Endicott fall 2016

CULTURAL INTRODUCTION TO ITALY

FLORENCE ITALY

FALL 2016

Travel diaries

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FUA Florence University of the Arts & Endicott College

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Fall 2016 CITI Pre-Semester Field Learning Week Note from the staff: Alicia Vinal

I had the great pleasure of participating in the fall Cultural Introduction to Italy: Field Learning Week, and it is an experience I will not forget! On paper, this course is a wonderful exploration of Italy: Rome, Tuscany, and The Mediterranean Sea, among other places. Who doesn’t want to visit these locations?

However, the week is so much more than sightseeing. It is a crash course in Italian history, with a peek at the “underground Italy” that exists in Rome. It is an art lesson, with frescos, brilliant architecture and gardens that will amaze you. And yes, it is a lesson in an important topic of conversation: food.

Make no mistake, by the end of this week, you too will find yourself talking about food…while eating.

The faculty and staff at FUA (who are fantastic, I will add) have created a week that gives you a taste of what Italy has to offer, and once you have left your latest destination, you wish you had more time.

You want to know more about Rome, hope there is another Agrotourismo on the schedule, and REALLY wish you had more time to hike in Cinque Terre! I cannot say enough positive things about this week.

I left Florence so happy to have participated, needing to go back, and wanting to learn Italian.

Grazie di tutto, FUA.

Aliberti Elizabeth N u r s ing

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic:. There are no words to describe the beauty and craftsmanship present in the artwork in Rome. Personally, I appreciated being able to witness history tie in with the personal accounts of individual lives in particular pieces. It was as if we were transported hundreds or thousands of years back, just by looking at one painting. The mosaics in the Vatican were so detailed that they looked more like frescos than like tile. We were also able to see our first Michelangelo sculpture in a basilica that we just stumbled upon on our way back to the hotel.

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta.

Italian artists and artisans though history: The Carrara Marble Quarries were an amazing sight. The view from the mountain was spectacular; we could see for miles

over Tuscany. Before entering we were given yellow vests and hard hats to adorn.

Inside of the cave, we were greeted with a vast opening completely lined with marble.

The white marble from these quarries has been used to create the Duomo, and all of Michelangelo’s sculpted masterpieces, as well as many other Italian treasures.

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture.

Carnival is one of the best and biggest celebrations in the world. We were extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the event. I loved seeing how the floats were made; builders utilize reeds, casts and paper mache to produce their final products. The floats themselves were so grand. One has to appreciate how much skill goes creating such large works of art.

Many of the floats had satirical sense of humor, which I really appreciated.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

My favorite places to visit during travel week were the gardens. We were fortunate enough to see four unique and beautiful landscapes. I liked the Tarot Garden in particular, which was full of colorful, mosaic tile statues. The space can be credited to the artist Niki de Saint Phalle, who based the project on inspiration from fortune telling Terot Cards, and Gaudi’s Park Guell.

Phalle actually lived inside of one of the sculptures. We were able to see her home, which was encased in a sparkling, mirrored dome.

Florence, Italy

Bosland Marissa Early Childhood Education

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

Bolgheri made me realized how much work and time goes into making wine.

Learning about how it is produced made me appreciate wine and the Italian culture even more. I didn’t know that wine had to sit in the barrels for a long period of time and that there is a season and temperature where you can only grow the grapes and harvest them. The traditional food we ate was also amazing. Seeing the meats and cheese on the platter was something new to me but the way it was presented was exquisite.

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The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because… before I was someone who wasn’t much of a traveler however getting on a bus and going from place to place in Italy has made me more comfortable with traveling and putting myself out there in new situations.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is…Hiking Cinque Terre with students I hadn’t met until that day because while hiking we bonded and I will now have those friends and amazing memories with me forever.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was... how every house and building is beautiful in their own way.

Everywhere I was in Italy, the architecture was breathtaking.

Carofano Amanda I n t erior Design

Rome, 3,000 years of art and history from Roman times though the birth of the Italian Republic.

Walking down the streets of Rome for the first time was surreal. Being able to see the history, architecture, and art in person that I have learned about in textbooks over the years has been amazing. Having the opportunity to travel around Italy is such a great opportunity, especially as an interior design major because it seems like there is an architectural masterpiece on every corner. Italy will be a great country to study and travel in because it will help me grow as a person and a designer.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

Villa Lante was picturesque. It was a perfect display of the ideal Italian garden with the use of symmetry and order with in the

layout of the perfectly manicured grounds.

In contrast, the garden of Bomarzo took you on a slightly different journey through the woods. Its layout almost purposely disregarding the use of symmetry and order. Despite the differences of the first two gardens, the Tarocchi gardens takes you for a completely different journey of contemporary sculptures made from bright colors and organic shapes; really letting you step into the artists mind.

serious and prideful people are over the products they produce.

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture.

Carnival originated in 1873 when the first parade was mostly made up of decorated carriages. Over the years it has grown in size and popularity, and it is now the biggest Italian Folk event. Today Carnival is made up of massive floats with allegorical figures made from paper mache. While Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in visiting the hangers, where the floats are built, it was interesting to see that most Italian culture and economy.

I thought that I had come to Italy knowing floats like to poke fun at American politics. of the importance of food and wine in the Italian Culture but, I don’t think I truly understood this importance until I visited the vineyard in Bolgheri. It wasn’t until after learning about how much time and effort they put into every detail of making their wine that I truly understood how

Florence, Italy

Casey Caroline A r t T h e ra p y

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is speaking with our tour guide at the Colosseum. I valued learning from her, not only about the Colosseum and Roman history, but also about Italian life.

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

Carrara marble is famously known and widely used, but few people understand where it comes from. The Carrara marble quarries sit high up in the mountains of Tuscany. They are known for their beautiful marble, which has more value the purer it is. Michelangelo himself used the same Carrara quarries to extract the specific marble he saw fit for his sculptures. He would then, not carve the sculpture out of the marble, but find the sculpture within the block.

