Author Archives: mra5074

Cusine Trip Part 1: Cremona and Parma

At the beginning of Spring Break, IES:Milano offers all students a 3-day all-expenses included (except for lunch) Cuisine and Culture Field Trip that features visits to the small Italian cities of Cremona, Parma, Mantova, and Castell’Arquato. Given the chance to eat great food, drink good wine, and experience authentic Italy for free, I was more than eager to sign up.

Cremona

The first destination on our trip was a tiny town located about 2.5 hours southeast of Milan called Cremona. Upon reaching the city by bus, we first visited it’s famous opera house. Considered one of the four most important opera houses in all of Italy, we were given an exclusive tour of the facilities, even though there was a performance scheduled for the next day. Although this theater pales in comparison to La Scala in Milan in both size and grandeur, it’s quaint atmosphere and intricate decoration make it a worthy tourist destination when visiting Cremona.

After leaving the opera house, we walked to the city center and visited the the Duomo and Baptistery. Although I certainly wouldn’t make a special trip to Cremona to visit these sites, if you happen to be in the city, they are worth stopping by

Cuisine Trip 053.JPGOur next stop was to a shop owned and operated by a violin maker, a skill and craft from which Cremona derives it’s worldwide fame. A small town in Northern Italy, Cremona is known throughout the music world as the heart of violin making and the prime destination for those who wish to purchase the best and most expensive of these intricately made musical instruments. We sat and listened for an hour as the violin maker explained the history of his craft, including the painstaking process required for the construction of each individual violin. Throughout this lecture we learned that each violin takes 2-3 months for its complete construction and costs anywhere from 5,000 – 25,000 euros. (Fun Fact: A violin made by revered violin maker Antonio Stradivari typically goes for 3-5 million euros at auction!).

After leaving this shop, we were given a more extensive tour of the city center, including a stop at a famous candy and sweet shop. In addition to it’s fame as the home of violin making, Cremona is also well known for it’s delicious nugget. After purchasing a giant chocolate from this shop (which I must say was amazing) and eating lunch, we headed to Parma.

Parma

Since Parma was the town in which we would be based in for the next two days, we checked into our hotel immediately upon arriving. After about an hour of free time, IES had arranged for us to receive a tour of the city before dinner. On this tour, we again visited the Duomo and Baptistery of this larger, but still small, Italian town. Although my desire to visit old churches has significantly waned over the course of the semester, I was still very impressed by the Duomo in Parma. In particular, the dome painted by Correggio was a breathtaking example of Italian art. This work  was equally as impressive as any I have seen across Europe, although it was absolutely ridiculous that in addition to having to pay to visit the church, an additional fee was required to actually activate the lights necessary to see the dome!

Cuisine Trip 099.JPGAfter our tour was completed, we walked over to the restaurant in which IES had arranged for us to eat dinner, the Trattoria Corrieri. This 2.5 hour, 5-course meal was probably the best dinner I have ever had as we were treated to an appetizer of fried dough and assorted deli meats, a first course of pumpkin ravioli, a second course of rizzoto and polenta, a third course of chicken with gravy, and dessert featuring tiramisu.

 


Location: Cremona, Italy

A Night at the Opera

On the night of my return from Athens, I got the chance to go to one of the most famous opera houses in the world, La Scala. Each semester, IES typically gets access to a handful of tickets to a variety of shows, from operas to orchestral performances to ballets. They then offer the tickets to students on a first-come-first-serve sign-up basis. The best part is that they are FREE OF CHARGE (IES picks up the cost)! Since I figured I needed to see a show in this venue while being in Milan for four months, I agreed to go on Sunday. The show that I went to see was the Mozart-written opera, “The Magic Flute.”

First of all, getting to the opera house turned out to be quite the adventure. Since my flight from Athens was delayed 40 minutes, I didn’t get back to my apartment until 7:15 P.M., while the opera started at 8:00 P.M. I had to shower, get dressed, and take a cab the entire way across the city, since our apartment is about as far as you can get and still be in Milan, in 45 minutes. Miraculously I was able to make it there by 7:50 after throwing on clothes and running to the cab stop in a full suit!

