My Wonderful Blessed Life: ~My "Once in a Lifetime" Trip to Italy~

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

~My "Once in a Lifetime" Trip to Italy~

The summer before my senior year, I got the opportunity to spend 6 weeks in Italy through a study abroad program! I took 2 classes: The History of Rome and the Italian Renaissance. What two better classes to take...right? Monday and Wednesdays were class days and Tuesday and Thursday were field trip days. Friday through Sunday were your own days to do whatever you like! It was a great set-up. It gave enough time to learn and appreciate what you were seeing! I lived in an apartment in the wonderful small hillside town of Montepulciano, which is in the Tuscan region and the Province of Siena. It was an amazing town, and many movies have actually been filmed there, like Under the Tuscan Sun with Diane Lane and many many more. Here it is!

The town of Montepulciano in Tuscany

For my Italian Renaissance class, we went on field trips to Florence and Sienna and saw so many interesting pieces of history and art during the Renaissance period.

Piazza del Campo in Sienna

Sienna Cathedral

For my History of Rome class, we went on mainly overnight field trips to Rome, Naples, and Pompeii! I learned so much about the history of these ancient town and gained such an appreciation for them! We stayed in hostels, which was a unique experience, but one that I'm so glad I did. Here are some pictures from my field trips with my History of Rome class!

Roman Forum

Colosseum

Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

Top view of the Pantheon

City of Rome

Naples

Pompeii

The view of Mount Vesuvius

Our class on our weekend field trip to Pompeii and Naples

Such fun adventures! There were students from Kennesaw State, Valdosta State and Georgia Southern University on this trip. As a whole group, we took a trip to Rome to visit the Vatican and it's landmarks! I can honestly say that the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican was so amazing.

Outside of St. Peter's Basilica

A picture of a Swiss Guard

St. Peter's Square

Every night during the week, the whole group came together for dinner at this wonderful restaurant in the heart of town. We got to feast on "true" Italian food and got to know each other better too! One night about halfway through the first week, these 3 girls walked into the restaurant. I knew that their plane was delayed and they were students from Kennesaw. I would have never thought that those 3 girls would become some of my best friends. From that moment on, we traveled together and ate dinner together every night. By the end of the trip, I had basically moved into their apartment.

Liz and I

Olivia and I

Natalie and I

All together...sorry a bit blurry!

They are some of the most special girls in my life! More to come about them later! During the weekends the three of us would travel together. We had so much fun and made so many memories that I can't even begin to name them all! We spent a weekend in Cinque Terre, a beautiful beachside town, and then a weekend in Milan and Venice! It was an amazing experience!

Cinque Terre

Venice!

Our gondola captain

The Cathedral in Venice

The Rialto Bridge

And who could forget Pisa and the Leaning Tower?

Pisa

The Leaning Tower

My trip was absolutely the most amazing and unforgettable experience! Plus I got to meet 3 of my best friends and after many years later, we still remain very close! I'm so blessed that my parents allowed me to go on this once in a lifetime trip! I will always say that my favorite place in the world is a small hillside town in Tuscany! I can't wait to return someday soon!