Benvenuto D&M! Welcome!

     Hello blogosphere, a new place where I can share my amazing travel experiences in Italy! I’m currently attending Accademia Italiana (AI), a design school in Florence and will begin to blog about my life here as a student. It is currently my fourth week living in Florence, and it has been absolutely incredible so far. I have traveled to beautiful places, eaten my weight in pizza, and continue to learn about different cultures. I anticipate my posts will mostly contain stories of my travel, blogs about fashion, and lots and lots of food. But for now I will give an overview of my most recent trips and experiences!

Siena and San Gimignano

     I am so lucky to attend AI because there are several weekend trips provided through the university. At the end of our orientation week we took a day trip to Siena and San Gimignano, two beautiful Tuscan towns just a few hours away from Florence. 

     Our day started in Siena in a torrential downpour. But even the rain could not take away from the gorgeous views of the hills and town. We met a tour guide who led us through St. Catherine’s Cathedral and then Duomo di Siena. Learning about St. Catherine of Siena was interesting because they have the head and finger of St. Catherine on display, and apparently other parts of her body are in other churches across Italy. 

     The Duomo is a must see, featuring intricate mosaic tile floors depicting scenes from the bible as well as important symbols of Siena and Italy. One of my favorite parts of the Duomo was the “Library” room which holds beautifully hand bound song books and scriptures. The frescoes in the room are massive and all of the artifacts appear in excellent condition. The saturated colors, gold leaf details, and ornate designs place you back in time.

View of Siena

     After a few hours in Siena we were on our way to San Gimignano, a medieval town that is nestled high up in the Tuscan hills. The views on the bus ride of ripe vineyards ready for the harvest. We stopped in “The World’s Best Ice Cream” shop and their sign proved true. The chocolate and coffee flavors were my favorite, but you can’t go wrong when it comes to gelato. I wish we had more time to enjoy the views and the sunset but we had to be on our way back to Florence.

View from the top of San Gimignano

     I will also include a link to a video I made of my first week adventures, including this trip here and below! I hope you will enjoy the video and post! Ciao!

   

The Most Beautiful Place on Earth

I have been extremely lucky to be able to travel as much as I have during this abroad trip.  Although I am getting a lot out of my classes during the week, I am getting an incredible experience exploring and discovering new cities and places in Europe during the weekends.  This past weekend, and my favorite so far, Julia and I ventured to the Amalfi Coast of Italy.  We left Florence Thursday night, and spent Friday-Sunday on our trip.  

Capri, Italy

This place is pure bliss - I've never seen anything like it.  The houses and shops are quaint, little colorful buildings all connected together.  Almost every shop owner creates their product by hand from start to finish, whether it's handmade Italian leather sandals or bottles of limoncello.  We had a great time just wandering and getting lost amongst the shops, and conversing with the locals in Italian, as many residents of the Amalfi Coast don't speak much English.

Our first adventure Friday morning was a boat tour around the island of Capri, which would end up at the Blue Grotto.  Our tour guides on the boat were several post-graduates who had studied abroad in Florence or Rome during their college years, and came back to guide current abroad students on adventures such as this one.  They pointed out to us many of Capri's most beautiful sites, including the rocks where the Dolce & Gabbana ads are shot.  We saw Gucci's house, Versace's house, and much more as we soaked up the sun on the boat.  The tour ended at the Blue Grotto, which is a small cave off of Capri where the water is royal blue.  The entire Mediterranean sea surrounding the Amalfi Coast is absolutely gorgeous, crystal clear water, but the Blue Grotto is the most beautiful royal blue I've ever seen.  It gets it's color from the sun shining into the small entrance to the cave, which illuminates royal blue once inside the cave.  We got off the boat in groups of 4 into much smaller row boats, operated by old Italian men that serenaded us the entire journey into the cave.  We were pulled into the cave by metal chain, and had to lie down flat on the boat in order to not get our heads smashed by the cave entrance.  This is what the cave looks like on the inside:

Blue Grotto - Capri, Italy

On Saturday, we spent the day on the beautiful island of Positano.  I didn't think it could get any more beautiful than Capri, but Positano is a close contender.  I would love to have my honeymoon and own property here someday.