After getting my tickets from one of our RA’s waiting outside the theater, I hiked up to my seat on the 6th level, the highest one. My seat was located near the stage, but since the seating area is shaped like a U, this was not exactly the best location and required me to contort my neck all night to see the stage. However, it is impossible to complain since they were free and tickets are notoriously difficult and incredibly expensive. For example, tickets on the ground level go for around 500 euros per show.

After reaching my seat, I was amazed by the beauty of the building’s architecture. Almost every part of the theatre was made out of dark wood and was adorned with flowing burgundy drapes. Unfortunately, in my mad dash to get there on time, I forgot my camera, so I have no pictures from the night.

I was pleasantly surprised by the entire experience. As a person who strongly dislikes musicals, I figured it was going to be very much the same. However, due to the difficult vocals and limited number of large group sing-alongs, it was actually pretty good. Since the entire thing was written in German, it was annoying having to use small translator at my seat to understand what was going on, but overall I enjoyed it. It was an good cultural experience and it’s pretty cool to say that I have seen an opera at La Scala. It’s incredible to think that in the morning I was standing at the base of the Acropolis and at night going to one of the world’s best opera houses!


Location: Milan, Italy

It’s All Greek to Me

Ever since I decided that I was going to study abroad in Europe, one of my most desired travel destinations was Athens. Last weekend, I fulfilled my wish as I got to spend 3 days and 2 nights in this amazing ancient Greek city.

Athens 082.JPGFriday

Getting to Athens from Italy is notoriously difficult. As such, even though we had no class on Friday and I was done at 1:00 P.M. Thursday afternoon, I had to wait until Friday morning to fly out of Milan. Arriving in Athens Friday afternoon to a projected forecast of rain, I took a bus from the airport (only 5 euros!) and headed to my hostel, which was conveniently located at the base of the Acropolis. Due to the poor forecast and the fact that most tourist sites close anywhere from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. in Athens, I decided to circle the Acropolis and walk around Plaka, a famous and interesting shopping district located directly below the Acropolis.

Relieved that the weather was holding off, I walked to the top of Mars’ Hill and was treated to my first breathtaking panoramic view of Athens.

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As an incredibly old city (obviously), the houses and buildings are an interesting combination of European and Middle Eastern styles. Composed mostly of the signature block materials seen in the Middle East, but containing the trademark red roofs of typical European architecture, the city’s history unfolds before your eyes as you gaze over its sprawling housing projects.

Walking through Plaka is one of the best ways to experience authentic Greek culture. This Athenian district contains an endless number of shops (mostly selling jewelry, antiques, tapestries, or souvenirs), gyro shops, Greek food stands, and restaurants, all while being surrounded by and intertwined with hundreds of ancient ruins. Although many of the shops and restaurants in this area are incredibly touristy, the unmistakable feel for the city and culture is quite evident from this section of town. Deciding to sample the local food in this area, I ate dinner at a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant and had the best gyro I’ve ever had.

Saturday

Since I had only a shortened weekend in Athens, I needed to make the most of Saturday. Therefore, since access to the Acropolis started at 8:30, and I was staying 2 minutes from it, I woke up at 7:30, ate breakfast (which was the stellar combination of hard-boiled eggs and toast as provided by my hostel), and headed to this historic site when it opened. When visiting the Acropolis, you purchase a ticket that gives you access to the top of the Acropolis, the Theatre of Dionysus, the Acropolis Museum, and all of the structures and sanctuaries located on the slopes of this giant plateau. However, by showing a student ID, access to every Greek monument is completely free!

Entering from the gate located in front of the Acropolis Museum, I immediately came to the Theatre of Dionysus. As the theatre that showcased the debuts of the famous ancient Greek plays written by Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus, it was hard not to be impressed by not only it’s intricate construction, but its durability to survive over 2,000 years. Next, I came to the Herrod Atticus, the most famous and ancient outdoor theater in Athens. Still used as an amphitheater for modern concerts, this theater is amazing for its size and beautiful architecture.  Its shows are supposedly one of the top things to do in Athens, but, unfortunately, these shows are only shown in this venue in the summer.   

