood.
After we broke for a quick lunch, another guide took us around the city to famous sites like the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain! There were thousands of tourists, but visiting the sites that many people find beautiful and see everywhere felt dreamlike.
The Vatican
On our second day in Rome, we visited the smallest country in the world! Although we had no reserved tickets beforehand, five of us chose to wait in line and enter the famed Museo Vaticani. We could not leave Rome without seeing the Sistine Chapel or the Belvedere Torso, and I can safely say that this museum is the most beautiful I have ever seen. The line was worth it, and it only cost 8 euros! With masterpieces by Rafael, Michelangelo, and Donatello lining the walls, the Vatican always instills a sense of awe in its visitors.
Il Duomo
Thanks to CET, my Florence to-do list was now complete. We finally got to walk up Brunelleschi’s 427 steps to the top of the Duomo and get a fantastic view of the Tuscan countryside.
After school on Tuesday, CET gathered all of us and began climbing the Duomo. The stairs were claustrophobic, and the passages were not kind to taller people. However, when we reached the top, Florence opened up completely. I could see many mountains in the distance, and looking down, you could see the hustle and bustle of tourists and shopkeepers below.
The art inside the Duomo is also magnificent, and it inspired me to avoid angering God lest the apocalypse happens. Although we only got ten minutes at the top, the climb down was much easier, and in the end, we went out for some gelato.
A Day in the Life at CET
After attending my first class, I took a break at the park next to CET on Via Dei Renai. Many people are usually here, but its relaxing greenery and ample benches make for a perfect reset space for my mind and a place to eat lunch.
For my next class, Wine Studies, we went to Enoteca Alessi for a lesson on how to pair foods with certain wines. The cellar was gorgeous and filled with many wines from around Italy.
To finish the day, CET is part of a soccer tournament with other programs abroad in Florence! After dinner, our team assembled at a local futsal pitch, and we played a very contentious game against a program from California. I couldn’t take any photos of the game as I was playing, but there was a bit of intensity in waiting for the game to begin.