CULTURAL INTRODUCTION TO ITALY
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2017 FLORENCE ITALY
Travel diaries
endicott! FUA Florence University of the Arts & Endicott College
endicott
college January 18 th-25 th 2017 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 2017 CITI Pre-Semester Field Learning Week
Tina Beldotti M a r k e ti n g Ma jor
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. Perugia was
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. I have always had a small
Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was the amazing food, and culture that
very intriguing to me. When we saw the underground ancient city, I remember just wanted to stay and explore down there. It’s so cool to see what once was Perugia in a whole is now something people pass through every day to get to where they need to be. Orvieto was definitely my favorite place on the whole travel week which excited me because it is not somewhere I would have gone on my own. The views from the top of the highest point to the cool spiral from below ground in the well. Head to toe beautiful.
understanding of the food and wine culture in Italy growing up Italian American. However, seeing it first hand and getting to truly experience it is another understanding. They take such pride in their art whether that be how long their wine has aged, or how fresh their ingredients are for their meal. Which both are always perfect. I cannot wait to continue this experience and try all the food and wines I can.
is built around food.
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Something that changed my perspective about Italy was how divided Italy is with their
different regions and areas, including north and south.
endicott COLLEGE
Luigi Cacace Fi n a n c e M aj o r
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. Rome was amazing, growing up you always hear of the Coliseum, Sistine Chapel, and the Trevi Fountain. But seeing them in person is an entirely different experience. Seeing these historic iconic Italian staples was personally my favorite party of the cultural introduction week. It was a lot to take in over the two days and I am very grateful for the experience. I will be back to Rome again!
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. Caprarola was stunning and I didn’t really get a full appreciation for its size until I looked it up after. It beautiful symmetry leached out even to the surrounding town making the main road lead to the “fortress”. Villa Lante was also beautiful with more complex gardens and water features while still maintaining that all important Renaissance symmetry. But Bomarzo was a different beast; it was seemingly random in its placement of sculptures although none the less beautiful.
The cultural into week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because it has forced me to communicate in another language. Now I try and use Italian as much as possible while out and about in Florence and other parts of Italy. One interpersonal growth experience that I will treasure is my love for exploration. The cultural week reinstated my need for travel and desire of discovering new places.
Jessica Carroll Marketing Communications Major
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. Prior to coming to Italy I did not realize the historical importance of the gardens. Words cannot describe how beautiful the gardens were that we had the opportunity to see. The Caparula’s symmetry was something I had never seen before. The Villa Lante garden had three different levels to walk up and is known as the “garden of surprise.” This was my favorite garden. One of the most interesting things that I heard was that the artist of the Bomarzo garden was so impressed with his work that he compared it to the seven wonders of the world. What he meant by that was that if you could not appreciate his garden then you could not appreciate the seven wonders of the world.
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MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. The MUVIT Museum of Wine was my first glimpse of seeing where and how italians make wine. I never realized how many steps there are and how long it takes. Seeing the different wines that you could pair was food interested me because I hope by the end of my study abroad experience I will know to do that. The meals are not rushes here and you could spend hours at the table enjoying quality time with family and friends.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because before cultural introduction week I went out of the country only once and that was when I was very young. Now that I am older, I can appreciate this experience and fully immerse myself into the Italian culture. I was able see the world around me in a new perspective. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is that I was not as homesick as I anticipated. This was a big step for me because I have always considered myself as a homebody. I have never liked leaving home for too long and I am almost two months in and I feel great. I have settled in quite nicely.
Sinead Carthy
endicott COLLEGE
Communications Major
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. Both cities of Perugia and Orvieto have Etruscan origins. A major sign of the ancient dominations in central Italy is the underground passages in Perugia. On travel week we had an opportunity to visit these passages thats connect the castle and its surroundings. We saw how beautifully restored the caves are while traveling to and from the hotel. On our trip to Orvieto we went on a walking tour, we quickly saw that we were sitting on a hill with a beautiful wall surrounding the valley.
Assisi. The influence of religion on art. Assisi has always been my favorite Italian city, so our visit here during travel week was no exception. Assisi has one of the most beautiful churches: Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi. This Basilica has an upper and a lower part, with beautiful frescoes, many including St. Francesco. Cimabue and Giotto are two of the many artists who have worked on this church. The richquality of art givesthe Basilica a unique Gothic look compared to other developing Italian art at this time. This church is one of the most important destinations for the Christian pilgrimage in Italy.
One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is starting to trust myself to adventure out and try new things over the course of the travel week. Most importantly, I tried eating local foods that I might not try at home to begin fully immersing myself in the Italian culture. Something that changed my perspective about Italy was how welcoming the Italian people were When we arrived many business owners opened their arms regardless of the language barrier and wanted to work with and welcome us.
Nicole Chartier N u rs in g Ma jo r
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because it allowed me to see many things I probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Had I not done the travel week I would never have known to see places such as Orvieto or Perugia, which gave me a better appreciation for the Italian culture. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is being able to learn a new culture. The travel week taught me so much about Italian history and culture which helped provide me with reassurance that I had made the right decision to study abroad in Italy. o own meaning.