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Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

Long before the Romans, the Etruscans settled in Italy. Seeing their ancient burial grounds at Populonia and Baratti was fascinating. It was difficult to fathom that people lived so long ago in this area, and in ways so different than we live now. The Etruscans made their livings off of the mineral industry, and used the nearby sea to trade. They were similar to us, too, by burying and celebrating their loved ones who had passed.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

The frescos that lined the walls of Palazzo Farnese, the structured hedges of Villa Lante, the slanted building in the Sacred Woods of Bomarzo, and the intricate designs of the Tarocchi garden all left a

lasting impression on me. These palaces and gardens were all created to showcase the owner’s wealth and power. It was fascinating to see how the style changed, especially from the 17th century, geometric flow of Villa Lante, to the chaotic, unorganized brilliance of the 20th century Tarocchi gardens.

Crist Kyra I n t erior Design

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. The Villa Lante Villa Franese, Bomarzo, and the Tarot Gardens were all very different but prove the importance of outdoor garden life in Italy. The architecture of Villa Lante and Villa Franese were both symmetrical and used many water features. Both of the families who built these gardens were of high status. The symmetry and statues reflect their status and importance in their towns. The Bomarzo and Tarot Gardens were very different and were not a typical garden for their time. When other gardens were symmetrical, the Bomarzo was set apart with a trail of monster statues and no symmetry. The Tarot Gardens were a reflection of the artist’s traumatic childhood and was not dedicated to the gods, but instead to herself. It was not an expression of her status, but a more

personal experience and self-expression.

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

Populonia and Baratti were inspiring places. They were so ancient, and it was interesting to see how the Etruscans honored the dead. They had their city on the Acropolis up on the hill, and below at the footsteps of the mountain was the Necropolis, the city of the dead. Each family had their own tomb that generation after generation would be buried together, up to 600 people in one tomb.

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy. At first, Bolgheri was known for olives. But in the last 60 years, they have started to import grapes from France that could grow in the climate. These imported grapes produce a unique wine blend. They make DOC wine, and the three separate wines stay in the barrels anywhere from 14-22 months. For

small vineyards, they produce a lot of wine that contributes to the local economy.

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

I really enjoyed going to the marble quarries in Carrara. I always thought quarries were open air, so seeing the process and excavation of marble inside a mountain was incredible. The science and calculations that need to be followed are extremely important. It’s interesting to know that ancient civilizations used marble and had to excavate it without the machinery we have today. At home, Marble is very expensive and hard to come by, but in Carrara, marble is used as sidewalks and window casings because it is so accessible.

Marble can be used as a medium for many different things, and has been used throughout history for architecture, sculpture, and everyday items.

Florence, Italy

Cunningham Laura Studio Art

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

The art that is in Rome completely amazes me. The city of Rome is very unique in comparison to other cities in Italy.

Preservation is very important, especially with the Coliseum. The people of Rome really want to preserve what is still standing after 3000 years and that is one of the things that makes Rome so special.

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Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

The way Italians see food and wine is quite different than how Americans see food and wine. Food and wine is like an art to Italians. It is taken very seriously here and the Italians take pride in their food creations. Italians also take pride in their wine. Wine is usually used in social events or they just have one glass during dinner.

Italians respect wine, which is why they do not abuse it.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because…The Cultural week helped me experience all these places that I haven’t even heard of. I was able to experience the culture of Italy more and in the end felt more like I was apart of Italy.

Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy is… Art in Italy is very important that they take preserving everything very seriously.

Dennen Camaryn I n t erior Design

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

The Carrara marble quarries were absolutely fascinating. Michelangelo came to this same spot to choose his marble, the medium for which he is most famous. This is the spot where he found the discarded piece of marble that he would carve David from. The extraction of the marble began around the 60’s and continues today.

Many of the quarries are run by family owned companies that go way back. It was definitely one of the most fascinating parts of travel week.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because...

I’m a terrible eater! Being on cultural intro week really forced me to step outside my comfort zone and try new things.

Specifically food but all kind of other things as well.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is...Being at restaurants and having the waiters and waitresses be so helpful is something I won’t forget. When it was clear we didn’t know how to communicate something they were more than willing to help which I am very appreciative of.

Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was... I was excited to see all of the art and architecture that I learned about in art history in the states. Sure enough all of the places we visited on travel week were packed full of ancient art which is what I was really excited to see.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was... That they don’t use butter! Knowing that Italians are so big on their food I was surprised at how little they use to cook their food.

Florence, Italy

Donovan Hunter Marketing Communications

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

Going to the winery was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Seeing how they fermente the sugar into alcohol and but into barrels in the wine cellar was very cool. Learning how to taste wine correctly was really awesome is well. It is something I can always do from now on when i’m given the opportunity to taste wine. The food in Italy is phenomenal. I’ve never had better pasta or pizza in my life. The food that goes with the wine is incredible. The meats and cheeses really blend well with the wine.

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Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

Rome was an amazing city that I was really excited we got to see. I loved everything about Rome. This was my first days in Italy so I was still adjusting to the jet lag, culture shock, and meeting new people.

I think Rome was a perfect place for us to experience those first couple of days. I say that because it is a huge city and has so many things to see and do. My favorite thing about Rome was the Colosseum.

It is a 7th wonder of the world so it was awesome to see. I loved the history of the gladiators and the entertainment purposes of it. Rome was truly an amazing city that I am very happy we went to.

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans through history.

It was so cool to see all the marble everywhere and learn the distribution and processes it goes through to sell. It was a very pretty sight throughout the marble cave and I learned more about marble then I thought I ever would. It was a very exciting experience.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is… I say hiking Cinque Terre with my new friends I made on this travel week was something I will never forget. The sites throughout that hike were breathtaking, and the towns we stopped into were so cool.

Durkin Molly I n t erior Design

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

As an Interior Design student, seeing Rome for the first time was an experience unlike any.I was surprised to see how well the city blended the ancient ruins within the more modernized streets. The best part was walking down the street and as you turn the corner, the Colosseum is there right before your eyes. It was almost hard to fathom how it’s still possible visit these ruins as they remain almost as they once were thousands of years ago.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

After visiting all three gardens, it was very noticeable in how different they all are. They vary in time periods, locations and cultures. Although I was able to find similarities between them such as they were kept hidden and tucked away from the streets. In order to see them, one must walk a bit to find them. I enjoyed most the view Villa Lante had to offer along with the peaceful atmosphere the water fountains created.

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

Even after visiting the many historical sites during travel week, it still felt surreal walking the grounds of the Etruscans of which dated so far back unlike anything that can be seen back home. Being able to go inside the tombs helped understand their culture and the importance of respecting their afterlife. The civilization is located on the gulf of Baratti which was a great way the end the tour with some time on the beach and an unbelievable view.

