Buona sera!
Our fifth day in Italy was split between Florence and Siena. We woke up and spent the morning touring sites all within walking distance of our hotel. The Basilica di Santa Trinita was first. Of course we passed by the famous row of high-end shopping with brand names like Prada and Gucci, where the girls window shopped only!
Next, we walked along the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge not rebuilt on the River Arno. We stopped for a group photo with the picture-perfect river view in the background. The group photo is on a student's camera so it is not included here. I will find the best way to do some photo sharing after the trip in order to get photos to you and the students!
Our walking tour of Florence continued through Senioria Square and the Palazzo Vecchio, also known as Old Palace, the town hall where all the local offices are located. Many Greek and Roman mythical references are depicted in the square in statues of figures such as Medusa and Athena.
We continued on, focusing our time on the Dome, the Bell Tower, and the Baptistry. A few students climbed to the top of the Duomo (Chris Miller, Nick, Sean F, and Liam...I believe!) and got some great views! The students scattered about in the blocks surrounding the Dome for free time. As usual, searching for shops, looking for pizza, gelato, or coffee, and finding public bathrooms you could use for free were all top priorities for students!
We hopped on the bus for our afternoon adventure at 1:30. On the way to Siena, we drove through Chianti, looked out at a beautiful region with olive trees, and took in the countryside views.
We visited Siena because of its Roman origin and the beautiful cathedral in the town's center. In myth, Siena was founded by Remus' son; yes, Remus of the famous Romulus and Remus story! We walked through the hilly terrain while cars tried (sometimes unsuccessfully) to pass us by in this primarily pedestrian city. There is an open square, Piazza Del campo, which we explored before ultimately visiting the Tuscan Gothic style Cathedral. During free time, some students sampled treats famous in Siena such as dolci senesi, ate gelato, shopped, and took in the sights throughout the town.
We found ourselves back at the hotel by 7 PM with some downtime before dinner. We leave tomorrow at 6:30 AM for Rome via Assissi. More to come soon...
-Ms. Sullivan
Just gorgeous. This is real "hands on " learning and experiential education. Enjoy and safe travels home everyone.
ReplyDelete