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Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. Both Perugia and Orvieto were great places to visit and one of my favorites during the travel week. When I thought of Italy these two towns are what I thought of. The towns were full of history, architecture, and culture. They were both built on higher land to make it harder for intruders to reach the city. A plus to the city being built on higher ground is the views. The views in both the cities were spectacular.
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. I had always heard that wine and food were important aspects of Italian culture and after the Travel week I can agree. Italians are very proud of their food and work hard to make sure it is fresh for everyone. I looked forward to the group meals every day. I was eager to try the authentic Italian meals along with the wine that we were provided. There wasn’t a meal I didn’t like during the whole week.
Colicchio Paige
endicott COLLEGE
Nurs in g Ma jor
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. Wine and food is a vital part of Italian culture. The farm to table restaurant we went to really displayed this. The family provided us with bottles of wine and DELICIOUS homemade recipes and an abundance of food. Food and wine is a huge social aspect of Italian culture, it can also be used to show appreciation and satisfaction. It is a delicacy and the chefs really want to make sure that they pleased you. For example, in Rome when we were served exotic dishes, that few of us liked, the owner was disappointed that he did not please us, even though it is just because we did not have very advanced palates.
Assisi. The influence of religion on art. Assisi was our last stop of travel week, and after the long and tiring experience it was difficult to appreciate to the fullest. The basilica was very beautiful there and belongs to the Vatican, which I did not know and found surprising. This city also had very meticulous architecture. As for art, I thought it was very cool that our tour guide told us that St. Francis looked “ugly� because this is where people first started drawing people how they appear in real life instead of a basic idea of the human person that was usually drawn. The small church inside the large church was also incredible to see and a very interesting design. It is crazy to see how much architectural ability the people of this time period had due to their lack of technology.
The cultural Intro Week has helped me to step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I have been trying very many new foods and actually enjoying them, whereas I used to be an incredibly picky eater. I feel like a global citizen because I am no longer in a place where I can understand everything (culture, language, etc.) and this allows for growth as a human and as a citizen. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience I will treasure is going to the most gorgeous churches in the world and reconnecting with God and my religion. The history aspect and seeing where these iconic figures used to worship is an amazing realization and life changing experience
Colombo Paige Nu r s in g M a jo r
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. Food and wine are taken very seriously in the Italian culture. It is respected and treated as a ritual. Wine is to be matched with the meal to create the most pleasure for those eating it. Throughout travel week, we noticed that if a meal had gone unfinished, the waiter would ask if you didn’t like it and why. They want to make sure they are providing the highest quality to family, friends, or customers.
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Assisi. The influence of religion on art. Assisi is a beautiful town outside of Perugia that is composed mostly of pink sandstone. This makes the town extremely aesthetically pleasing, especially St. Francis’ Basilica. In this basilica lies artwork predominantly from the gothic era. There is also the most famous and accepted depiction of St. Francis himself. In fact, the basilica itself is much like an art museum. The art was used to communicate God’s word to illiterate commoners, who could not read the Bible.
One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is seeing St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, which are incredible and my favorite places in the world; it is impossible to put into words how magnificent every painting, statue, and piece of architecture is. Something that changed my perspective about Italy was the way Italians interact with each other. American Italians are known for being loud and “obnoxious.” But this is not the case in Italy itself.
Andrea Courtemanche
endicott COLLEGE
Entrepreneurship Major
Assisi. The influence of religion on art. I ended Catholic school my whole life before college, so I was familiar with Saint Francis of Assisi. The churches in Assisi were beautiful, and instilled a sense of spirituality inside me as soon as I walked inside. Assisi has had a rich tradition of art through the centuries and has many well known artistic works. Lorenzetti’s fresco at the lower church of the Basilica includes a series of panels depicting the Crucifixion of Jesus, Deposition from the Cross, and Entombment of Christ.
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. Rome was truly an incredible place that I am lucky to have been able to visit during travel week. I had learned about the Coliseum and Pantheon and seen pictures before, but seeing these sites right in front of my eyes was surreal. Experiencing the remains of Ancient Rome in person just made history lessons from my childhood finally feel real. It is admirable to see these massive, ancient buildings integrated into the newer parts of the city.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I was introduced to the history and culture of Italy in person, and not just in a book or picture. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is entering Vatican City and taking in the breathtaking, spiritual environment. This is a feeling I will never forget.
Julie Crotty Psychology Major
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy: Perguia and Orvieto were my two favorite towns we visited during travel week. I loved the sense of community you got in Orvieto, it seemed like a very close-nit community with lots of families. The Cathedral in Orvieto was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen in my life and the style of architecture was very intriguing. Perugia gave way to even more incredible views and rich history. Learning about the Estruscans and their way of life was especially interesting here because we got to see the underground city that used to be their stomping ground.
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MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture: Food and wine is essential to Italian culture and this is something we experienced first hand during our travel week. During this week we got the pleasure of tasting and learning about various Italian products that are native to Italy. Italians are very proud and passionate about their food and wine and for good reason because it is incredibly fresh and decadent. Meals are very important to the culture as a whole and are not something to be rushed.
One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is getting the opportunity to leap out of my comfort zone and immerse myself into a new culture that I was unfamiliar with. Doing so helped me learn how to adjust and adapt to new situations which is a skill I will forever be thankful for gaining. Something that changed my perspective about Italy was that there is much more to the culture and people than pizza and wine. There is such an incredible history, language and culture to be learned in Italy and the stereotypes that Americans typically have about Italy will certainly be challenged.