Florence, Italy

Eastes Ryan Business Marketing

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture.

I enjoyed the Viareggio carnival because it was interesting due to all the different and unique designs in the floats. I found the history that inspired the art in floats very interesting because there were so many extraordinary ideas displayed and everything was different and creative. I was often laughing at the sculptured floats because they were very funny and were so politically correct.

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Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

This was a very fun experience because we were practically in a cave far under the mountain and there was so much marble.

It was so different and it was amazing to see where a lot of the worlds marble comes from. I had never experienced anything like it before. This is an experience that I don’t think I’ll ever experience again because it was so different and unique.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because... I was able to meet new and fun people and experience once in-a-lifetime things. I was so happy to be able to see very important and historical things that I have learned about in school.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is... My growth of Italian culture that I learned because it has taught me more about the world and opened me to new customs and kind of taught me how to mature so that I am respectful towards other cultures.

Ferreira Chelsea I n t erior Design

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

Traveling and being in Caprarola was a very different feel from being in Rome.

Rome was such a busy city filled with so much action and live. Caprarola was very different, it was quiet and secluded in the hills. It was an interesting change from Rome. Visiting the palazzo Farnese and the garden was exciting. It was very surreal to be a palace that these people lived in so long and walking through the garden that was so important to the cardinals. I enjoyed walking and exploring the other gardens we went to ass well. It was interesting to see how people back during these times took the time to mesh great architecture with nature all while capturing the philosophy they believed in so strongly.

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

This day was again another big change of scenery, we were brought to the Etruscan necropolis and were immersed in the ancient burial spaces of these people. This was so unreal to me that these people took so much time to make sure their deceased were taken care of. And It is also crazy to me that some of these tombs and small coffins are still standing and very much together. It makes me think about how much time and effort everything took without modern tools, it must have taken forever to dig these large tombs Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

I learned that wine is so important to Italians, it is not just something they drink it is a staple that they pair with the wonderful foods they prepare. Also, the winery that we went to was considered small and only produces 40,000 bottles of wine a year and they only sell to private buyers.

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture.

The visit to the hangers where the floats are kept was a very different day. It was so amazing to see that these floats are built by strictly volunteers and that they are a part of something that is so important to the culture of Italy. The floats we saw were so huge and unbelievably beautiful. It was amazing to see how many steps have to be The visit to the winery and vineyards completed between the sketch, the model was so informative and exciting. I didn’t and the final product. These were very cool realize how many different factors effected to learn about. the taste of the wine. At the wine tasting

Florence, Italy

Fretwell Danielle Studio Art

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

No true words can be used to describe the feeling of seeing, with our own eyes, history. For once, it wasn’t something being shown in a movie or through chapters of a textbook. Experiencing Rome and its history was beyond breathtaking. With all that we saw over the course of 3 days, the most remarkable part was witnessing the Coliseum. I connected most to this historic structure due to its impact on civilization and overall use during the ancient roman times.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens all symbolized the same aspect, while being so incredibly different. While Fall 2016

some possessed the structural beauty of sculptures, flower beds, fountains and paintings, others focused on utilizing nature itself to become the garden. All were interactive with the public and calm to be in the presence of; but what they all symbolized was wealth and lust. The artists indulged themselves in the master’s desires and created them a place for serenity, love, and nature.

and cold moisture filled the air, along with loud bangs from the workers. After being inside, it was even more mind blowing to understand how they do their job. Simply amazing.

One intercultural growth experience that I will forever treasure is...communicating with people who do not understand me.

There is so much power behind expression, emotions and gestures because they are Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: all universal. Even though we could not Italian artists and artisans though history. verbally communicate, I found ways and When first seeing the vast, white mountain adapted to the cultural difference. rage of marble I couldn’t begin to imagine the techniques that are used everyday to remove pieces and create structures of it. We put on our vests and hard hats; hopped into a hefty van and next thing I knew we were cruising inside the marble quarry. When the van stopped and we got out, all temperature was decreased

Fulciniti Rachel A u t i sm and Applied Behavi or An alysi s

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic Rome was the perfect way to start off my experience in Italy. This was because of all of the history and art that takes part in Rome. Going to the Colosseum was a big highlight for me. The Colosseum was fascinating because of how it has changed over the years. There were small holes on the walls, and our tour guide said that means that their used to be granite there before.

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

When we first arrived and walked around the tombs I did not expect to go into them.

Seeing where the ancient families were buried was something historical that I will not forgot. After seeing the tombs, we went to the beautiful beach. I could see the difference between the beaches at home and the beach that we visited. An example of this would be the view on the beach was looking out to mountains.

Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was… The pride that Italians had for their culture. They are very willing to share their culture with others.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is…

Being comfortable with walking around and becoming more aware of directions.

Instead of becoming nervous when I am lost I will just pay attention to the directions and enjoy the walk.

Florence, Italy

Gervais Abigail I n t er i or D esign

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

Caprarola was filled with frescos, ceiling carvings and beautiful tile work. Each room was very different in its own way.

One room had an intricate wooden ceiling with geometric shapes while other rooms had a more ornate and detailed style, filled with frescos and gold leaf. The garden or “hunting lodge” was my favorite aspect of the palace. Learning about the family that lived there and their story was truly rewarding and beneficial to my overal travel week experience. Villa Lante was more of an outdoor garden with geometrical hedges. The garden carried some of the same themes as Caprarola.

Bomarzo was less formal but still surprising in many ways. The statue of Julia was so large and beautiful due to its body structure. Her thick legs and thick arms Fall 2016

really made the sculpture come alive in its own way. The last garden we visited was a modern garden (Tarocchi). Even the entry way into the garden evoked and modern feeling with the circular entry way and geometric shapes. Jaws were dropping as we stepped forward into this bright and sparkling garden filled with porcelain and mirrored mosaics. The water fall was a beautiful and refreshing touch and made the first sculpture come alive. The room with the different columns was so vibrant and each were depicted with a different color, pattern and texture. The artists home within the garden was such a pleasant surprise. Seeing the integration of her art and her home was very rewarding to see.

something like I have never seen before.

