The past few days

It’s been a short time since my last post, but I figure I’d write out things as they happen.

Monday we had a pretty sweet Art History class. We met in front of the Baptistery “Gates of Paradise” La Porta del Paradiso, the famous golden doors made by Ghiberti. Renaissance Art History is so much more interesting when you’re visiting the actual art and not sitting in a lecture hall looking at a PowerPoint slide, listening to the professor talk about it. We walked around to the back of the Duomo to the Duomo Museum where all the works of art in the Basilica are kept. If you’ve ever been in the Duomo, you know that it’s pretty bare compared to the multicolored façade. You see, the façade that we see today, wasn’t always there. The original façade was taken down after being deemed too old fashioned. The original statues and reliefs that once covered the front of the Duomo are now housed in a modern museum behind the museum. Then our teacher took us to the crypt of the Duomo where we explored the underground museum of protected artifacts, frescos and the skull of the original patroness of the church, St. Reparata. 

 

Since I’m really involved in my Campus Ministry, I had to find something that would supplement my spiritual support that I relied on so much. Our Student Campus Minister, and good friend of mine, went on the same study abroad program in Florence that I’m attending. He became involved in the St. Thomas More Society, which is an organization for English speaking students in Florence to gather and practice their faith. To kick off the start of the new semester, the bi-weekly dinner was held on Wednesday night at a little trattoria about a five-minute walk down the street from me. I arrived at the trattoria and was greeted with the same hospitality I was first greeted with coming into CCM. Altogether there were about nine of us at the table.

For only 7 euro, we had an amazing dinner of a primo piatto, bread, and wine. I got the best pesto gnocchi I’d ever had and the best chianti I’ve had since coming to Italy! I felt right at home like I was at the chapel. Don Mario couldn’t make it that night since he apparently has the flu. Hopefully I’ll get to meet him this weekend! They announced that next Wednesday, they were organizing a trip to climb to the top of the Duomo for free. Usually it’s 8 euro. I’m so excited to climb the stairs between the two shells of the infamous Duomo! Also announced, and very tempting I might add, was a pilgrimage to Paris the last weekend in February. Unfortunately it’s the same weekend as our program’s trip to Rome. But luckily I’ve been to Paris twice before. Actually I’ve been to Rome twice before, but I have to go, so it doesn’t make any difference!

I’m so fortunate to have four-day weekends, so on Friday, I took a little bus trip to a small hilltop town called Fiesole. I had been there three years ago, but I didn’t get to explore around as much as I would have liked. I went into the beautiful church called St. Domenic that has a bell tower that could be heard echoing all around the town. The plain exterior is an understatement compared to the inside. Large concrete columns held up the exposed wooden ceiling covering the nave and sanctuary. Stairs leading down behind the alter, led to the tabernacle and the crypt.

I then continued to venture around the small city exploring all the steep streets and alleyways, looking for the best views of Florence. The best part of this town is that it’s on the top of the hill, so it had views on two sides! One side was Florence, the other, the rolling hills of Tuscany, spotted with juniper trees and small vineyards.

I finally found the perfect spot to watch the sun slowly set over the city. I probably stood there for a good 30 minutes in both amazement and revelation as to why so many artists flocked to this city. It gives you the chills to think that so many infamous artists, sculptors, architects, and influential people once walked the streets below and passed by the exact same buildings. Yes, what used to be a Medici palace is now a leather shop or a cell phone store, but it’s still the same. So beautiful, so untouched by modern culture, and totally a place I could live. 

(Pictures to come, I'm having formatting problems.)