As I write this blog on my first free afternoon in over a week, the sun is peeking through the rain clouds and it looks like there might actually be some sunshine in Siena today. I have been told in the States that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, and I am hoping this holds true in Italy as well. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of travel, classes, and most recently midterms. Thankfully though the week is winding down and the weather is looking up. It is hard to believe we are halfway through the semester...
Since I last blogged I’ve had the chance to experience many great cities around Siena for day trips on weekends. The most exciting thus far has been our Carnevale trip to Viareggio (the hometown of one of our Italian roommates) with CET. Viareggio has one of the largest Carnevale festivities in Italy (second only to Venice, of course) and the trip was absolutely incredible. Having never been to a Mardi Gras celebration back home, I was excited and anxious to see what would await us. After a brief train ride spent napping we arrived in the city and had to only follow the large crowds of people clad in crazy costumes and masks to find the parade.
The place itself reminded me of my home in Virginia
Beach with a street of shops and restaurants running parallel to the seaside.
It was beautiful and for the parade it had been transformed with vendors
selling pastries, candy, drinks, and snacks along with masses of people in
costumes, loud music, floats, balloons, confetti, and a lot of silly string
(Italians love their silly string for Carnevale)! The floats in the parade were
unlike anything I’d ever seen before. They were beautiful with music and
dancers and some were even so large that police would walk ahead and move the
crowds out of the way so the floats could fit down the street. The floats were
cool because they all represented some part of Italian society in a creative
(though sometimes mocking) way. From the election and political figures, the
financial crisis in Greece, overcrowded prisons in Italy, and of course some
more light hearted topics as well, the floats were all brilliantly done and are
something I will remember forever. As the parade was winding down we all went
to the beach to watch the sunset which was so beautiful. We took a ton of
pictures on the beach, and then we headed back to Siena.
Another great trip we’ve taken together as a group
was to San Gimignano with our Sienese Art and Architecture class. SAA can be a
bit daunting for me at times because I have no background or prior interest in
Art History, but I have come to enjoy our walks around Siena and talks with
Piergiacomo. He is such a great professor and is very entertaining. If there is
anyone who can make me appreciate medieval buildings and what may seem like
thousands of paintings of the Madonna and Child, it is this man.
During this trip we explored the town which is small
and surprisingly similar to Siena, thanks to the influence of the Francigena
Road which you’ll learn all about. We also explored the church and the town
hall which had an amazing bell tower that we climbed and looked over the entire
countryside. From the top it seemed as if you could see all of Italy! After we
went to what has been called the best gelato in the world at the Dondoli Gelateria di Piazza.
The mango tastes exactly like you’re eating a mango and is definitely my favorite.
I’ve also had the chance to take another trip to
Florence and a few other small trips here and there. Classes have been busy but
not unmanageable. The weather in Siena has thankfully been a bit warmer and
Italy is still amazing. I’m looking forward to the traveling seminar in Sicily
next week and Spring Break soon, too! I’m still in awe of how beautiful and
amazing it all is, the feeling hasn’t worn off yet and I doubt it will.
Madison Bedford, University of Virginia
CET Siena Student Correspondent
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