The workers guided us through their daily projects of the parade floats. Being an art major made me appreciate the hard work these painters, architects and sculptors create on a daily basis. The large scaled floats were monstrous and filled with detail. When I learned that the grand prize was so minuscule I was astonished.

Something that changed my perspective of Italy was the slower paced life of the Italians. Simple things like walking down a street to cafe experiences. Italians simply like to embrace the moments they share with their friends/family. In America, we sometimes rush our experiences when we should simply slow down and enjoy the Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions present. to current pop culture.

The Viareggio Carnival, located in the Tuscan City of Viareggio, Italy, was

Greeley Paige Studio Art

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

The four gardens we viewed all shared the same beauty but were drastically different. Focusing on specifically Villa Lante and Tarocchi gardens, the two contrasted greatly due to their physical appearance, style, and disposition. Every inch of Villa Lante had a great emphasis on perfection and flawlessness. One could not help but feel at ease and distress as they walked throughout the garden. Once I completed the journey through the site, I was in a meditative state and extremely relaxed. Tarocchi gardens had the complete opposite affect. Walking through this garden, I was amazed and amused by the exceptional colors, shiny objects, and towering sculptures. Every turn one took was another contraption or art piece ready to amuse. Once completing this garden, I felt energetic and powerful.

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture.

A trip that contrasted greatly with our daily trips to Roman historical sites and romantic gardens was out visit to the Viareggio Carnival. As artists were preparing for the next carnival and taking apart previous floats, we stepped inside huge warehouses with immense paper mache sculptures that were two large to even fit under the ceiling. Being a Studio Art major, I could truly appreciate the creativity and passion that wherient into each and every sculpture that we saw. Also the impermanence of the pieces, since they tear them down every year, was upsetting because of how beautiful they were but also made me excited for what the artists had in store for us next year.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is... Hiking ten miles through Cinque Terre was my favorite moment of Travel Week. I would never think that my body would be able to endure that trek in just a few hours of time.

The experience was something I will never forget and also never stop bragging about.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was... The different cultures within Italy. In my head I clumped all of Italy together as one large culture when in actuality the bustling culture in Rome contrasts greatly with the serene and quiet culture of Bolgheri.

Florence, Italy

Hague Lindsay I n t er i or D esign

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I was able to experience authentic italian traditions and history. By being apart of the Cultural Intro week I was able to learn a little bit of the Italian language and get rid of any wrong stereotypes I had of the Italian culture. On top of this being with a whole new group of people got me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to develop new friendships for the upcoming year.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is how to interact with italians and their social ways. Americans can be very loud and want things done right away, as here it’s very laid back and Italians like to take their time. An intercultural growth I had that was very important to me was how to travel as a foreigner. Many things aren’t so direct Fall 2016

here so it’s up to you to figure out where your train is or bus etc. The biggest thing I wanted to accomplish going abroad was being able to confidently travel by myself and not rely on a car or my phone.

Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was they are very cultured and independent. Everyone speaks multiple languages and because they live around some of most profound artwork and history in the world they are a very cultured community.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was their focus to conserve energy is a lot different from the U.S. The energy rules are very strict and they live within their means. Where as in the U.S we have an abundance of energy.

Hartwell Amanda A r t T h e ra p y

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic Walking down the streets of Rome, I expected the Coliseum to be a little separated from the rest of the city, but in stead it was integrated in a way that you turned a corner and were suddenly looking up at the Coliseum. The city was built around these famous landmarks. We got to see the Roman Forum and learn about how the Romans lived. Nearly every wall was decorated with Frescos and there were intricate statues everywhere in the city. Some of the statues were taken down based on the popularity of the ruler.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

In one day we got to see Villa Lante, Sacred Wood, and the Tarocchi Gardens. This allowed me to compare the three is terms of history, philosophy, and nature. Villa Lante has a very geometric layout with each shape representing a philosophical aspect. For example, circles were meant to represent the universe. Sacred Wood was meant to entertain and was very less traditional in style. Tarocchi gardens was very much philosophy and experience based. The huge sculptures allowed the view to walk in and around them to explore the thoughts and meaning behind each one.

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy. The Etruscans were an ancient civilization that settled in Tuscany and northern Lazio. They dominated ancient Italy until the RomanEtruscan Wars. We visited a Necropolis of the Etruscans and learned about their rituals. The tombs were above ground and created to house a family. Each member had an area blocked off by a wall of rocks as a sort of bed. They were laid in there after passing with their valuables. The tomb would then be sealed until the next family member died.

Something that afďŹ rmed my perspective about Italy was... the warmth of the people. They are over all very welcoming.

Florence, Italy

Hotchkiss Emma I n t er i or D esign

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture One of my favorite places we went to visit during travel week was to the Viareggio Carnival in Viareggio. This festival is a big tradition for Italians and is the largest carnival in Europe. Much like Mardi gras the Viareggio Carnival is a religious celebration, connected with Fat Tuesday.

The magnificent realistic floats all reflect the culture and current events that may be happening at the time. Every year everyone looks forward to getting to be a part of this festival as viewers can actually take part in the parade touching and walking along with the floats, celebrating as more than just a bystander. For the locals this festival is more than just a party it’s a celebration of pride, history, culture, and tradition.

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Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

Throughout history many of the most famous Italian sculptures we know have used marble to create there masterpieces.

For example during travel week we visited places such as the Trevi Fountain by Nicola Salvi and St. Peters Church where marble is used. While visiting the quarries we were able to go inside and see how the marble is extracted today using big pieces of machinery to lift heavy chunks of marble.

This brought to attention how much effort it must have taken to extract marble back in ancient times. This makes the creations of the places we went that were built for marble even more impressive than they already are.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because... I have gained a great understanding of the Italian life style.

I believe now understanding there culture has helped me open up my views and opinions. It is evident that every culture is different and has their own success and failure but by understanding different cultures success we might be able to bring them to other communities only to improve them even more.

Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was getting to interact with locals, personally hearing and understanding their culture directly from them instead of learning about their culture through hearsay.

Hughes Crawford Madison N u r sing

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

The centuries worth of art and history that remain for the most part intact in Rome are what make the City so breathtaking.

Integrated seamlessly into the up-todate bustling part of the city are priceless landmarks and pieces of art that are older than most nations. Most people learn in their history courses at some point about the Roman Empire but to see the remains of Ancient Rome in person is better learning experience than anything I learned in class before. It is hard to imagine the signiďŹ cance of some of these sights in Rome while looking at them through a text book, but to see them in person really is amazing.