Sabryna Deshaies
endicott COLLEGE
Busin e ss Ma n a g e m en t M a j or
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I got to go to real Italian towns, not just the tourist parts. Other than Rome they were smaller towns that I would not have gone to by myself. I got to really experience the Italian life and understand how to act in it. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is not every place is like America. You may think things people do around the world are weird, but they also think things you do are weird. You need to have an open mind and give yourself time to adjust to the new culture.
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. These towns where a lot smaller than Rome so it felt like opposites. I liked Perugia and Orvieto because there was not a torus atmosphere, but more of an appreciation for the town and its history. The well was defiantly most remunerable part, not just because it was exhausting, but because you could see how people had to get fresh water and the hard work they put in with things that are now easy to do.
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. The gardens where beautiful and huge. I think it is interesting that people would have them to show their wealth and to show off, I feel like people still do this kind of showing off money but do it more on cloths and electronics, not so much on gardens. The gardens where the main point of the house, Caprarola had a garden right in the middle of the house. The symmetry in the Villa Lante made it visually appealing for me.
Jordan Grass M ar keting Major
The Cultural Introduction week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because we were given one week to get comfortable with ourselves, our peers and our surroundings without throwing orientations, housing, troubleshooting, classes and assignments into the mix. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is that being as proud of cities as Italians are is something to look up to and to cherish. I will bring this back to the United States with me and become someone who supports and who does their part to make sure my surroundings and where I live is what I believe it should be and it will be something that I am proud of and will defend indefinitely.
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MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. Walking through the Museum of Wine was really interesting in my opinion. I enjoyed seeing the various instruments and utensils used throughout history to make and drink wine and how they have changed over the years. As well as seeing the instruments, we learned about the vine to wine process by touring the Lungarotti vineyards and exploring every aspect of wine creation from grape to bottle. The best part of the entire experience was at the conclusion of our visit when we were able to taste various wines and compare their similarities and their differences based on what we had learned throughout the day.
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. Seeing Rome in person was something that has helped make what I’ve learned in History classes throughout schooling become true and real and helped me imagine what happened in Roman times more believable. Being able to see the Colosseum and Roman Forum in real life was one of the best parts of the Rome trip because those two sites are things I learned the most about. I have been to Rome before so this wasn’t the first time I’ve seen these sites, however during the travel week I learned more than I did the previous time..
endicott COLLEGE
Emilee Kemniz Mar ket i n g Ma j o r
One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is having to visit an Orthopedic Dr. in Perugia for my knee. He understand written English but could not speak it. In other words he knew everything that I was saying but could only respond in Italian. It was a very scary yet interesting experience. Something that changed my perspective about Italy was how much Italians truly appreciate everything about their culture. They take nothing for granted and take pride in everything that they do no matter how big or small. This is one of my favorite things that I remember noticing right away because it differs from how Americans act.
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy Perugia holds an ancient underground city located in Umbria. It was once an Etruscan settlement with Renaissance palaces that have been turned into shops. Perugia holds many physical layers of history. We were able to try their exquisite chocolate during a tasting at a shop in town. Orvieto was a very defensible site due to it being located on a high steep bluff of volcanic rock. The last person to conquer the ancient city was Julius Caesar. In the Middle Ages Orvieto controlled the road between Florence and Rome. Orvieto also holds a beautiful Italian Cathedral covered in detailed Signorelli frescoes.
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy and nature Villa Lante is a beautiful Italian Renaissance garden located in Caprarola. Villa Lante is formed by two houses that are almost identical except for on the inside. The most obvious main feature of the garden is its symmetry. All the bushes mirror each other and are exactly the same on both sides. Another common feature is its extravagant fountains. Pier Francesco Orsini commissioned the creation of the Sacred Grove of Bomarzo when he was dealing with the grief from losing his wife. Orsini also wanted to create something different for people to see that they hadn’t before. He wanted to fascinate and enchant them with his unique art.
Jacquelyn Koser Nur sing Major
Rome¨ 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. Visiting Rome as the first stop on our travel week was very exciting. The bustling city was nothing like I had ever experienced back home in the United States. The rich culture and heritage of Rome could be found wherever you looked. Seeing some of the most grand pieces of history in person¨ from the ancient Colosseum to the historic ruins in the Roman Forum¨ was astounding. Learning about each and every structure in depth from our tour guide made the experience very memorable.
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Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. Perugia and Orvieto were two of my favorite towns we visited during travel week. During our time there¨ we learned of their Etruscan origin and how the towns operated many years ago. After visiting Rome¨ walking around the small and quaint streets of Orvieto was extremely refreshing. Behind every corner¨ you could find something new and exciting¨ whether it be a family run shop or significant piece of architecture from the past. Looking out at the rolling hills from the top of the city was breathtaking and well worth the walk up.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because… besides a few visits to Canada¨ I had never been out of the United States before. Immersing myself in the rich culture and heritage of all the towns and cities we visited in one week was exciting and pushed me to step out of my comfort zone in a new country. One interpersonal intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is being able to experience a multitude of new foods that are traditional in Italian cuisine. I loved visiting the family owned restaurant in Campolungo¨ where they served a delicious buffet of established Italian meals homecooked in their family kitchen.
endicott COLLEGE
Arley Kost Communications Major
Assisi. The influence of religion on art. Assisi is a town in the province of umbra in central Italy. It is the birthplace of St. Francis. The church we visited, the basilica of San Francesco (St. Francis), in my opinion was one of the most unique churches. The art on the walls told a story which I found very interesting, like a comic book, for the people back in the day who did not know how to read they could follow the pictures and capture the meanings.