Finally, I reached the stairway up to the Acropolis and made my accent to this summit of this storied plateau. When I think of Athens, I immediately visualize this “Sacred Rock” dominating the city’s skyline and symbolizing the greatness that was the ancient Greek society and culture. Despite these high expectations, I was still amazed by the sheer size and beauty of the numerous solid marble temples, sanctuaries, and structures on top of this hill. The obvious main attraction here is the Parthenon. Despite its half-destructed state and numerous alterations from being made into both a Christian basilica and an Islamic mosque throughout its history, you can still visualize this giant structure in all its glory as it was countless centuries ago. One of the first people to reach this site that morning, I was allowed to enjoy the serene calm atop this rock and appreciate the true genius that allowed the ancient Greeks to both construct it and develop the technology needed to do so. Also atop the Acropolis are the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, two impressive holy temples that are definitely worth seeing when visiting Athens.

Athens 120.JPGAfter leaving the top, I walked across the slopes of the Acropolis and down to the Ancient Agora. Similar to the Roman Forum, this was the most important section of the city when the Greek civilization was at its peak. A place where business was conducted, worship was completed, sacrifices were made, and even home to the Library of the ancient emperor Hadrian, the Agora contains countless ruins of buildings that have long since fallen down. Walking through this area truly provides an idea of what the Ancient city of Athens looked like on daily basis and how the citizens really lived and interacted.

After the Ancient Agora, I visited the Athens Central Market. Featuring long lines of hanging cured meats, piles of seafood (including whole fish, squid, octopus, crabs, lobster, and eels), and endless stacks of seasonings in clear plastic bags, this market was a cool way to become incorporated within the food culture of Greece. I ate lunch at a gyro stand within the market and sampled some nuts within the market for lunch.

Next, I decided to walk to Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in Athens. When going to Athens, it is definitely worth the relatively steep climb up this hill (there is also a tram you can take up if you are feeling lazy or aren’t able to walk) to get an incredible overlook of the city, including the Acropolis. Plus, in the true spirit of capitalism, there is a vendor waiting at the summit ready to sell you a bottle of water for an outrageous price! Next, I took the metro back to the Acropolis and walked to the Temple of Olympian Zeus. This temple is located next to Hadrian’s Arch (also an impressive example of Greek architecture) and is placed in the middle of a giant grass field. Although you can’t really get close to the ruins because they are roped off, it is still amazing to see the craftsmanship and skill of the Ancient Greeks. Once the largest temple in Athens, all that survives are two small sections of marble columns, but the large space allows you to appreciate the magnificence of its former state.

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After the temple, I walked over to Filopappos Hill, located next to the Acropolis and featuring several ruins and overlooks of the city, then the famous Panathenaic Stadium, home to the several famous athletic games in Ancient Greece and the first modern Olympics to finish my day.

Sunday

Since my flight wasn’t until the afternoon, I had the morning to see the sights I was not able to get to the previous day. First thing in the morning, I went to the Acropolis Museum, which contains what is left of the actual statues in the sanctuaries and temples on the Acropolis (the ones on the actual monuments are replicas). Despite the many interesting pieces in this museum, it is sad that so many statues are missing. Centuries ago, during times of turmoil within the Greek government, British historians and collectors claimed them and took them back to the UK, where they still reside today. Then, as my last stop in Athens before returning to Milan, I took the metro to the Piraeus, the main port of Athens. When going to Athens, it is definitely not necessary to take this long trip, as the port was pretty standard and not nearly as impressive as those of Monte Carlo, Barcelona, or Venice.

Travel Tips:

  • Stay at Athens Backpackers. It is rated the #1 Hostel in Athens for a reason.
  • Make sure and validate your metro and bus tickets. Fines for not doing so are 60 times what the fare rate is!
  • Take some time to simply walk around areas like Plaka to get a true feeling of what Athens is and how its citizens live.
  • The younger crowd in Athens is found in Gazi or Pfsiri.

 


Location: Athens, Greece

Our Neutral Friend to the North

After leaving my parents in Rome last weekend, they continued their travels throughout Italy by visiting Pompeii, Naples, and Venice before coming to Milan on Thursday. I showed them around Milan for two days before we left for our next destination, Switzerland. Venturing north into the country famous for mountains, chocolate, cheese, cuckoo clocks, and bank accounts, we had an awesome time and I found the Swiss landscape to be the most incredible that I have ever seen.