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

The visiting of the Necropolis reminded me again of how immense the history of Italy is. I think many people when they think of Italy remember most about the Romans, however the history goes much further back to the Etruscans. To see the Etruscan tombs that are amazingly still intact really showed me that the history of Italy goes back much further than one can really grasp. To be standing in such a beautiful part of the country and imagining an ancient civilization living there, with proof right in front of me, was a really amazing experience.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experiece that I will treasure is... Learning about other cultures is not the same as being immersed in a new culture. I am grateful that I am able to be living in the Italian culture and it has taught me to be understanding of culture differences and how to adapt in all different situations.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was... Before coming to Rome I really did not expect see so many pieces of history and art throughout the city right next to modern stores and businesses. It was really interesting to see how the old integrated with the new to create a city with so much to offer.

Florence, Italy

Hunter Rachel A r t T h e ra p y

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

The Gardens that we visited were truly each an amazing experience and exemplified their own unique styles. All three showcased intricate architecture, created by artists to develop new styles and explore art’s many paths. My personal favorite was the Villa Lante Garden because I love symmetry and enjoy beauty in artwork. I absolutely loved the intricate detail that went into designing the garden and found it to be fascinating how the cardinal created such a place to showcase the power of the Catholic Church.

Fall 2016

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

Populonia was a unique visit to say the least. Huge mounds of dirt surrounded by piled stones really catches your attention.

When discovering the age of these mysterious hills and what they were used for back in Etruscan times it allows for a feeling of sentimentality. These mounds which were once burial grounds date back to 900 B.C.. I’ve personally lived in America all my life and have only experienced what was founded in 1776 up until currently.

These mounds were the oldest thing I have ever had the privilege of seeing first-hand, eye opening.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I was able to experience some of Italy’s most prized possessions which Italian citizens are probably so used to seeing. Getting to explore different parts of Italy allows you to better understand the culture and the people within it.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is being able to travel on my own without my parents; this alone is enough to allow someone to grow. I think going on adventures, getting lost, then trying to find my way back to my hotel or destination had its pros as well.

Ikhdeir Pena Vanessa Alejandra Communications

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

Rome has been a city that has been tossed around from ruler to ruler. Kings had conquered early Rome, however after the seventh, Romans took the power into their own hands. They dropped the ruling of kings and made a council known as the senate, which was the beginning of the “Roman Republic.” They choose this form of ruling because it meant that the public had a say in the ruling of Rome. In Latin republic means “public matters or matters of state.” I thought Rome was extremely beautiful and a lot more modern than I was expecting. However, I really appreciated how much they value their architecture and their culture and how tourism hasn’t affected that.

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture The themes of the carts are always satire, political and social type. They have almost most of the year to plan and built until February comes around when the parade is. I thought it was super interesting being able to see the giant floats and see the hard work and time people put into their pieces.

I was so surprised to find out that after the winner is announced that they just get torn down and destroyed.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because... The cultural introduction week made me grow into a more independent person. In this week, although we had planned tours, we also had a lot of free time. In that free time I explored without any restrictions, my friends and I just walked along streets and

try to see as much as possible. I learned to not buy or eat anywhere that it surrounded by tourists but to go to the smaller low keys restaurants. In those kinds of places it was more local food and better prices.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experiece that I will treasure is... I will treasure my hike at Cinque Terre forever.

Two of my friends and I hiked from Corniglia stopped in Vernazza fFinally hiked the last village, Monterosso. It was one of the hottest days that we had experienced in Italy but that didn’t stop us from finishing. We were drenched in sweat and it was a successful 5-hour hike and treated ourselves to a dip in the cool sea.

Florence, Italy

Kelly Alyssa Creative Arts Therapy

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

The Tarrochi Garden that we visited was my favorite place of all travel week. My face could not stop gleaming like the mosaics I was surrounded by did in the Tuscan sun. I explored a vogue model’s artistic, feministic, home and masterpiece. I felt like I was lost in a surreal world of swirling color, tile, texture, and creativity being here and didn’t want to leave when the time came. I jokingly told my friends and instructors that I was ready to move in to this extraordinary garden of girl-power.

Fall 2016

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

Here in Populonia, Italy I stepped into an archeological site that held ancient tombs of the Etruscan civilization. I learned the history of these people, such as their hand in today’s wine production, Roman settlement, burial traditions, and that their origins to this day are still unknown. After a history lesson I crossed the street to swim in the sea that graciously gave its’ view to these tombs. The water was so beautifully clear as it glistened in the sun; swimming here was amazing.

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

Let the sweet smell of grapes overwhelm you when you step off the bus at a Tuscan vineyard, because your senses will not be disappointed. Wine in Italy is not a drink used to get drunk, but rather the blood and soul of this country, just as food is not just something to survive, but a celebration with each meal. Visiting Bolgheri and taking part in wine tasting I learned the processes of wine, and cheese making, along with the appreciation for everything consumed here.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experiece that I will treasure is... What I took away from this experience is that you should face your fears and take a leap of faith as long as it is a healthy risk. I am so thankful I took this opportunity to face my traveling fears.

Kimball Sydney I n t erior Design

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

Rome is truly like no other city I have ever seen in my life. The amount of art and history is overwhelming (in a good way).

Finally getting to see everything was surreal. Back home in America, we would always study places like the Colosseum and the Pantheon. We even had a discussion about Bernini verses Borromini. Nothing however beats seeing these places in real life. As an Interior design major, Italy is deďŹ nitely one of the best place to study design and architecture.

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

From the hustle and bustle of Rome, it was a nice contrast to learn about the Etruscan history. Being able to not only see where these ancient families were buried but also getting to go inside and see them was beyond amazing. Standing inside helped me imagine what the Etruscan culture was like hundreds of years ago. And to top it all off, getting to see the beautiful sea horizon was breathtaking.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because... The Cultural Intro Week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I was exposed to multiple places and was given opportunities to discover them on my own.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is getting to witness seeing big cities and tourist areas and slowly transition into the country side with less tourist.