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. Having never been to Europe before this trip, Rome was a great place to start my journey. I quickly became knowledgably and comfortable walking around the city. Rome is a very historical city. The era of the ancient Roman civilization is not only talked about through the tours that we went on, but also is shown within the art and architecture of the interior and exterior of the buildings. It is truly breathtaking and beautiful to see in person and not through photos. It made me understand the hardship, that the Italian republic went through to conquer.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I have not only gotten to learn about another culture and country, but I also got the opportunity to learn more about myself, as an individual. Before coming to Europe and experiencing travel week I never enjoyed museums but after visiting them in Europe I have grown interested in the history that a museum, or church can hold within. Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was tasting the food. The food in America is very processed and not fresh. I knew that Italy would have clean, fresh dishes compared to America, and I was right.
Nicole Malone Hospitality Management
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I wasn’t just thrown into a foreign country and forced to figure things out myself. By being with a group and being introduced gradually to the culture I felt ready to explore Italy on my own by the time I arrived in Florence. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is.. The world is a big place but is easily accessible. I truly have the ability to go and do anything I want.
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Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. Perugia and Orveito were possibly two of my favorite places I have been to in Italy. When I pictured “Italy” in my head, these two towns were exactly what came to my mind. Orvieto was built like a fortress and that is why Saint Patrick’s well was so important, incase their was ever an attack and the townspeople couldn’t leave. Perugia was interesting because part of the old underground town is still used to get around to the other parts of the city.
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. Food and wine is taken very seriously in Italy. Of course coming into Italy everyone told me how great the food and wine was going to be. After going to the vineyard I realized how much pride they really had in their wine culture. Our tour guide spoke with so much appreciation for the owners of the vineyard and his ability to have the experience with working with them. Food is another thing that the Italians have much pride in. When we went to a restaurant where many of us did not enjoy their meals our servers looked genuinely sad that we did not enjoy it.
endicott COLLEGE
Nicole Maratto Communications Major
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. The first people to settle in Italy were the Etruscans and Greeks. According to Roman mythology, there were to twin brothers named Romulus and Remus who argued over who would build the city first. Romulus was starting to feel threatened by his brother Remus. This then led to Romulus killing his only brother. Rome was then founded in 753 B.C. and as roman mythology has it’s said to be named after Romulus. Then came the Colosseum. The purpose of Colosseum was that it was built for entertainment during Roman times. The people of Rome would make bets on specific gladiators and fights. The Pantheon or “temple of all gods” was built during ancient Roman times. It was former Roman temple that
is now a church. After the Etruscan Kings were all abolished the Republic of Rome was founded in 509 B.C. Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. Pier Francesco Orsini commissioned the creation of the Sacred Grove of Bomarzo when he was dealing with the grief from losing his first wife. Orsini also wanted to create something different for people to see that they hadn’t before. Pier Francesco Orsini wanted to enchant the people who entered the garden with his unique art. He also wanted people to compare he’s art work to the seven wonders of the world. If you didn’t appreciated it then you would not be able to handle the seven wonders of the world. Villa
Lante is a beautiful Italian Renaissance garden located in Caprarola. Villa Lante is formed by two houses that are almost identical, except for on the inside. The most obvious main feature of the garden is its beautiful symmetry that simply graces you with its present. All the bushes mirror each other and are exactly the same on both sides. Another common feature is its extravagant fountain that symbolize the men and the mounts.
Dealaney Martin Nur sing Major
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. Rome was an amazing place to start our abroad adventure. It felt like we had traveled back in time with all of the historical sites. It was crazy to see the architecture in person after seeing it in textbooks throughout school; I can’t fathom how men built such great structures without modern day machines. The Colosseum was my personal favorite; it is unbelievable to think we were standing in the same place where ancient Romans once stood.
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Assisi. The influence of religion on art. Assisi, another beautiful hilltop town is famous for being the birthplace of Saint Francis. As a catholic pilgrimage destination, you walk through the cathedrals amongst nuns and monks, giving it a truly sacred feel. I really enjoyed learning about the Saint Francis’s transition from wealth to poverty and the foundation of the Franciscan Order. The Basilica of Saint Francis was incredible with its two-story construction and the combination of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen becauseI was able to see and experience Italian culture first hand rather than flipping though pages of a textbook. Being immersed in Italy’s history, traditions, and customs gives you an entirely different perspective. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is how genuinely kind the local Italians are. Whether it was at a restaurant or just out on the street, they were all so interested in your story and where you came from.
endicott COLLEGE
Gabriella Meehan Psychology Major
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. The city of Rome struck much interest to me, as it was not what I expected. The capital is very extensive and eventful. With Rome being the starting point of our travel week, I had a hard time adapting to such a large city and wished that we went later in the travel week. For this reason, I was overwhelmed when taking it all in. Aside from that downfall, the art and history were outstanding, better than anything I had ever seen before. The Vatican and Trevi Fountain were my two favorite places that we visited while in Rome due to the architecture and detail.
