Our day trip to Florence was an eye-opening experience. Bright and early, we traveled on public transportation to our first destination: the train station. We had the opportunity to travel on Italy's high speed train, known as the Frecciarossa, cutting through the regions of Lazio and Tuscany. If only New York City had the Frecciarossa :(
Once we've arrived in Florence, we had a walking tour throughout the city, visiting landmarks such as the Santa Maria Del Fiore Cathedral, which is also the location of Brunelleschi's Dome, the largest dome constructed during its time and is still the largest brick dome ever constructed. We had the opportunity to hear the bell ring from the bell tower of Palazzo Vecchio. We also saw a few statues, including the copy of Michelangelo's David and Cellini's original Perseus with the head of Medusa. After stopping quickly for lunch, we made our way to Galleria degli Uffizi, one of the most famous museums in the world and home to some of the most famous paintings in the world, similar to the MoMA and MET museums in Manhattan.
Before this trip to Florence, we had an pair assignment to complete. Working in pairs, we chose and researched a certain painting that will be on showcase in the Uffizi. Then, we had the opportunity to be tour guides and actually talk about the painting while standing in front of the painting! We researched The Venus of Urbino, a beautiful Renaissance painting by Titian for the Duke of Urbino. It was super exciting to be able to see the painting for ourselves and be able to present right in front of it! We had a total of 10 presentations, each very educational and informative.
Following the visit to the Uffizi, we had the opportunity to wander around Florence. I have to say, it is a breath-taking city! Walking on the bridge, we had a beautiful view of the Arno River, and I mean beautiful. The Hudson River cannot even be compared to the Arno River. As a group, we went shopping around Florence, visiting leather shops and other boutiques, making a quick stop at a gelato shop. Firenze deserves the title of the city of love more than any other city. Walking through the streets with beautiful music playing alongside of us, the sun shining brightly on the crystal blue waters of the Arno River, it is hard to not fall in love with the city.
One of our program leaders, Francesca, was actually born in Florence! She took pride in her city which made dinner even more special. Ordering platters and plates of Florence food, she gave us a taste of Florence cuisine and I have to say, it was absolutely delicious! While I love Italian pasta and pizza, it was starting to get repetitive. Eating Florence cuisine was a refreshing new taste for me. It was heartbreaking to have to go back on the train back to Rome (I still love Rome so much). One day was not enough for Florence but it was still a breathtaking and wonderful experience. If you ever go to Italy, Florence has to be on the list of cities to see!
Some bonus photos ;)
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