Swiss 048.JPGOn Friday evening, we took a train from the Milano Centrale station to Luzerne, a small city located in central Switzerland. The biggest attraction in Luzerne is Mount Pilatus. This mountain is the highest accessible peak in the region and features breathtaking views of the the city and it’s nearby lake. Mount Pilatus features the world’s steepest cog railway and also still serves as a military fortification in case of an attack on Switzerland (the gun emplacements are located just below the tourist viewing gallery). On Saturday, we awoke early and were checked out of our hotel before 8:30 a.m. so that we could reach the summit before the afternoon weather came in and made it impossible to see anything from the top of the peak. Since it is still in the winter in the Alps, the cog railway was not open, so we took a gondola ride up to the top (about 50 francs/person). Although this relatively short ride is pretty expensive, the view was absolutely incredible!

Swiss 085.JPGAfter spending approximately 1.5 hours at the summit, and having listened to a rendition of “Amaing Grace” on the alp-horn, we came down to eat lunch in the city.

Swiss 046.JPGAfter lunch, we visited the second most famous attraction in Luzerne, the “Dying Lion Monument.”  The Swiss have a long, proud history of neutrality, but they also have a storied tradition of sending mercenaries and hired protection across the world, the most famous of which serve the Pope in Vatican City. During the 17th and 18th centuries, a faction of the Swiss Officers and guards were charged with the protection of the French royal family. In 1791, the famed French monarch Louis XVI was forced to flee from his Palace at Versailles to the Tuileries Palace in Paris due to French insurgents during the French Revolution. He was then forced to flee again and ordered his protective guards to stand down and return to their barracks, but this message failed to reach the unit. These brave soldiers fought to nearly the last man and those who were not killed in the resistance were quickly executed by way of the guillotine. Known as the “Lions of Luzerne,” these soldiers are commemorated with this stunning statue carved into a rock face located within Luzerne. Above the statue is an inscription that reads, “Helvetiorum Fedei ac Virtuti,” meaning “To the Loyalty and Bravery of the Swiss.” Of all of the monuments, paintings, and sculptures that I have seen in Europe, this one was the most moving as it was the only one that truly was able to capture emotion and empathy into the work.

Swiss 124.JPGOn Saturday night, we left Luzerne to head to Wengen, a small mountain village located in the southern portion of the country near Interlaken. In order to reach this town, we had to take a train to Interlaken and then take a cog railway up to Wengen. Located within the heart of the Alps, this small village is a very popular spot to stay for skiers. However, our attraction to this place was it’s close vicinity to three of the most famous peaks in the Swiss Alps, the Eiger, the Monch, and the Jungfrau. From Wengen, there is a unique opportunity to take the Jungfrau expressway up to the highest railway station in Europe, the so-called “Top of Europe,” that is located about midway up the Jungfrau. Due to it’s absurdly high cost (about 165 francs/person!) we decided to just take the train to the Kleine Scheidegg station, which is located at the base of the Eiger.

The Eiger is one of the most famous rock climbing destinations in the entire world due to its treacherous and challenging Eiger Nordwand (or Eiger North Wall). Here is a clip showcasing this famed rock face:

At the base of this mountain, I was completely in awe of the beauty of the mountains in front of me and couldn’t believe that I was standing in front of three of the most famous peaks in the world. For anyone traveling to Switzerland, this is a must-see! We stayed at this station for about 2.5 hours while we walked around small surrounding trails and ate lunch, then headed down. We got back to our hotel in Wengen, grabbed our luggage and left. I headed back to Milan while my parents headed to Zurich to catch their flight home the following day.

Swiss 159.JPGIt was great seeing my parents over the past 10 days and we had a lot of fun throughout Italy and Switzerland!


Location: Luzerne, Switzerland

In the Heart of the Empire

Roughly halfway through the semester, I got a little slice of home this weekend when my parents and older brother came to visit! Meeting them in Rome and spending the weekend in this historic and beautiful city in the center of Italy, I had an awesome time both exploring the metaphorical heart of Italy and introducing my family to Italian culture.