Florence, Italy

Lange Michael M a r k e ting

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

All of these areas were unique in their own way. They all had incredible gardens, but each garden had different meanings, purposes, and reasons why they stood out. Villa Lante stood out to me due to its classy style. It had amazing fountains and a very symmetrical set up to the garden. It also had a large outdoor dining table with water running through it. The Bomarzo had unique sculptures, which almost had a dark twist on them. Most of the sculptures looked like monsters and some looked like gods. I enjoyed this garden the most. The Tarocchi gardens were based off a deck of playing cards. This garden was by the far the weirdest to me. It had a lot of women and their breasts on display. It seemed that the artist may have been some type of feminist and trying to get a message Fall 2016

across to people. Lastly, the Caprarola had gardens but the palace is what made this particular place stand out. This palace was a circle shape with an open center, filled with artwork and out of this world views.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because.. I had to adjust to being an outsider for the first time in my life. I had to do and try things that I have never done before. I had to break Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions down that cultural and language barrier to current pop culture. to get things accomplished. I couldn’t be Visiting the Viareggio Carnival caught my more proud of everything I had done and eye the most. The carnivals floats were accomplished during travel week. bigger than anything I’ve seen before.

During the visit, we got to learn about the history of it, how the floats are made, and One interpersonal/intercultural growth got to see many of the upcoming floats. I experience that I will treasure is.. Learning found how they make them particularly that everyone is different and do things interesting. They showed us how they make differently. Most of all realizing that the scaled down models a few times first. Then way you personally do things may not they start the process and actually build always be the best. Adapting can benefit the full size one. During the tour, we got to you in many ways. meet and take pictures with the man who built the float that won last year’s grand prize. It was great to see how much passion this man had for what he does.

Larsen Erica I n t erior Design

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

Our visit to the Populonia and Baratti was especially interesting after spending the first few days learning about the Romans and their way of life, and then to learn about how the Etruscans and their history. I was taken back by the tombs and the mass number of families that were buried at this site. Walking through the small tunnel and entering one of the tombs was unlike any other experience I have ever had; it really gave a new perspective on their opinions of the afterlife.

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

Our visit to the winery was by far one of my favorite stops during travel week.

The hospitality that our tour leader had while welcoming us into her family’s winery made me feel I was really getting a unique experience. Before coming to Italy I understood that wine and food was a large part of their culture but I had no idea to what extent. We were able to experience the entire process, from seeing and tasting the grapes, production and tasting the end result. We were also able to pair specific foods with each wine to get a specific flavor. Overall the food and wine was delicious.

One intercultural experience that I will treasure is.. getting to experience Rome.

To be able to walk down a small street to be greeted with an enormous monument right in front of you that individuals travel all over the world was unbelievable that the cities were developed around these historical monuments.

Something that affirmed my perspective about italy was the food! Everyone talks about how wonderful the food is in Italy and I definitely had this experience. I found it to be so fresh and unlike foods I have experienced back home.

Florence, Italy

Lorenti Michelle Marketing Communications

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

Rome is an incredible place with so much art and history. They have buildings that are older than the formation of the United States, which is a crazy idea to wrap your head around. They have been able to preserve and protect these pieces of history to educate people about the past and how things have changed. You will never see pieces of art similar to those from the Roman times though the birth of the Italian Republic because they are so unique and high quality.

Fall 2016

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

Pietrasanta is an Italian town that is town for processing marble and bronze which are two very important materials for artists when making sculptures. Visiting the marble quarries was really cool because we got to see how and where marble comes from because many famous Italian pieces of art are made of marble. Basically everywhere you go in Italy you see marble so we were able to see where some of it comes from and learn about how they get it out.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because we learned a lot about not only the history of Italy but how true Italian people live and act in Italy. This has really helped me so far in my journey in Italy because things are so different here and we don’t want to stick out too much or offend their culture.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was seeing both the country side and city of Italy and how different they both are. I pictured Italy to be all countryside, I never really thought about what the city might be like.

Mueller Adaline I n t erior Design

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

Rome was founded in 753 AD and was a great and influential empire, and still is today. Although Rome has gone through many ups and downs, it has influenced all of Italy, and most of the world with it’s great history. It is clear to see through the preservation of the ancient ruins, how proud Italians are of their Roman heritage.

After traveling through various parts of Italy, it is still easy to see today how Rome set the president for many other Italian cities, especially though its urban planning.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

Italian culture is very connected to it’s history and philosophy. Symbolism used in their art comes from a dedication to god, gods, and myths. The first two gardens we visited were very traditional renaissance gardens, with an extreme focus on symmetry. These gardens seemed to dominate nature, turning wild forms into basic shapes, because was thought that god manifested himself in these basic forms. The second two were far less traditional. While the Bomarzo garden was still connected to ancient gods, there was no symmetry or order. The Iarocci gardens was very different from all of the others because it was focused on self reflection.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experiece that I will treasure is... It is a very interesting feeling to be in a place where you are constantly challenged with a language and culture barrier. I often felt vary aware of my “Americanness” which made me uncomfortable at times. I was excited to come to Florence and integrate myself more into the Italian lifestyle and culture.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because... For me, the little things like overcoming the language barrier by both parties trying to use a foreign language (Italians speaking some English, me speaking some Italian). Also figuring out the public transportation in Florence was definitely a challenge that felt good to overcome because it boosted my confidence about getting around Florence, and Italy in general.

Florence, Italy

Naughton Courtney I n t er n at ional Studie s

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

In Bolgheri, they are world famous for their food and wine. They are most famous for producing white wines and roses wines.

This is because the characteristics of their soil and sunny climate allow them to grow grapes for cabernet sauvignon, merlot, carbernet franc, and petit verdot. The food also in Bolgheri is amazing due to their ability to match parings of wines and foods so well together. They offer many wine tastings within this region of Tuscany.

Fall 2016

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because...

The cultural introduction week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because it has gradually shown me all the various sides to Italian life and its culture. From the history to the food, everything is connected from the very beginning that people settled there.

One intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is the culture shock of the Italian people. Italian’s have a complete different view about aspirations in life and enjoy taking a slower pace with a more natural inuence on their body, food, and economy.

Something that afďŹ rmed my perspective about Italy was that the food was going to be amazing. From all the stories that have been told me about how everything is so fresh and real. I can now say for a fact that is true as well.

Owen Michael Marketing, Business

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature.