Positano, Italy

We got onto a boat on the shore of the island, and went to cliffs about 15 minutes away.  Our guides told us we were going cliff jumping, and I got extremely excited and also slightly nervous.  The cliffs weren't nearly as big as I imagined, but still tall enough to get the adrenaline pumping.  It was probably as high as jumping off of a 3-story house in the suburbs.  The water we jumped into was a beautiful light blue, and was so salty that it really took no effort to keep afloat.  It felt as though I was jumping into the water with a lifejacket on, because the salt water propelled me back up to the surface so quickly.

Positano, Italy

Cliff jumping was definitely a highlight of the weekend.  If and when I return to the Amalfi Coast, I plan on doing it again.  The weekend ended with a tour of Pompeii on Sunday, which was really cool to see and a little educational piece of the trip.  We were unsure of what we were looking at most of the time, since most of the ruins look the same, but we had fun exploring and taking pictures.

Pompeii, Italy

This weekend was absolutely unforgettable, and I can't wait to return to the Amalfi Coast.  It is hands down the most beautiful place I've ever seen, and could easily spend the rest of my life there.  I hope that many of you get the chance to visit during your travels!

Arrivaderci,

Adrienne

When in Trastavere...

Anyone who knows me can vouch that I have been dreaming of traveling to Italy for years. This past weekend, while most of the American students in Prague took a train ride to Vienna, Sam and I made a tiny detour...to Rome!

Our apartment ended up being located in what was touted as the perfect neighborhood, Trastavere. Trastavere is on the southwest side of the Tiber River, below Vatican City, and it consists of several universities and an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, shops, churches, cafes, and local Roman residents.

On our first night we found an aperitif bar that was just around the corner. At L'aperitivo, one pays around 8 euros for an aperitif, or an alcoholic drink that is normally consumed before one's meal. Then, with the show of your receipt, you have access to a delicious and variant antipasto buffet. Freni e Frizioni was apparently appeared to be the most favored bar in the neighborhood, with groups of younger local patrons and tourists alike spilling out of the small locale and into the square along the main street.

Despite being intrigued by the nightlife that was peaking all around us, we collapsed in our beds soon after dinner, weary from our day of traveling, and woke up early the next morning when our tourist endeavors ensued!

The Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Sistine Chapel - we saw it all. The fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome, and the Pantheon is extremely well preserved and has been in used consistently since its construction. Sam was an awesome tour guide and, having been to Rome before, she managed to map out some pretty efficient routes. Over the course of just less than 3 full days we were able to witness a striking collection of some of the most significant remaining architectural and historical structures that are still standing today. Watching slides of the Pantheon flash before your eyes during an Architectecture & Society lecture more than pales in comparison to seeing these structures in person.

What struck me the most about Rome is how condensed the city way. The historic center especially has several monuments packed into such a small area, with modern building having sprung up around every corner. I can only imagine living and working in a city where you pass the Fontana di Trevi every morning when you ride your moped to work.

And on our way to the airport on Sunday, only minutes before we caught the Metro to Termini Station, we stopped to take in the Spanish Steps at the Piazza di Spagna.

Lake Como

Lake Como

Located on the boarder between Italy and Switzerland, Lake Como, is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
Easily accessible from Milan via train, the lake makes for a good day-trip if you have some extra time. Take the train from Milan to Como Nord Lago Station, and you will arrive in the town of Como. Once there, make sure not to miss the funicular which takes you up above the city for some great views.

A relaxing place for a rest

View of the funicular tracks leading down to the water

Milan

Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea (PAC)

The PAC is a Contemporary Art Museum in Milan. It is currently showing Passports: A Journey with Art. The exhibit displays the best in British art from the last 75 years. The most highly acclaimed works of photography, painting, installations, and sculpture, are shown. The selected 40 works were selected from an original grouping of over 800 by the British Council of Art.
Artists include: Frank Auerbach, Damien Hirst, Bill Woodrow, Bridget Riley, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, and Anish Kapoor.

Rear view of the PAC from the gardens

The Chant of Blue. Anish Kapoor. 1983

More info on the exhibition is available on the British Council's site.

Entrance for students is 3euro, and 5euro for general admission.