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. Caprarola was my favorite small town that we stopped to visit during travel week. The simplicity of the town made me feel as though it was authentic Italy; what I had predisposed Italy would be like. The quaint neighborhoods and sense of community made me feel cozy and comfortable in the environment. Villa Lante was an added beauty in the town of Caprarola making it my favorite. The history that connected to the philosophy and nature was something I never expected to see in such a small town. Lastly, Bomarzo stood out to me due to the distorted statues and architecture.
One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is seeing the world through a different lens and stepping outside of my comfort zone. Travel week taught me to be better at being patient and understanding, and how I take certain things in my life for granted. I feel as though I became more independent and open minded. Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was the food having such a strong meaning that bring people together and express love.
Meghan O’Neil Hospitality Management Major
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. Rome shocks you with how much history it has. There are sculptures and landmarks standing from thousands of years ago and we are very fortunate that we can visit them. It is especially interesting to see what Rome used to look like and try to imagine what it used to be when all the buildings were connected and fully used. One of the most interesting things I learned is that the steps in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, and other places, were made from the travertine from the Coloseum after it shut down for entertainment.
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Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. Seeing the nature and beauty of a foreign country is absolutely remarkable. It was most likely one of my favorite parts of the trips because we got to experience the true splendor from hundreds of years ago. It is amazing to see the nature so well preserved and to try to make sense of strange statues like the Monsters. I also appreciated the symmetry of the gardens and wish people still had the land to continue to build gardens like that.
One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is… I will always treasure the feeling of seeing the most beautiful art in the world and visiting places I had only dreamed of in pictures. Also, I have a new sense of independence that allows me to have more freedom abroad. Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was... The Renaissance and Italy’s appreciation of art is very powerful. Noticeably, Italians take pride in their beautiful history.
endicott COLLEGE
Stacie Paganis Psychology Major
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. Orvieto was probably my favorite town out of all of the places we visited. Walking into the town, I could tell that it had so much history. I thought it was really interesting seeing the gothic style cathedrals and hearing history of the Etruscan times. The well in Orvieto was built for the pope at the time, and this was so fascinating to me. As I walked through the streets of Orvieto and Perugia, I could picture people during medieval times walking down those same streets. I also thought the underground city was unlike anything I had ever seen in my life.
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. We went to the wine museum of Torgiano and soon it became evident to me how important food and wine is to the Italian culture. First of all, wine has been important to Italian Culture ever since the Etruscan times. It was mainly important because it gave them something to trade and gave them profit. I always heard that food was important to Italy, but seeing the museums dedicated to the history of wine and olive oil further awakened me to its great importance in Italian history and culture.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I came to a new country and there were cultural and language barriers that I noticed right when I got off the plane. I felt like I was in a whole new world. I also think that speaking another language helped me to step out of my comfort zone. I was always nervous trying to speak it, but italians often appreciated my efforts. Although I took three years of the language in high school, I am not close to fluent and know mostly basics. However, trying to speak helped me grow.
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Laura Porthier Hospitality Management Major
The cultural introduction week made me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I got to see such a different range of places and cultures in such a short period of time. Because the week was so packed full of different trips, it really helped me to make comparisons between the places we went. Even though we stayed within the borders of Italy, the difference between places such as Rome and Assisi made me feel as though I was in two completely different worlds.
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One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will remember was learning to communicate with the locals in the smaller towns who spoke little to no English. In Florence, I am kind of spoiled by how many people speak my language and I do not often feel challenged to communicate in Italian. At one restaurant that we went to in Perugia, the entire menu was in Italian without translation and the server did not speak English. The experience of ordering with gestures and trying to decipher the menu is an experience that I will always keep with me.
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. One thing that I expected from Italy, and was proven true, was the importance of food and wine as a part of the Italian lifestyle. The museum not only discusses how wine was created, but also shows who consumed wine many years ago and the past and present culture of wine. The museum shows off different cups and pouring jugs, and shows the different ways that wine was displayed from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
endicott COLLEGE
Allison Regan Elementary Education Major
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because‌This week was the start of my journey to becoming a new individual with a new global perspective. If you asked me a year ago if I would have embarked on this journey, I would have said no. This experience has truly taken me out of my comfort zone and it has actually been a positive thing. I dove right into the culture, lifestyle and food and I love every minute of my experience. Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was‌ Experiencing different regions, cultures, history and arts showed me the kind of pride Italians have for their homeland and way of life. I truly wish Americans felt this way.
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. The first stop on the unforgettable journey through Italy was the capital. As a visual learner, having first hand experience of the grand city of Rome helped give me a clear understanding of how much Italian art and history was established in this place. During my time in Rome, I was introduced and encountered several breathtaking pieces of Italian culture and architecture. I believe the Coliseum was one of the most powerful pieces of art and architecture because it holds years and years of history and stories of how Italian culture progressed and changed overtime.
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. Throughout my schooling, I have studied many aspects of the Renaissance period. My travels to Caprarola, Villa Lante, and Bomarzo gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation for the Renaissance time period through various gardens. I have never seen such pristine and beautiful gardens before. That combined with the history, philosophy and the power of nature made it a memorable experience. The gardens showed me many important features and aspects of the Renaissance including symmetry, proportion, fountains and statues of people and animals meant to impress and entertain the citizens.