The gardens were one of my favorite sites to visit. Just knowing that the gardens were designed by people thousands of years before my time was something that I took great honor in appreciating. They were well put together, and the attention to detail was still visible after many centuries. My favorite garden was the Bomarzo garden.

I really enjoyed seeing the statues of all of the animals and how they still stand strong today. I was also very impressed by the symmetrical aspect of the Villa Lante.

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

The winery was a great aspect of travel week. To get the full experience of a wine tasting in Tuscany was something I will not forget. It was nice to do a real wine tasting before I started my introduction to wine course I am taking in Florence. To learn how to properly handle and taste a glass of wine was a new experience to me and it was a lot of fun. To see the vineyard, taste the grapes, and get walked through each step of the wine making process was very education and fun to experience.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is… Hiking the Cinque Terre with a group of kids that were strangers only days before. It amazes me how close of friends I became with the kids that I didn’t know on the first day of travel week. By the second day, we were all close, and we still hang out every day in Florence.

Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was... How patient Italians are and stress free they live their lives. They are proud of where they come from.

Florence, Italy

Pugsley Erica Early Childhood Education

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

After spending time in Rome, I was astonished by all the amazing and meaningful sights and architectures that America doesn’t have. All of the surroundings are beautiful, every street containing it’s own pieces of art. I was a little overwhelmed with everything happening around me but Rome was an outstanding place. When seeing the Colosseum, the beauty and the history it holds mesmerized me. The culture in Italy is much different from America and I love that.

Fall 2016

Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of ancient dominations in central Italy.

It was interesting to learn about the Etruscan history after learning so much about the Romans. We learned so much about their lives and the ancient tombs and being to explore within them was a great experience because I could put what I was learning about into real life and see what it was like hundreds of years ago. I enjoyed going down to the beach afterwards because it was beautiful scenery and a beautiful day.

Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was... Seeing the care that the Italians put into their cultural adorations, such as wine, food, architecture, and art.

Their love for their culture makes it truly beautiful.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was... The diversity in the land, I never knew Italy had mountains and such open fields throughout the country. While on the bus we passed them and I was amazed looking at it all. Also, the vineyards and cities are beautiful; I really love all the land.

Quill Julia M a r k et ing

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

When we first landed in Rome I was filled with emotions. I was scared because I was in a new place I have never been before without my family. I was excited because this was the start to the best four months of my life. I was so overwhelmed with emotions and for was to come. Rome was the perfect place to start my experience with all the beauty and history it had to offer. Even though we spent one entire day walking 17 miles I was beyond excited because with the 17 miles I saw all the history I wanted to see.

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

The quarries were something I loved. At first I was scared because the ride up there I thought the bus would go off the cliff with all the sharp curves and turns. Once we made it the marble quarry it was amazing.

When we went inside it was something I have never seen before. There was marble everywhere and to me that was shocking because I have never seen a marble cave before.

we could go into one, although it did give me anxiety because it was so dark and closed in. I could never imagine what it looked like when all the tombs were still standing and in good condition. I am so happy I got this experience because it will certainly leave a lasting impression.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is cinque Terre. Hiking Cinque Terre has taught me a lot about my self-motivation. I pushed myself to hike all the towns because at Populonia and Baratti. In the footsteps of every corner the view was worth it. I have ancient dominations in central Italy. never hiked anything as hard as that but in As we were walking around I could not the end the view was breathe taking and I believe how beautiful the scenery was, felt so great about myself. with the beach just right across the street.

The tombs were amazing and I was excited

Florence, Italy

Quinn Allyson N u r s i ng

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

TerriďŹ ed of heights and scaling up the side of a mountain for almost a half hour. But where are we going? The marble quarries.

We arrived and were handed helmets. I almost panicked at this point, but held myself together. We got into the van and basically entered a new world. We were inside the quarry and began to see how the marble was taken out of this cave and transformed into beautiful pieces of which Michelangelo worked with. Once inside the quarry I loved it! I was so nervous about this excursion but and my opinion was completely changed.It was amazing to see how the workers were cutting out pieces of marble. However, this was still crazy how this process occurred in history without the technology that we now have. Every statue or piece I will now see in Italy, will bring my back to the start of how it was most likely created.

Fall 2016

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

Bolgheri. My favorite place. Almost a week into our Italian ventures, and we would now explore the land known for its wine.

Driving in we were blown away at the view of the vineyards. We explored the vineyard with the owner of the lands, learning crucial and interesting information. It is important to have learned this information in order to appreciate the wine and the land where it came from. The visual experience throughout this vineyard was breathtaking. We proceeded to a wine tasting. We tasted a white wine and a red wine of which we saw the process of creation previously. After seeing how these wines were made, let us all appreciate tasting it a bit more. Also, we learned how the wine is incorporated into the culture and a key component of the economy.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was culture of food. Obviously we know that Italy is known for its amazing food, but actually coming here you see more than that. You see the pride that everyone has in their food. There are even rules and regulations of what is allowed to go into certain foods and not.

Sheehan Sydney P h o t ography

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture Viareggio Carnival was a very interesting place filled with different scale masks and floats. I found it fascinating how the big the rafts were for the carnival. I could not believe that three to four artists put together these life size pieces. Everything on site was so detailed and elaborate. As an artist, I was amazed by the process in which it took for one to be completed and ready for the festival.

the marble comes from. The famous Michelangelo took marble from this place and used them for his own sculptures. That in itself made it real and an experience I will never forget.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experiece that I will treasure is... One interpersonal/ intercultural growth experience was being in Vatican City for the first time. The place where the pope lies is something truly special to me. Everything Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: about the city was breathtaking especially Italian artists and artisans though history. going inside the Sistine Chapel All I can think about is the drive up the marble quarries and how long it took us Something that changed my perspective to get up there. It felt as though we were about Italy was how well most Italians never going to make it up. Once we got speak very good English and make it easy up, I did not realize how high up we were to talk to Americans. I didn’t perceive it and what we were about to see. Driving to be as it was for me with a whole new inside the quarries and walking around language that I do not know. the site amazed me as I was seeing where

Florence, Italy

Solis Shantall Hospitality Management

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic .

Bella Roma! That’s what every Italian will say every time you even think about Rome.

The beautiful architecture of the famous city of love, welcomes millions of tourist every day. Those who envy the Italians for being lucky enough to live in a city that has so much history. What amazes me more about Rome is it´s history, is one of the oldest cities in the world, you can see from Ancient Roman Architecture to modern architecure in one day. Standing by the Fontana di Trevi walking next the Spanish steps or visiting the Vatican city made the expirence of Rome surreal.