Rome 210.JPG

Friday

Arriving early Friday morning (7:00 A.M. departure time!) in Rome, I met my family at the airport and then proceeded to take a shuttle to our hotel. I have to say I enjoyed staying in an actual hotel with my own bed rather than sleeping on a cot in a hostel or sharing a bed in an apartment. On our first day in Rome, we headed to the Vatican. First, we went to St. Peter’s Square to view this iconic piazza where the Pope delivers his addresses and gives his blessings, as well as where thousands of Catholics wait during Conclave for the election of a new Pope. Since we booked a tour online we headed over to the museum and we were able to skip the enormous line that stretched around the block and took over 2 hours. Our tour lasted 3.5 hours and included the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Fortunately, our tour guide spoke incredibly clean English despite being a native Italian. The sheer beauty and magnificence of the entire Vatican Museum was striking as it contained priceless pieces of artwork from renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini, as well as innumerable architectural wonders. The Sistine Chapel was even more impressive as it is impossible to walk into this room and not be amazed at both the intricacy of the works and the vibrant colors used by Michelangelo. Lastly, even though I have seen some impressive churches during my stay in Europe, St. Peter’s Basilica more than lived up to its billing due to its size and beauty.

Rome 041.JPG

Rome 133.JPG

After leaving the Vatican, we walked to the Castel Sant’Angelo, the castle made famous by Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons as the location of the secret passageway into the Vatican. We then went back to our hotel, ate dinner at a local restaurant, and went to the Trevi Fountain. Out of all of the sights that I saw in Rome, this historic monument was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, however, I forgot my camera at the hotel, so I have no pictures.

Saturday

Our Saturday was dedicated to the ancient part of the city. We started by visiting the famed Coliseum and this sight was absolutely amazing. When first entering this historic arena, it is almost inconceivable to think that this structure was constructed entirely by hand about 2,000 years ago. Even with the most advanced modern technology and most skilled labor, this structure would take tens of years and billions of dollars to construct today. Standing in this site, the feelings of its historical importance in the culture of Ancient Rome are unbelievable as you truly can imagine the famous battles and fights occurring right before your eyes. Next, we walked to the Roman Forum, which is conveniently located only about 200 yards away. This was another impressive sight and the fact that these structures are left standing today is amazing by itself. Then, we walked over to Palentine Hill and the Circus Maximus to continue our exploration of the Roman ruins. We decided to end our day by venturing to the “Spanish Steps,” a unique area located in the northern portion of Rome that is made of an interesting mixture of local and designer shops. However, while eating a late lunch there, we discovered that my Mom had her wallet stolen! So, we proceeded to hurriedly attempt to call each credit card provider and immediately cancel both her credit and debit cards. But, her phone had no service and my cheap Italian phone wouldn’t allow me to connect with the 1-800 numbers. So, after trying use the phones at a few local hotels, we ended up back in our hotel room with the credit card companies for a good portion of the night. In the end, it was simply a minor inconvenience as no charges were made to any of her cards and she still had her passport and cell phone. 

Rome 197.JPGRome 222.JPGSunday

During my last day in Rome, we decided to head to the Pantheon and then back to the “Spanish Steps” to do some shopping. Arriving at the Pantheon at 10:00 A.M., we were surprised to find out that mass was being held and that we would need to wait until noon to come inside. So, we walked around for a bit and watched some of the Rome Marathon that was occurring that day, before going back into this iconic church (which ironically was originally a pagan temple). The Pantheon is an awesome architectural wonder and more than lived up to my expectations as it was truly amazing. The gigantic dome ceiling with its signature oculus was breathtaking. After leaving the Pantheon, we went back to the “Spanish Steps” and then I took a train to the airport.

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My parents are staying in Rome through Monday, spending Tuesday and Wednesday in Venice, then coming to see me in Milan on Thursday and Friday before we go to Switzerland next weekend. It was great seeing them this weekend and I’m really excited that they got to experience Italy and Europe for the first time. I can’t wait for Switzerland in 3 days!


Location: Rome, Italy

St. Patty’s Day…in Milan?

After a hectic and busy midterms week, all residents of Italy got to enjoy a day off on March 17, St. Patty’s Day. While the cause of this national holiday was not a deep love for Ireland, shamrocks, and green beer, it was the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification as a single nation, we were not about to argue semantics as to why we were able to take a day off in the middle of the week. Fortunately for us, this holiday occurred during the first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. In true American fashion, we spent the day crowded around three TVs hooked up to different laptops and streaming three games simultaneously. Featuring an exorbitant amount of upsets and ridiculous finishes, this was the perfect way to spend a relaxing Thursday in March. The only downside was that Penn State lost on a heart-breaking buzzer beater to Temple.