Galleria d'Arte Moderna
Gallery of Modern Art


Located in the same place as the PAC, the Galleria d'Arte Moderna is a huge collection spanning four floors, and including works from artists such as Pablo Picasso, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Entrance to the museum and garden is free. When you go in, you will receive a small catalog of the collection identifying all of the pieces, as not all of them are marked on the wall.

How to get to both the PAC and the Galleria d'Arte Moderna:
Subway 1 Palestro Station, or Subway 3 Turati Station
14, Via Palestro, 20121 Milan

Duomo di Milano
The Duomo, or cathedral of Milan is the central point in the city.
It is open to the public everyday from 8:30am to 6:45pm - free of charge.
Subway 1 - Duomo Station

Duomo di Milano

Castello Sforzesco

Castello Sforzesco

Opening Hours:
Everyday 7am-6pm in winter -- 7am-7pm in summer
The castel itself is free of charge, however if you'd like to visit the museum within the castle, it will cost 3euro. There are some times during the week when the museum is available free of charge, more info here.
Subway 1 - Castello Station

Parco Sempione
The Parco Sempione is the large green space stretching between the Castello, and the Peace Arch. During the summer it hosts theatre performances and activities for children, as well as creates a great place to rest in the shade with a cool drink.

Parco Sempione - looking towards the Peace Arch

La Triennale de Milano

Triennale Design Museum

The Triennale is a museum of Italian design from the most prominant designers. Divided into sections by items that were experimental, produced only in a small number, small series, large series, high artisanship, personalized items, video, and technological research - the collection ranges from a shoe designed for Judy Garland, to an attempt to hybrid a car and a motorcyle.

Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday
10.30-20.30
Thursday 10.30-23.00
Last admission one hour before closing time
Monday closed

Subway 1 - Milano Cadorna Station

The Last Supper

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci

Italy's most famous painting The Last Supper is by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is in constant state of renovation, housed in Santa Maria della Grazie refectory. Due to the high demand to see the painting, reservations should be made up to two months in advance. Tickets can be reserved here.

Capri

Capri coastline

Faraglioni Rocks, Capri

This past weekend Jesse and I took a trip to Italy where we spent 4 days on the Amalfi Coast.  It was a beautiful get away and we are so thrilled we had the chance to get there.  During the program there are many planned weekend trips through UNO.  We decided to go on a search for cheap airfare and sure enough found it to Southern Italy.  We flew into Naples and spent 3 nights at a deluxe hostel in Sorrento.

My favorite part of the weekend was going to Capri Island.  I have never seen anything like it.  We took an easy 20 minute ferry ride from the port of Sorrento to get there.  Jesse and I explored the island (mostly by foot), swam and sunbathed under the towering Faraglioni rocks, and had a great meal.  Capri is wonderful but quite expensive.  I suggest you do what we did and stay in Sorrento and go on a day trip to the island.

Italy was a great little holiday.  We finally saw some of the sea after being locked in the middle of Europe in Prague.

So next time you are studying abroad make sure you search for cheap airfare and enjoy Europe!

Pompeii

Pompeii was a Roman city located near Naples in Italy. It was completely destroyed during the 79AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which covered the city in nearly 60 ft. of ash and pumice. Though the eruption caused total destruction of the city - it also preserved every aspect of the city - from the detailed frescoes on the buildings, to the furnishings and even jewelry of the city's inhabitants.

The city was rediscovered during excavations by the Spanish Military in 1748. Though only about 50% of the city has been fully excavated, it can take upward of 6 hours to see everything. When visiting the site, I suggest getting the audio tour and its accompanying map as it is relatively easy to get lost in the vastness of the space.

Reaching Pompeii is easy to do via the Circumvesuviana Napoli-Sorrento train line (the Pompei Scavi stop), which takes around 30-40 minutes from either Naples or Sorrento.

Visiting Pompeii:
Hours:
November - March, every day from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission 3.30 p.m.)
April - October, every day from 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. (last admission 6 p.m.)

Closed: 1st January, 1st May, 25th December

Tickets are valid for the full day and cost € 11.00

If you plan on visiting some of the other sites in the Bay of Naples, such as the Mt. Vesuvius National Park, and Herculaneum etc. It is definitely a good idea to get an ArteCard which will provide discounted entry fees.

I loved reading Pompeii: A Novel by Robert Harris. It is a fantastic blend of historical and fictional characters, set during the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.