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature One of the better architecturally designed Fall 2016

places I have ever seen Is the Castello di Caprarola. Beautiful renaissance paintings, made the summer home of the Pope´s nephew seem bigger of what it really was. Having the palace divided in two and home of beautiful gardens, made the visitants see how powerful and wealthy the family was. Villa Lante, was the typical Italian garden, very man-made, and it goal was to show how powerful and rich the family who owned it was. Bormazzo was totally different, it seemed natural, it has different statues that represented, hell, purgatory and paradise. The garden symbolizes that everything in life is not what it seems. The Tarocchi garden, it was a crazy-dream came true. The garden is different from everything I have seen in my life, it had vivid colors, crazy shapes, for me it seemed like a theme park. The artist made the garden to express herself and made it her lifestyle, by moving in her art.

Viareggio Carnival: from ancient traditions to current pop culture.

Carnival, is happiness, party, creativity. In Viareggio the locals take the carnival pretty seriously, they build beautiful and gigantic cars with themes where they make a critic to society. The statement has changed through the years, the cars the themes, everything evolves and transforms but the traditions stays. In the workshop we visited I could see how current themes were adapted into allegoric cars and how the Italians do it for the tradition, they are passionated about the carnival, this is what makes it so beautiful, and attracts so many tourists at the time of the carnival.

Statham Anne Hospitality Management

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

The history in Rome has never ending point. There is so much to learn about as well to see with in the city. The 3000 years of history had me star struck because there was so much to learn about with in a short period. Walking through the Coliseum, seeing the Trevi Fountain, and all the other ancient pieces of history from over 3,000 years ago was my favorite. Everything I have seen in texts books growing up had come true.

Bolgheri: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture and economy.

The winery was a time that I will never forget. Learning the culture of the different pairings between red, white and rose wine was something different and new I learned.

Each wine goes with a different type of food. In the Italian culture people always drink wine with their food and they pair it so it can be a perfect taste to the meal.

There are many things I have not known about wine until this winery experience. I learned that it is important to the economy and the owners of the winery to have a good lasting area with the right amount of land and irrigation in order to get the grapes to grow perfectly.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because... I am able to learn about the Italian ways in Italy before moving into Florence for the semester. And also it allows me to adapt to the culture of the Italian ways.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was... Learning the different ways people eat here with all the courses and the way people mostly travel here which is mostly by foot.

Florence, Italy

Torrance Alex M a r k e ting

Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo and Tarocchi gardens. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature The gardens of Italy are amazing and range from flower gardens to crazy homes statues of mythical creatures; all the way to insane and massive works of art. Villa Lante showed the elegance of an Italian garden with its elaborate maze of plants symmetrically matching the left and right side of the garden. While Villa Lante showed the elegance, Bomarzo showed the power and money in the way of statues.

Some over 30 feet tall staring down at you lead to a powerful and remunerable expectance.

Fall 2016

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

The ride to the Carrara Marble Quarries was probably one of the most ludicrous rides I’ve ever been on. Taking a coach bus up roads that where already narrow for a regular car was crazy. But once we got to the top the view was awe-inspiring; being able to see the city below us for miles while having the white mountain of marble right behind us was like nothing I’ve seen before.

Taking the van into the quarried was a little nerve racking and so was being inside, but the presence of being in the mountain was worth every second of it.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because it really put me in the heart of Italy when I normally would not have on my own. It took me places I wouldn’t have even thought of going and made me see the beauty Italy has to offer in a different light.

One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is the friendships that I have made along the way.

I do not think that I would have enjoyed the expectance that was travel week without them.

Westerman Casey I n t erior Design

Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic.

Rome was unlike anything I had expected.

Having studied much of the city’s architecture, I was blown away by the immensity of its’ history. As I stood under the arches of the Colosseum, I tried to envision the events that took place in the amphitheater. But, it seemed impossible that I could be standing over the footprint of a gladiator before me. The whole city was filled with “wow” moments like the one i found myself in at the Colosseum.

Carrara marble quarries and Pietrasanta: Italian artists and artisans though history.

Marble has been Italy’s primary and most well-known building material throughout history. Even after visiting the Marble Quarry in Pietrasanta, I still cannot fathom how Italian artists were able to sculpt

masterpieces like “David” from what was once a rock. The Marble Quarry we visited was nothing like I expected. The cave was large, and open. It was interesting to learn how exactly the rocks were cut from the walls of the cave.

The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because... Boarding the plane in Boston, I was nervous of what to expect from a semester studying in Florence. Having a week of travel prior to landing in Florence helped me to transition into the new Italian culture before I was thrown into classes and my new life.

During travel week I was able to pick up the basics of the Italian language, make new friendships, and visit new places.

Something that changed my perspective about Italy was... Hiking the mountains of Cinque Terre completely changed my vision of Italy. Before coming abroad, all I could picture of the landscape involved wineries and the ancient cities. To my surprise, Cinque Terre was filled with greenery, mountains and of course, beaches!

I kept finding myself say “wow”. In those moments, I forgot I was in Italy and not an island in the Caribbean.

Florence, Italy

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CREDITS Photos: Endicott Students Fall 2016 Production Coordinator: M. Olimpia Bozza Text editing and picture selection: Mattia Delle Piane Graphics: Alberto Simoncioni Endi cott Fal l 2016 C la ss :

Aliberti Elizabeth

Fulciniti Rachel

Lorenti Lore nti Michelle

Bosland Marissa

Gervais Abigail Greeley Paige Hague Lindsay

Mueller Adaline

Carofano Amanda Casey Caroline Crist Kyra Cunningham Laura Dennen Camaryn Donovan Hunter Durkin Molly Eastes Ryan Ferreira Chelsea Fretwell Danielle

Hartwell Amanda Hotchkiss Emma Hughes-Crawford Madison Hunter Rachel Ikhdeir Pena Vanessa Alejandra Kelly Alyssa Kimball Sydney Lange Michael Larsen Erica

Naughton Courtney Owen Michael Pugsley Erica Quill Julia Quinn Allyson Sheehan Sydney Solis Shantall Statham Anne Torrance Alex Westerman Casey