Isabella Scannel Hospitality Management Major
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. When we traveled to Caprarola, it was breathtaking. The Villa Farnese with the garden was so beautifully created and maintained. The Villa had an open atrium surrounded by rooms full of art and magnificent views of the town from the front of the villa. In the back of the Villa, were the elegant gardens that were used to entertain the company of the house. Walking from the Villa to the top garden was an adventure through what seemed like a private forest. Which transitioned into this open area with stairs leading to the best garden, containing fountains, statues and labyrinths. During the entire travel week, this garden was my absolute favorite.
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Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. During our time in Perugia and Orvieto, I noticed many signs of ancient ruins such as the old city in Perugia and St. Patrick’s well in Orvieto. In Perugia, the history is all around you; the old streets from the city are underneath the current city. To walk to the center everyday, you are walking right through history. In Orvieto, the beautiful little town on a hill, everywhere you look is history, from the streets to the majestic duomo. Walking down the cobblestone of Orvieto, gave me a sense of nostalgia and I enjoyed every moment.
endicott COLLEGE
Kaitlin Smith G ra p h i c D e s i g n M a j o r
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. Out of the three Villa Lante was my favorite, the gardens there were spectacular. It is a Mannerist garden of surprise near Viterbo, central Italy, attributed to Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola. The Villa Lante is formed by two houses, nearly identical but built by different owners in a period separated by 30 years. The gardens of the Villa Lante feature cascades, fountains and dripping grottoes. Caparola is a little town in Italy that is home to a Renaissance mansion/ villa which dominates the surrounding area. Palazzo Farnesse is a pentagon shaped villa with a round internal courtyard. The paintings there left me awestruck, especially the map room, and the gardens were very beautiful too. It was amazing that we were able to see almost the entire villa, nothing was really “roped off” which is uncommon, and I enjoyed visiting it. Bomarzo, also named Park of the Monsters
is a Manieristic monumental complex. The garden was created during the 16th century, by the architect Pirro Ligorio (he completed the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Rome after the death of Michelangelo). The Park was created to honor Farmese’s wife and to try to fix his broken heart after his wife Giulia Farnese passed away. Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. The underground city of Perugia is preserved medieval streets, which remain under what is left of the 16thcentury fortress and cultural center. The underground city has vaulted brick ceilings that have been constructed over medieval streets, houses and churches in a neighborhood. The underground city is all that remains of the Rocca Paolina, which is the papal fortress built by the Farnese Pope Paolo III in 1540. The Pope had deliberately outraged the citizens by breaking his promise not to raise the tax on salt and with
this war, his intended to break the independence of Perugia. The Papal army quickly captured the city and the Pope built the Rocca Paolina straight over the houses of the Baglioni and their neighbors. Orvieto is a small city perched on a rock cliff in Umbria, Italy. The Orvieto Cathedral dates back to 1290. It has a mosaic facade and houses a marble Pietà sculpture. In Orvieto you can also find remnants of Etruscan ruins and a wall that used to enclose the city over 2000 years ago. There is also a famous well in Orvieto that was ordered to be built by Pope Clement VI after the sack of Rome when he sought refuge in Orvieto. He had the well built to ensure the city would still be able to be supplied with water in the event of a siege.
Shelby Snyder History Major
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. As a history major, I have always wanted to visit Rome to see where such great nations thrived and created history. While standing within the Roman Forum I was amazed that under my feet there lay an ancient history that paved the way for such a great civilization. One can never really put themselves in the perspective of history and what it means to be human if they can never visit the birthplace of modern Western Civilization.
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Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. If you are looking for me, find me in Orvieto. Orvieto was most definitely my favorite place that we visited during travel week. Thanks to the ancient civilizations establishing the town of Orvieto high upon mountains, I was able to see some of the most amazing views I have ever encountered in my life. The underground city of Perugia was also really cool and I found it fun to run through the Etruscan ruins to get from the outskirts to the city-center.
Something that affirmed my perspective about Italy was...Italians take so much pride in their work, businesses, and families in order to create such a special and amazing culture. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is‌ Saying hello and goodbye to everyone I am with because you never know if or when you will be able to see them again, so treasure every moment together.
endicott COLLEGE
Julia Sullivan Elementary Education Major
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. I have never learned so much about gardens than I have on this trip. It is amazing to know that you could identify the time period a garden was created based on the location of houses, shapes of the bushes, and the different statues. We learned that the features of Italian Renaissance gardens included: symmetry with the buildings, symmetry with the bushes, proportions, fountains, masks or faces, statues, and were created entertain and impress the guests. I will never look at a garden the same way.
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. Orvieto my favorite cities that we visited during the Cultural Intro week. It was a quaint little town with a lot of heart. After walking down countless narrow streets, my jaw dropped when the cathedral appear. The details and colors were like nothing I had ever seen before! The people of Orvieto were friendly, welcoming, and were very passionate about spreading the history of their city.
One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is was... when 10 of us went to a restaurant our waiter didn’t speak English and I was the only one that knows some Italian so I translated everything. A big fear of mine was the language barrier so this is when I realized that I would be perfectly fine trying to communicate with others! Something that changed my perspective about Italy was the difference between Italian traditions in Italy and Italian traditions back in the United States.
