Through "Exploring the Architecture Styles of Italy," students will have the opportunity to learn how various architectural styles have influenced the design and building of structures worldwide.
DAY 1-
Day 1-We made it to Venice! Though a long day, the travel went as smoothly as we could have hoped. After arriving in Venice, we took a 15-minute water taxi ride to our hotel, which is quaint with no frills, but its location is perfect- right in the middle of everything. The piazza just outside of our hotel has incredible buildings, and we are excited for a 6-hour architectural tour of the city tomorrow. After a short time to rest and refresh, we walked around the city and had a delicious dinner at a traditional Italian ristorante, followed by a late-night gelato snack. Unbelievably delicious foods are everywhere; I have a feeling that we are going to eat our way through Italy!
DAY 2-
Today was a day filled with architecture and art (and more gelato)! We were fortunate to have an expert tour guide, Filippo, who introduced us to four awe-inspiring examples of Italian architecture- Byzantine, Renaissance, Gothic, and Neo-Classical. We visited Saint Mark's Basilica, The Rialto Bridge, and Doge's Palace. As Venice is a city built on water, the many unique and complex building techniques used have resulted in the original structures enduring the test of time for thousands of years. We were treated to a Venetian gondola ride through the Grand Canal on a beautiful afternoon. The evening concluded with a delicious Italian dinner at an authentic, family-owned restaurant near Piazza San Marco. And, of course, there was more gelato!
DAY 3-
The morning began with a water taxi ride down the Grand Canal past palaces, churches, and other beautiful buildings that line its banks. Once we arrived at the Venice train station, we boarded a speed train to Florence. The two-hour trip took us through beautiful rural towns and fields filled with crops. We even spotted an occasional castle. Upon arrival in Florence, we spent the afternoon exploring the city and doing some shopping. We got a sneak peek of Santa Maria del Fiore (aka: the Florence Cathedral) as well as the Galleria dell' Accademia di Firenze, where tomorrow we will see David, the masterpiece of Italian Renaissance sculpture created by Michelangelo. Perhaps the highlight of the afternoon was bumping into NHS alum, George Shegog '21, on the streets of "Firenze." It is indeed a small world! After a delicious dinner together and a trip to an outdoor market for some amazing Italian confections, we met as a group to discuss the architectural sites that we will encounter tomorrow during our tour of the city.
Day 4
Our day began with a three-hour walking tour of Florence and its incredible architecture. Our guide took us to a variety of interesting places, including the Galleria dell Academia, where we viewed Michelangelo's original sculpture of David, which he created at just thirty years of age; it was breathtaking! We also learned about Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect famous for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Duomo. We had lunch at one the most famous panini trattorias in Florence, All' Antico Vinaio. Everyone enjoyed the warm focaccia and freshly sliced Italian meats and cheeses. We then took a stroll to the Florence Eye, a large ferris wheel that provided an incredible view of the city. The highlight of the day was our pizza and gelato-making class. Our instructor, Alycia, was very impressed by our students' culinary skills and knowledge. We each made personal-sized pizzas from scratch and also learned the art of gelato making - including how to decipher between quality gelato and more commonly made ice cream or mass-produced gelato. Once again, we were fortunate to meet-up with two Husky alums on the streets of Florence. It was awesome to see Haley Stanley '20 and Alex Jacobs '22! We depart early in the morning for the train station to Rome, our final destination on this once in-a-lifetime adventure. Congratulations to the Husky of the Day, Kennedy! She has been dialed-in during our tours and is excited to learn new things. Always positive, Kennedy has been inclusive and friendly to all!
Day 5
This morning we took the subway (for some of us it was the first time ever on a subway) to the Vatican City, which we learned is its own country. We walked around St. Peter's Square and were awed by the beauty of the basilica and the Vatican. After a lovely lunch, we headed back to the hotel for a brief respite before our next adventure. Later that evening, we enjoyed a twilight tour of Rome, during which we learned the history of many piazzas, churches, and fountains found throughout Rome. Did you know that there are over 900 Catholic churches in Rome alone? We saw the magnificent Pantheon, which took only 7 years to build, and remains an architectural wonder today. We viewed the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the interior of many beautiful churches created in Baroque, Renaissance, and Romanesque designs. Congratulations to our Husky of the Day, Anthony! Anthony is easy-going, curious, and willing to try new things.
Day 6
The historical significance of Day 6 was unmatched. Visiting the Ancient Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill brought history to life and even made the rain and cold a bit more tolerable for the group. Our guide, Gracelyn, was perhaps the best we had all week. She was incredibly knowledgeable and explained things in a way that was easy to understand, as she made connections between what we have learned in the classroom, read in books, and watched on film to the real lives of the ancient people. The stories of the gladiators were particularly fascinating and somewhat hard to even imagine! It is unfathomable to think that there are multiple layers of civilizations buried beneath what we can see today. Archeologists continue to find whole cities and evidence of Ancient Roman life underground. We ended our last night in Italy with a bang, celebrating Kristian's 19th birthday with a special dinner, complete with cake and party hats. We were blessed to have Anna, a close friend of Lima's and Rome resident, join us for dinner. We were able to ask Anna questions about daily life and culture in Italy. For the third consecutive day, we logged over 20,000 steps. We arrived back at our hotel with tired feet, full bellies, and warm hearts. Congratulations to Lima, our Italiana hero, for earning the final Husky of the Day Award. She saved us on many occasions! Veni, vidi, vici!