CULTURAL INTRODUCTION TO ITALY
SPRING
2016 FLORENCE ITALY
Travel diaries
endicott! FUA Florence University of the Arts & Endicott College
endicott
college January 20 th-27 th 2016 A note from the staff: Olimpia Bozza
Each year paves the way for a new journey to expose students to a country many will be experiencing for the ďŹ rst time. It is a privilege to share a piece of my home with them and witness the transformation they go through the travel week and within just a few months in Florence.
Spring 2016 CITI Pre-Semester Field Learning Week
Kathryn Hartong Hospitality Management Major In Orvieto
Perugina Chocolate
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient Perugina. The tradition of family run Florence: My new home for the Semester. dominations in central Italy. business in the Italian economy. Touring The preparatory travel week helped me Perugia and Orvieto were my favorite towns the Perugina chocolate factory was amazing. feel like a local because‌ I knew when of the pre-travel week. They were the most beautiful towns I have ever been to in Italy. I thought Orvieto was the quintessential Italian town I would see in pictures online and I loved being there. The Duomo there was amazing and I just loved the relaxed feeling while walking through the town. Everyone was very friendly and they wanted to tell you more about their home. Perugia was a very fun bustling town and it was very modern with lots of shopping and delicious food.
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2016
I felt like I was in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I loved every single minute of it. Seeing all of the processes happening in front of me was the coolest thing ever. I loved learning about the family business. It was so interesting to me and I loved how involved the entire family was throughout the entire business. Perugina produces some of the best chocolate in the area and I am so glad I had the opportunity to tour the facility.
the normal times were for meals. I had a hard time adapting to the fact that Italians eat dinner so late, but I understand it because they take their time at each and every meal. Food and wine in Italy is extremely important and it is part of the culture. They take each meal and drink very seriously.
One sentence/phrase that in my opinion illustrates Italy and Italian culture is... Italians care about where their food and wine comes from and they want to have the best quality they can get.
endicott COLLEGE
Alec Kheboian Marketing Communications Major in Caprarola
Saint Peter ’s Basilica
Rome, 3000 years of art and history. MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food A personal growth experience that I will Reflections of an American in Rome. in Italian culture. Wine is not just a drink in forever remember was... after dinner one Rome was very overwhelming. I didn’t know just how big it would be, and it was huge. It was also an incredibly beautiful city. You could feel the history when walking through the city, and just the power that the city had at one time. The ruins that the city is built around are what make the city so beautiful. Just by walking through the city, one can see what the city used to look like, with many of the larger buildings still intact.
Italy, it is a part of the history and the culture of the country. I was made clear of this when visiting the museum of wine, and learning just how intertwined wine is to the Italian culture. It was amazing to me that wine was being made for over 3000 years, and the way it has been made and drank is always changing, but still keeps the roots of its origins.
night in Orvieto when Olimpia and Umberto took us to the all where the Pope was chosen and I felt we all bonded that night.
One sentence/phrase that in my opinion illustrates Italy and Italian culture is... Extremely unique and incredibly rich, you don’t realize how rich it is until you are immersed in it.
Taylor Krol Liberal Studies/Education Major In Orvieto
Il Duomo di Orvieto
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Florence: My new home for the Semester. dominations in central Italy. Perugia Italian culture. Food and wine are integral The preparatory travel week helped me and Orvieto were exactly what I pictured Italy parts of the Italian culture. Italians appreciate feel like a local because‌ it taught me to look and feel like. My initial impression of Orvieto was that the architecture looked like it had not been altered since it was first built. After completing the walking tour of the city, I understood that it was so much more. The rich history that encompasses the town is evident in the architecture, art, culture, and the people. What I found most interesting while visiting central Italy was the reason behind the lack of salt in the bread throughout this region of Italy. It still is so amazing that a feud that occurred hundreds of years ago still holds such a grasp on an entire group of people.