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Ashley Trumbull Hospitality Management Major
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and food in Italian culture. Food and wine in Italian culture is very important because of the appreciation that the culture has for them. When we visited the winery and were getting a tour the guide exuded so much passion for his job and the products that they produce. Even when we went out for dinners there were times that the waiter would inform us on what wines to pair and the pallets that would complement one another. I think that having this type of appreciation makes eating and drinking go beyond just consuming products which is something that I will definitely be bringing back with me at the end of the semester.
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Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. The prominence of denominations in Italian history was very bold throughout all of the locations that we visited during travel week. In Orvieto having a grand Duomo in the little town was very surprising to me. I would expect a modest church but the building pierced into the sky. This grand structure in a little town shows the importance of religion historically in this region. Even the Pope stayed in this congregation at one time. Although not as strong anymore these ancient denominations are heavily looked upon and cherished.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I was put in the position to have to navigate and open myself to a foreign city. One interpersonal growth experience that I will treasure is that even if you don’t speak the native language you should try and it will mean a lot to the native you are speaking with.
endicott COLLEGE
Kimberly Valentine Busin e ss Ma n a g e m en t M a j or
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. It was truly surreal to have walked in the footprints of the Ancient Romans in the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Even after learning about both of these magnificent Italian landmarks in middle school and high school, I was amazed at how much more I learned through experiencing them first hand. The Colosseum, originally known in Latin as the Flavian Amphitheater, was initially constructed in 72 A.D. and took around 10 years to complete, which is quite remarkable for that time period considering the labor and materials required to build something of its size. It was interesting to learn that the broken marble from some parts of the Colosseum was taken and repurposed as the floor of Saint Peter’s Basilica.
MUVIT: the meaning of wine and and food in Italian culture. In Italy, good wine is much more than a beverage. It is an art and a delicacy, to be paired properly with the right foods. During the renaissance years, Italians made sure to offer their guests the best wine at parties because that communicated to the guests that the hosts valued their presence and wanted them to have a good time. The importance of food and wine in Italian culture has made encouraged me to be more conscious of what I am eating, to take my time and to really appreciate the thought that went into the preparation of my meal.
Something that changed my perspective about Italy was‌How patriotic and passionate Italians are about their culture and history. After realizing this on travel week, I came to the conclusion that Italians are still very much in touch with their origins and heavily value tradition.
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Emily Felter Elementary Education Major
Assisi. The influence of religion on art. Assisi was a town that has a very religious history. This is the place in which St. Francis resided. The cathedral in town holds an immense amount of artwork on the walls that is all connected to religion. A lot of the art depicts different part of St. Francis’s life and was completed in great detail. Additionally, the art demonstrates the religious beliefs of the time regarding heaven and hell. Pictures of people in heaven and hell are on the walls and the art depicts what the afterlife would be for those in heaven or hell. The artists used dark or light colors to emphasize the positive or negative emotions connected to heaven and hell. Because Assisi has such a focus on religion the art is all related to religion.
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Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. The city of Rome possessed the oldest history and art I have seen in my entire life. It is amazing to think that the art and buildings we saw were created about 3000 years ago and are still in good condition for us to view and appreciate. The art expresses Rome’s long history and highlights the most important changes throughout time. For example, the style of the art changes as the Renaissance began. The central focus shifted from religion to the individual and this can be seen through the art.
One interpersonal growth experience that I will treasure was when I had to find my own way to and from the Trevi Fountain using the Metro and a map but no GPS system. Something that affirmed my perspective about the food culture in Italy was when I ate all of the delicious food and recognized how much time and care was put into the preparation.
endicott COLLEGE
Sarah Ford Psychology Major
Assisi. The influence of religion on art. Assisi was a charming town which felt like an authentic Italian city. It felt almost like we traveled back in time when we arrived. While in Assisi we visited La Porziuncola¨ I was surprised when I saw a church inside of another church. It was interesting to find out that they quite literally built another church around the first one. The city was higher up so the views from some of the walkways were beautiful. Caprarola¨ Villa Lante¨ Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history¨ philosophy¨ and nature. We traveled to Caprarola and visited Villa Lante which was breathtaking. The garden throughout the site focused on symmetry. All of the plants were symmetrically planted as were
the buildings and walkways. We also visited Bomarzo which was humorous. The giant statues and absurd positions they were in were created to entertain the visitors. There was even a house that was on a slant which created a dizzying effect once we stepped inside. The creator of the garden claimed that this garden was as superior as the seven wonders of the world. Something that changed my perspective about Italy was… I always believed that Italians were loud and were always laughing at an incredible volume. This belief has changed since being here¨ as I realize that people here are very respectful of their volumes and others.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I have realized that the fear of stepping out of your comfort zone is greater than the actual process of stepping out of your comfort zone. I feel like a global citizen because I have also realized that you don’t need to speak the same language or have the same culture with people in order to communicate with them and get along. Communication goes far beyond just words¨ you can communicate with someone by hand gestures or by a simple smile. This has made me feel more comfortable with the world as a whole.
