Ciao everyone! I’m near the end of my global experience in Florence and am so sad to leave this beautiful city. While studying here, I have learned so much about Italian culture, the Renaissance, and art history! I’ve also gotten to experience what daily life is like for an average Florentine.
My daily schedule depends on which class I have that day! I have oil painting from 10am to 1:30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. I usually grab a pastry with my roommates at a local bar (cafe in Italian) and then walk over to the art studio. We have worked on several art pieces in our class, including value studies, still life, sketches, and landscapes. My favorite piece to work on has been a painting of the Ponte Vecchio, or the Old Bridge, which is located in Florence. I have walked across the bridge countless times while exploring the city! I’m excited to display my painting at home and remember the wonderful times I had in Florence. After class, I love to shop, try new foods, and wander around Florence.
My Renaissance art history class meets from around 9am to 5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We rarely attend class in a classroom! Our lectures take place on-site in Florence and surrounding cities. Some of my favorite classroom locations have been the Galleria dell Accademia, the Uffizi Museum, the Bargello Museum, and the Riccardi Medici Palace. It has been incredible to learn about the history behind famous works like Michaelangelo’s David, Botticeli’s Birth of Venus, and the bronze doors of the Florentine Baptistery. Our class trips to Rome and Pisa have also been fascinating and educational! I loved learning about the history of the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and Vatican City while visiting those sites.
A typical day in Florence is very different from life at Pitt or home in Philadelphia’s suburbs. I am always trying new things in Italy and pushing myself to make the most of my experience. Attending lectures in museums and churches is very different from a typical Pitt class. I have loved getting to experience art in the spaces it was created for. The course content is also very different from my normal science-heavy course load.
The community I have built in Florence is different than my community in Pittsburgh, but it is also similar in many ways. There are ten other students in my program and we all have very distinct academic paths and career aspirations, so I might not have met any of them in Pittsburgh. I have loved getting to connect with people over our shared interests in art history and a new love for Florence. Everyone has a strong desire to learn and grow while abroad, which has influenced my perspective on traveling and global experiences.
I’m off to watch the sunset one last time at Piazzale Michaelangelo! Arrivederci!
Your daily life in Florence seems so interesting and engaging! Thanks for sharing!