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2016
their meals not only for the taste of the food and wine, but also for gathering around the table with friends and family. Meals last hours and are multiple courses, each with a different wine. The wine is meant to enhance the meal and bring out specific flavors in the food. As I continue my time in Italy, I find myself understanding the different tastes of wine and how they react with the food. I no longer rush through my meals and enjoy the company I am with. Meal times are a completely different experience than in America and that is a direct result of the importance of wine and food in Italy.
to look at a new and foreign culture without a judgmental eye. It gave me the chance to uncover and understand differences between American and Italian culture in a safe and educational way.
Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was‌ how rich in history each city and town is. I was not aware though that while we generalize Italian culture in America, each region of Italy has its own unique culture different from one another. Italian culture is complex and unlike any previous stereotypes I had thought.
endicott COLLEGE
Ian McLoughlin Fi n an ce Ma jo r In Assisi
The Duomo of Orvieto
Rome, 3000 years of art and history. mountain held a massive gothic cathedral, with culture and some basic Italian to get by. They Reflections of an American in Rome. The the most beautiful façade. When we went inside were all incredibly engaged and passionate most fascinating part about Rome to me was that everything we saw was not only thousands of years old, but there was a gap of about 1,500 years between everything that was occurring and created in Rome, and the finding of the Americas. For me, that is the best way to truly understand how old the architecture around the city is. On a more social side of the trip, the Rome felt like the New York City of Italy, in a sense that it could be very overwhelming at times.
I enjoyed recognizing that there was really three separate churches within the Duomo, and the ceilings were incredibly high. The following day I enjoyed learning that there were over 1000 grottos under the city, similar to the one we had dinner in which the citizens used the volcanic soft pink stone to make up almost all of the original city.
the same feeling as Caprarola when first visiting the Duomo. This small city up on the top of a
made it to Florence. By following around our wonderful guides they helped us learn proper
Florence: My new home for the Semester. The preparatory travel week helped me Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient feel like a local because‌ it made me feel dominations in central Italy. Orvieto had more engaged in the culture by the time we
about the travel week and it helped keep all the students eager to learn more.
Something that changed or affirmed my perspective about Italy was‌ While strangers may be much more reserved toward each other on the street it was very pleasing to see how friends can hang out just talking and eating for so long without being on their phones and rushing to move to the next activity.
Kristina McNamara Communications MAjor In Orvieto
Pa l a z z o Fa r n e s e Wa t e r w o r k s
Perugina. The tradition of family run Caprarola, Villa Lante and Bomarzo. A personal growth experience that I will business in the Italian economy. One of Architecture combined with nature. forever remember was… getting lost in the most successful chocolate producers in Italy, Perugina, was started as a family run business. Much like the wine made in Tuscany, Perugia is known for it’s chocolate and the Perugina produces a lot of the chocolate sold. Giovanni Buitoni and Luisa Spagnoli started the business in 1907 by making sugared almonds. Today, Perugina remains famous for its Baci chocolate truffles that contain a “love note” inside. I absolutely loved these!
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2016
Of all of the villas, monuments, and castles in the Veterbo area, Villa Lante captures the relationship between architecture and landscape perfectly. It’s lavish gardens combined with its architecture and frescos, make for a perfect historic oasis. Caparola and Bomarzo also have villas that combine architecture and nature. Many of these villas and old vacation castles are built around gardens, waterfalls, and pure nature, which is what makes them so beautiful.
cities that I’ve never been before and somehow finding my way home. My friends and I navigated the cities without our phones or Google Maps. This helped us become more acquainted with the cities and learn how to navigate around independently.