In tribute to the start of an exciting month of college basketball, here is a tribute to the voice of the tourney:


Location: Via P.S. Mancini, 4

Streets are Overrated

Spending the semester in Italy means a few things: pasta for nearly every meal, more wine than you know what to do with, soccer, churches, and most certainly the March celebration of Carnivale. Taking full advantage of studying in Italy, my friends and I decided to head to the epicenter of the celebrations, Venice. Arriving Thursday evening and staying until Saturday afternoon, we spent 2 nights and 2 days in this beautiful city on the eastern coast of Italy.

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Thursday

Leaving Milan after our classes on Thursday, we traveled by train and arrived in Venezia late that evening (30 euro round-trip!). Already dark-out upon our arrival, we were unable to truly enjoy the wonder and beauty of this city until the next day. The most interesting thing about Vencice (other than the unique canal system and the combined lowering of the city and rising water levels that causing it to sink) is that this city is actually a combination of small islands. For instance, when we got off of the train, we found that we needed to travel by water to reach the island on which our apartment was located. So, we boarded a “waterbus” and headed for our place. Meeting the landlord to our apartment once we got off the “waterbus,” she lead us through a winding, twisting combination of maze-like streets until we arrived at the dark alley that was home to our apartment. Despite the suspicious looking exterior of our building, our apartment (4 rooms and 4 beds) was actually very nice.

Friday

Waking up around 9:30 am, we were dressed and out the door by 10:00. Not being able to actually appreciate the city the previous night, I was stunned when I opened the window in my room and noticed how beautiful and unique Venice is. Here is the view from our apartment:

Venice 054.JPGWhen traveling to Venice, the starting point for the majority of any sight-seeing or city exploration is found at the Piazza San Marco (San Marco Square). So, we decided to start our day in true tourist fashion, making our way to this crowded, tourist-filled space. Stopping for lunch at a small cafe and perusing several stores selling masks, we eventually made it there around noon. Located within San Marco Square are the famous San Marco Basilica, the Ducal Palace, and the Campanile. We decided to explore the city by walking around on our own and visit these sights the following day. Spending the rest of the afternoon walking along the waterfront and throughout the winding, confusing streets of Venice, we really got a feel for the city culture and feel.

Since we chose this date to visit Venice specifically because it was during Carnivale, we also were able to celebrate this holiday in true Venetian fashion. With each of us purchasing authentic Carnivale masks, we spent a great deal of time admiring and looking at the various costumes of the Venetian natives, as well as the thousands of tourists who flock to this location during this time of the year. I have to say that I was truly impressed by the intricacy and the uniqueness of these costumes. With the entire city participating in and supporting this event, it was easy to see why this is such a popular destination for Carnivale.

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Venice 123.JPGAt night, we took a signature Venetian gondola ride. While it is an entirely cliche thing to do, it was worth it (80 euro for a gondola of up to 6 people) as it truly lets you see the city in a way that can’t be captured by walking on the streets. We also managed to time it perfectly by reserving our gondola for 6 PM, allowing us to see the city at dusk with the perfect amount of light.

Venice 148.JPGSaturday

On Saturday, three of us got up early and went out to see the city and the specific sights that we missed on the first day. Traveling yet again to San Marco Square, we started by visiting the San Marco Basilica. Although I have visited more churches during my stay in Europe than I can even remember, with countless others to come during my upcoming trip to Rome, I was impressed with the remarkable architecture and painting evident in this structure. If you travel to Venice, you need to visit this sight. We chose not to visit the Ducal Palace because of the high entrance fee, so we took an elevator to the top of the Campanile, a tower located in San Marco Square, instead. This was my absolute favorite place that I visited in Venice as it provided breathtaking 360 degree views of the entire city, including the other islands. After coming down from this tower, we ate lunch and headed back towards the train station. After walking around this area for about an hour, and also visiting the Venice Casino, we boarded our train and went back to Milan.

In summary, I thought Venice was one of the most beautiful and unique cities I’ve seen in Europe and one of my favorite places we have been so far. The interesting canal system unseen in the rest of the world, save for Amsterdam, make it a must see destination in Italy. I’m glad I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to see the city and I would recommend it to anyone visiting or staying in Europe/Italy. Hurry because the city is going under water!

