Thursday, September 28, 2006

Hike to the top of the Duomo – Sept. 13, 2006

Last Wednesday September 13th I was one of a lucky group of PR students who climbed over 400 backbreaking steps to see the awe-inspiring view from Florence’s grandest church, the Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore. Our group met up at Palazzo Rucellai and made our way through both the shopping crowds of central Florence to arrive at the entrance door that leads to “the climb”. We all hoped that our planning included ample time to make the journey to the top of the dome before sunset. But I still don’t think we were really prepared for what lay ahead of us. The expedition felt like it took about an hour, but in reality it took us only 15 humidity-filled, leg-aching minutes to reach the apex. Those in “forma”, made it to the top in less than 10 minutes, but even the slowest in our group arrived with enough time to witness an unforgettable sight. When we reached the viewing area, the sun was just starting to lower. The exquisite reddish-hued sky quite seamlessly blended into the tops of thousands of coral rooftops, where you could barely make out the end of one roof and the beginning of the next. It was an amazing site which helped me appreciate all the history, culture, and art that this city has witnessed in its lifetime. Before the sun fully set, we tested each other on our newly learned navigation skills of our home away from home; we found it a challenge to locate our apartments amongst the countless identical rooftops of central Florence. Because the day’s sunshine made for the clearest of evenings, we were able to locate by sight most of the well-known sites of the city; the towers of Palazzo Vecchio, the Arno River with its many bridges, and the towering David in Piazzale Michelangelo. We were even able to pick out our own school building, Palazzo Rucellai. The circular lookout allowed us to have a remarkable 360 degree “bird’s eye” view of Florence and we were positioned directly in the heart of the city. Countless photos were taken before everyone headed down the stairs, but pictures could never do this view justice. Quite easily we strolled down the countless steps, but it was probably the energy from the view that pushed us down so easily. This was the perfect way to end a busy day of classes. Those of us who were brave (and strong) enough to “do the steps” of the Duomo, had not only the best view of the city but a picture in our minds that will stay with us for years to come.

Day in Chianti - Sept 8, 2006

The Palazzo Rucellai student body had a chance to relax and get to know one another while taking in the sunshine of “Chianti Country” on a day trip the first Friday of classes. To kick-off this semester’s cultural activities, all of the students, along with some brave staff members, were invited to spend the day together among Tuscany’s olive trees and vineyards and discover the nature so close to Florence.
Our day started in the morning with a bus ride from Florence’s train station, destination SOUTH, to the renowned wine region just outside the city. Amazingly, good weather and bright sunshine followed us during our drive and throughout the day. While a group of us headed off to historic “Castello del Trebbio,” where all the wine is made on the premises from the vineyards located on the property, the other half traveled to the “Villa” La Pieve to do an extensive tour and wine-sampling from its vineyard selection.
My group headed to the Castello for the day. We were invited to have a complete tour of the castle built in the 1100’s by the Pazzi family. As a guide led us through the Castello, I couldn’t help thinking about the history and secrets that its walls held. The most spectacular room was a dungeon on the lower level of the property. After wandering through the Castello, and escaping from the dungeon, we were invited to take a leisurely walk around the estate. When we took our first steps out the door we were immediately welcomed by rows upon rows of vineyards. The vines seemed to be ripe for the harvest, but after trying a sour grape, I decided to leave the picking to the experts. It was hard to believe these were the same grapes that are used to make the legendary Chianti we had tasted. Our walk gave everyone a chance to meet new people and discuss plans, classes and the professors that awaited us for the upcoming semester. Breathing in the fresh air of the countryside while walking amongst the vineyards and olive trees is something one reads about in books, and nothing could have prepared me for the experience. The walk was a perfect opportunity to see the Florentine landscape from a side not reachable in the business of the city, and in that moment I understood why writers so often compose passages about the legendary beauty of Tuscany’s countryside. Lunchtime snuck up on all of us and soon arrived to the lunch table the most important Florentine staples; pappa al pomodoro, pecorino cheese, and prosciutto ham, with flasks of Chianti to wash it down. Some students decided to buy some of the classic Tuscan items that we sampled at lunch, such as the olive oil, cheeses and wine. Surely these would be great reminders of the special day in the months to come. In traditional Italian fashion, ample time was spent at the table to talking about the day and the semester to come. Even though our day in the countryside was soon over, everyone was able to appreciate the beautiful scenery surrounding their new home, as well as the make some new friends in the process.