One sentence/phrase that in my opinion illustrates Italy and Italian culture is… enjoy life and take in every moment. Italians take their time with everything and enjoy all aspects of living, which we all should.
endicott COLLEGE
Kelly Mulligan Hospitality Management Major at the Trevi Fountain
Rome - Piazza Navona
Rome, 3000 years of art and history. MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in A personal growth experience that I will Reflections of an American in Rome. Italian culture. It was very interesting to learn remember forever was‌ in Rome, we got Walking through the streets of Rome was incredible. I will never forget walking down a random side street, turning the corner, and seeing the Pantheon right around the corner.I was blown away that all of the most famous monuments are tucked in between restaurants and apartment buildings. As an American, it is difficult to grasp the amount of history on every street. The buildings and streets that are walked on and passed by everyday by Italians are older than the country I come from.
about the importance that wine has played over the course of history.Learning about how wine used to be transported in giant ceramic vases buried in sand on ships was really interesting. Wine plays such an important role in everyday Italian culture and to learn the historical relevance behind the importance of wine was beneficial in helping us better understand the Italian food and wine culture in general.
lost and had no Internet access to find our way back to the hotel. Using a small map we were able to find our way back. That built up our confidence that we could successfully navigate without technology.
Something that changed or affirmed my perspective about Italy was‌ I always imagined Italy to be a beautiful country, but after visiting so many cities, I could have never imagined it to be as beautiful as it truly is.
Stephen Munroe Studio Art Major In Perugia
Assisi
Assisi. Spirituality in Italy. Being someone Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient A personal growth experience that I will who is not very religious, it definitely gave dominations in central Italy. First of all, it forever remember was‌ When I was first me a different perspective on religion hearing some many people talk about the history of the churches, and how much of an impact it has had on the Italian culture and history. Though I would not say that after the trip I feel like Christianity or Catholicism is the way, it is hard to deny feeling the presence of the divine in many of these basilicas and cathedrals. They invoke a sense of wonder and majesty and give one a feeling that there is something or someone out in the cosmos greater than themselves.
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2016
must be said that Perugia and Orvieto were my favorite locations travelled to while on this trip. They have the feel of a modern city, or town, but with all the charm and respect of their past, and one may even say admiration. It is infectious. The architecture of the Etruscan city along with the works done just several hundred years ago are all there standing together in a delicate harmony that is just awesome. The walls and views from Orvieto were the best of anywhere else in Italy and the underground city in Perugia was a very unique and magical experience.
able to order something completely in Italian and not have to resort to English, it made me feel better to be communicating with the locals in their native tongue instead of making them talk in a simplified version of my own.
Something that changed or affirmed my perspective about Italy was‌ Italians are a very proud people, cause for a region to still not use salt in their bread after becoming one of the richest in the world, says a lot about how they feel about their past.
endicott COLLEGE
Alexandra Munteanu En glis h Ma jo r In Assisi
Vi l l a La n t e
Caprarola, Villa Lante and Bomarzo. MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in One sentence/phrase that in my opinion Architecture combined with nature. The Italian culture. Italians drink wine and eat illustrates Italy and Italian culture is… palace that we toured showed how importantly linked architecture was to nature. In the middle of the palace there was an entire space left filled only by air, connecting the guests of the palace directly to the outside world. The gardens of Villa Lante showed the intricacy of garden design and how the two houses opened immediately to the open gardens proved even further how important nature was to the past civilizations. Bomarzo’s sculptures brought together the two separate ideas of building and nature, by combining them both outdoors in a mutual harmony.
food not just to fill the sensations of thirst and hunger but also to enjoy the company of others and to enjoy the flavors of the meal. Wine is often paired with lunch courses, dinner courses, and if Italians go out to get a drink after dinner, wine is offered on that menu as well. Italians, however, differ from most young Americans in that they do not drink to get drunk or to “feel” the alcohol, but instead to enjoy the taste and how well it pairs with a certain dish.
Italians are deeply rooted in tradition, whether it be business or way of life, they are connected to the people they love and the ways they are accustomed to.
Something that changed or affirmed my perspective about Italy was… Before traveling to Italy, I assumed there would be many churches but I didn’t know that each would be so uniquely adorned and have such a special history to Italy.
Annie Schmaeling Hospitality Management Major At the Colosseum
Assisi
Caprarola, Villa Lante and Bomarzo. Assisi. Spirituality in Italy. Our last stop A personal growth experience that I will Architecture combined with nature. during our week of traveling was Assisi. My forever remember was... conversing with Coming from Rome, Caparola seemed like a different country. The palace in Caparola housed exquisite gardens and artwork. The statues and mazes were not justified by the pictures I took. The architectural beauty of the gardens at Villa Lante was inspiring. I was astounded by how well-kept the gardens are Bomarzo’s Sacred Wood was one of my favorite excursions. The mythological sculptures made of stone were impressively large and each was original. The architectural beauty and nature on this leg of the trip was unforgettable.