Observations and Fun Facts

1.) Venice is hands down the most confusing city I have ever been to. The unpredictable winding roads, streets just wide enough for one person, and high concrete walls obstructing the views of other streets make you feel lost from the minute you arrive. It took two of us approximately 2 hours to get back from our apartment because we got lost. If you are trying to get to a certain location, make sure and ask directions because you will most likely get lost trying to find your own way. Hint: Try gondola drivers, they pretty much all speak English.

2.) There are no street names in addresses in Venice. Instead, buildings are identified by number and district. Venice is broken up into several districts, similar to the boroughs of New York City, and these are used to identify buildings. Again, be sure and ask directions or have a map handy.

3.) Gondolas cost anywhere from 25,000 to 40,000 euro and are owned by the individual gondola drivers. Our said that he does 5/day in the slow season (such as now) and 10-15 per day in the summer.

4.) Take the “waterbus” when moving between islands, NOT a water taxi. The waterbus is the Venetian version of the metro, only on water, and is reasonably inexpensive. The watertaxi is exactly what it sounds like and is a flat rate of 35 euro no matter where you go.


Location: Venice, Italy

More Milano Art: Arcimboldo

This week, in my Leonardo da Vinci-themed art history class, I had the opportunity to visit an exhibition of one of the more unique and interesting artists in art history, Arcimboldo. Renowned for his attention to detail and his his life-like portrayal of animals and nature, he was a Leonardo disciple who helped continue the Renaissance theme of realism. But, his most renowned works are his “Composite Heads,” which are an eclectic combination of aspects of nature that are arranged to form the shape of disfigured human heads. Arcimboldo created 2 famous series consisting of these heads: the seasons (“Spring,” “Summer,” “Fall,” “Winter”) and the four elements of nature (“Earth,” “Air,” Fire” and “Water”). Being able to see these works in person was an incredible experience due to the fact that the majority of them are owned by private collectors, who allowed them to be used for this one-time exhibition (Plus IES pays for it!). The ability to visit works of art such as these, as well as our later trip to “The Last Supper,” illustrate how taking art history in Italy can actually be interesting, even if you do not really have any prior interest in art.

Cameras were not allowed to be taken into the exhibit, but here is a link where you can see all of his works: Arcimboldo.


Location: Milan, Italy

Living in Gaudi’s World

Continuing my travels through Western Europe, 5 friends and I traveled to Barcelona for some fun in the sun last weekend. Escaping cold and dreary Milan, we left Thursday night and spent 3 nights and 2 days in this warm, beautiful Spanish city.

Barca + Milano 270.JPGOther than the warm and beautiful weather, the first thing you notice upon arriving in Barcelona is its unique blending of cultures, architecture, and languages. Located on the Iberian Peninsula and having been under control of the Moors, the Spanish Monarchy, and the authoritarian regime of General Franco, this city has noticeable Arab, European, and totalitarian influences. Divided into districts, with the most famous and picturesque one being the Gothic District, Barcelona visually displays its eventful and storied past to each visitor.

The second thing that is immediately evident is the vast influence that Antoni Gaudi had on the layout, design, and architecture of the city. Known for his very different and interesting building designs, his influence on Barcelona is so profound that entire tours devoted solely to his works in the city are available. Obsessed with angles, curves, and unique geometrical shapes such as hyperboloids and paraboloids, his works in the city include the famous Sangrada Famila, Park Guell, Casa Mila, and Casa Calvet.

On Friday, our first day in the city, we awoke to a bright and sunny 60 degree day. I have to say that I was a bit jealous of the IES: Barcelona students since I was able to wear nothing but a t-shirt all day. We started our day by walking down Las Ramblas, the street in Barcelona famous for its shops and markets. We took this street down to the harbor and walked around on the beach before eating lunch. After lunch, we walked to the northern part of the city to the famous Sangrada Familia.