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Melissa Godosky Psychology Major
Perugia and Orvieto. Signs of ancient dominations in central Italy. Perugia and Orvieto were my two favorite stops on this trip. Each gave to me a seemingly true representation of what a town in Italy is like. What I found most interesting about this two sites was the immense amounts of medieval history left in them, especially in Perugia. The medieval town is still accessible to tour underneath the modern-day city of Perugia. I also found the immense pride from people in this region so uplifting. Our tour guide here used the medieval term “Campanilismo” which roughly translates to “protect around your bell tower” in English, which portrays the pride and protectiveness that these people have of their city.
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Rome, 3000 years of art and history from Roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic. There is no city that I have visited that is enriched in such a vast amount of history like Rome, Italy. It is very rare to say that one has walked around an entertainment center that was built in 70 AD (The Colosseum), or that one has walked through an area that was once a massive political and social epicenter built in the 7thcentury BC (The Roman Forum). It is quite outstanding that these sites are still left for people to witness after thousands of years.
The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because I used this week to step out of my comfort zone by trying as many different foods as I could, to try my hand at the language (as best as I could) and to absorb as much information as possible. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is…I think that it is evident that my generation is very dependent on our cellphones. I am often guilty too of using my cell phone far too often. During this week though I did not find myself constantly searching for wifi, and at some moments I decided to tuck my phone into my pocket to not take photos and embrace the beauty of things. You would be surprised at what you notice when you are looking at something other than a small screen.
endicott COLLEGE
Maraide O’Reilly A ccou n t i n g Ma j o r
Rome, 3000 years of art and history from roman times through the birth of the Italian Republic: During my time in Rome I was amazed by all the beauty and history around me. I found the myth of how Rome was created very interesting. Rome is assumed to be create by two brothers, Romulus and Remus. When Romulus started to build on Capitoline Hill, Remus mocked him by jumping over his walls, enraged Romulus killed Remus, then Rome was founded. The colosseum was also amazing and it was so intriguing to see because it is a great magnificent building and it interested me to think that they built it with no modern tools.
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo, Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature: We were fortunate enough to visit all different beautiful gardens during travel week. Most of these gardens had a unique story or theme behind them that I found very interesting. My favorite garden was one that had a renaissance style, and many of the bushes were cut symmetrically. I also enjoyed looking at all of the sculptures and fountains that were placed in the gardens. I remember that in one garden we were told the owner liked to play games on his guest and would control the water to suddenly spray them as they walked by, and this was their form of entertainment
The cultural intro week has helped me step of out my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because we were immediately immersed in the culture of Italy. I stepped out of my comfort zone very quickly especially since I do not speak Italian, but also because we were able to see the country side of Italy. One interpersonal/ intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is that I am able to appreciate different cultures more now. I learned that there are many different people that live in Italy and that there is no one stereotype, and I can appreciate all types of people more. People are very private here. A stereotype of Italians is that they are loud and outgoing, but here Italians are private people and really only say hello if they are friends with you. .
Leah Enos Psychology Majorr
Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo. Architecture combined with history, philosophy, and nature. The different gardens of Caprarola, Villa Lante, Bomarzo were rich with history, philosophy, and nature, that I was unfamiliar with opposed to the iconic moments in Rome. One of the first places we traveled to in Caprarola was the Palazzo Farnese. It was an incredible building that had a pentagonal plan and was designed by a famous architect named Antonio Sangallo. It had many beautiful frescoes inside along with a circular courtyard in the middle. Outside the building were beautiful gardens bordered my forest and one of the main details I recognize was the symmetry of the gardens and how it had and upper and lower fountain with a stream of water highlighted in the middle with a cement
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structures and staircases on both sides. In the garden of Villa lante it was also symmetric and used hedge maze designs to create elements of surprise. It also used a fountain as a focal point with statues to capture and bystanders eye. My favorite garden was the Bomarzo garden and it’s philosophy was to shock people. So there wasn’t any of the traditional symmetry but hidden monsters and unusual statues that a person walking through the gardens wouldn’t expect. The Cultural Intro week has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because it has helped me step out of my comfort zone and feel like a global citizen because it has made me immerse myself in a new countries history and culture. I feel like I learned so my
much from our week of travel in Italy and I can appreciate the culture that much more because I know the history behind it rather than only being educated in U.S history. One interpersonal/intercultural growth experience that I will treasure is from our day in Assisi. When having a lunch a man at the table next to me could barely speak English and I could barely speak Italian but we still managed to have a meaningful conversation and when he went up to leave he gave me and my friend two beautiful cross necklaces. I will treasure this memory forever.
CREDITS Photo Credit: Endicott Students Spring 2017 Production Coordinator: M. Olimpia Bozza
E nd i cott S pr i n g 2 017 C l a ss: Beldotti Tina Cacace Luigi Carroll Jessica Carthy Sinead Chartier Nicole Colicchio Paige Colombo Paige Courtemanche Andrea Crotty Julie Deshaies Sabryna Enos Leah Felter Emily
Ford Sarah Godosky Melissa Grass Jordan Kemnitz Emilee Koser Jacquelyn Kost Arley Leah Enos Malone Nicole Maratto Nicole Martin Delaney Meehan Gabriella O’Neil Meghan
O’Reilly Maraide Paganis Stacie Pothier Laura Regan Allison Scannell Isabella Smith Kaitlin Snyder Shelby Sullivan Julia Trumbull Ashley Valentine Kimberly