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2016
Italian grandmother had told me to visit Assisi before I left, so I was excited to see what this city had to offer. I was very impressed when I saw the ancient, beautiful churches still in pristine condition. It was also very humbling to see St. Francis’ tomb in one of the churches. This city exudes spirituality, and was very representative of Italy’s faith as a whole.
a local Italian for the first time I did not realize I was able to speak enough Italian to carry a conversation, and this was a proud moment that I will always cherish.
Something that changed or affirmed my perspective about Italy was... the way Italians treat me. I admire and appreciate Italians for treating outsiders as equals, and for making an effort to speak English to me in their own country. This affirms my positive perspective of Italy.
endicott COLLEGE
Amanda Stanick Hospitality Management Major In Orvieto
A view over Florebce
Florence: My new home for the semester. phone. It is much different than just being away A personal growth experience that I The prepatory travel week helped me at school because, if necessary, my mom can will forever remember was‌ one day feel like a local because‌ once we arrived road trip up to me at school at any time: I cannot my roommates and I climbed to the Piazzale in Florence I did not feel like I was just thrown into a new, strange environment. The travel week helped cushion the blow of culture shock. We quickly learned about some of the important Italian customs. It made the transition much easier and smoother, making my time here much easier and more enjoyable so far.
even talk to her on the phone being here. There have been a lot of adjustments but learning to become an adult and take care of myself, becoming independent, has certainly been a growth experience I will forever remember.
One sentence/phrase that in my opinion illustrates Italy and Italian culture is‌
A personal growth experience that I Italy and Italian culture are unlike anything will forever remember was... becoming else in the world. They are magnificent and so independent. Being thrown into a new city, across the world from everything familiar and comforting to you is scary: without your parents, friends, comfort food, or even data on your
breathtaking, completely overwhelming. The food, sights, and people exceed all possible expectations, making Italy one of the best places in the world.
Michelangelo. Once we sat down on the steps I was completely overcome with emotion. The beauty of Florence that was right in front of me here blew my mind. The sights combined with the street musician playing in the background caused me to cry a few tears of joy. This is the day that I knew Italy was the right place for me to be.
Devan Taylor Hospitality Management Major In Orvieto
T h e R o m a n Fo r u m
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient Rome, 3000 years of art and history. One sentence/phrase that in my opinion dominations in central Italy. Both Orvieto Reflections of an American in Rome. illustrates Italy and Italian culture is… and Perugia are settled high up on top of a hill. Their locations were specifically chosen as a way to show superiority and dominance back in ancient Italy. Being higher up allowed for the people of the towns to not only see any outsiders below that might try entering the town, but it also made it difficult to intruders to invade the town. Although this may be a sign of ancient dominance, it is still used today as a sign of power.
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2016
People say you can’t see all of Rome in one day, but yet we somehow managed to. Although the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Palatine Hill were all beautiful, nothing will compare to the wonder that was the Vatican. T I will never be able to fully comprehend all the detail that went into the sculptures and the architecture itself. The fact that humans were able to accomplish such masterpieces with such little tools back in their time will always astonish me.
Italy is the closest a person can get to going back in time and experiencing history.
Something that changed my perspective of Italy was…. how different the land is. Some areas are all city while some areas are all green hills and lush gardens
endicott COLLEGE
CREDITS Photo Credit: Endicott Students Spring 2016 Production Coordinator: M. Olimpia Bozza
End i co t t S p r i ng 201 6 C l a ss : Hartong Kathryn Kheboian Alec Krol Taylor McLoughlin Ian McNamara Kristina Mulligan Kelly Munroe Stephen Munteanu Alexandra Schmaeling Annie Stanick Amanda Taylor Devan