Barca + Milano 090.JPGHaving seen a multitude of pictures and drawings of this iconic cathedral, I had a good understanding of its general design, but just like the Duomo in Milan, you can’t truly appreciate neither the beauty nor the intricacy of its design without seeing it in person. Although I was a bit disappointed that it was currently under construction, it was still an awesome sight.  Even though the architecture and unique design of the outside of this church would be enough to make it a must-see monument in Barcelona and all of Europe, its interior design was even more breathtaking. Containing endless series of columns, hundreds of stained glass windows, and brilliantly designed holes in the ceiling that light the entire structure, this cathedral was incredible. After visiting this site, the high regard that the entire city has for Gaudi was quite understandable

Barca + Milano 120.JPGOn Saturday, I awoke early in the morning so that I could see as much of the city as possible before nightfall. During the morning I walked around the Gothic district and visited the Cathedral, the Basilica de Santa Maria de la Mar, and numerous small shops in the area. After lunch, my friends and I visited another Gaudi creation, Park Guell. While this beautiful park at first looks like it was designed by Dr. Seuss, due to the weird shape of every staircase, bench, and plaza, as well as buildings that appear to have frosted roofs, as you walk through this place you begin to understand the brilliance of its creation. Without straight edge or corner in sight, Gaudi created a unique haven overlooking the city that causes each visitor to question their view of the world. This park is also located on a giant hill that provides an incredible overlook of Barcelona.

Barca + Milano 242.JPGAfter Park Guell, we decided to visit the western part of the city and make our way up to Montjuic, an impressive plateau with an ancient castle that provides another beautiful view of the city. On our way to this site, we passed the beautiful building of the National Museum of Catalan Art, an old retired bullfighting ring, the Olympic Stadium from the 1992 Summer Games, and several cool parks. 20 minutes on the metro, 30 minutes walking, and a 12 euro gondola later, we finally reached Montjuic. While the view was not as impressive as the one at Park Guell, it was still very interesting to see this historic fortress and the skyline of Barcelona once again.

Overall, I had a great time in Barcelona. It is a great choice for anyone looking to spend a short or extended weekend in a warm place and see some history. The unique past of Barcelona and its division into districts makes it a great place to experience traditional Spain as well as the more modern aspects the country. I would recommend this city to anyone traveling to or in Europe.

Interesting Notes:

1.) Most people in Barcelona speak English, but the actual native language is not Spanish, but a dialect called Catalan. While it is similar in structure to Spanish, the accent is different and some words are changed (i.e. road = Carre and not Calle)

2.) Restaurants don’t open until 9 P.M. at the earliest.

3.) Tapas, Spanish appetizers offered at nearly every restaurant, are entirely overrated and not nearly as good as the Italian “aperitivo.”

Travel Tips:

1.) Stay at Hostel 1 Barcelona. The staff is incredibly helpful, the atmosphere is fun, it is very clean, and it includes a full kitchen and hot showers.

2.) Be sure to visit the Gothic District. It is a really cool area with authentic Spanish crafts, shops, and cafes.
 
3.) There is almost no need to pay for a taxi or use the metro (except for getting to Park Guell or Montjuic) since almost the entire historical portion of town is located near the water.


Location: Barcelona, Spain

Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole…Pato, Pato!

Tonight I saw my first European football game, Serie A showdown of #1 AC Milan vs. #3 Napoli! Having been to every Penn State home football game for the past three years (plus every home game versus OSU and Michigan for the past 5 years), I thought I had a pretty good idea of what a loud stadium and electric environment was like. Wow was I wrong.

The common message out of Europe has always been that Americans have no idea about the passion and intensity that European football fans have towards their favorite teams. While this is typically combated with the passion displayed by American college football fans, in reality it is not even close. San Siro Stadium on Monday night, the home stadium to both AC Milan and Inter Milan, was the loudest environment I have ever experienced. While the student sections at places such as PSU, LSU, Florida, and Alabama give them a run for their money, the passion shown by the adult crowd is absolutely amazing. In Italy, being a fan of a football team is not a passing interest, but something that defines you. In a place where fans are let out of the stadium according to which team they root for, where riot police line the stadium and walk up from our apartment, and where fans were banned from attending games for an entire year for throwing flares in the stands and onto the field, football is serious business in Italy.

Featuring two of the top teams in the Italian league, this game featured some great soccer and resulted in a 3-0 AC victory. I would recommend to everyone studying abroad in any European city to go to at least one game, even if you don’t like football or sports, just to experience the crazy atmosphere. I can’t wait until the next one, hopefully Champions League!

Duomo + AC Game 040.JPG


Location: San Siro Stadium, Milano, Italy