Tour of Italy philosophy of travel, language and regional foods. Students documented their travel experiences in a journal, which touched on specific assigned topics as well as simple day-to-day reflections. “My main goal in life is to travel the world, so I really enjoyed the portion of the class dedicated to the art of traveling abroad,” said Audrey McLendon, a sophomore art major from Lilburn. “I gained so many new friends by going on this trip, and the fact that we were all really close highlighted the whole travel experience in an unforgettable way.” The group made time to savor the unique scenery of each city, from the endless labyrinth-like canals and streets of Venice to the vast shell-shaped Piazza del Campo in Siena to the rugged coastline and charming hillside villages of Cinque Terre. Students examined the wares of colorful vendors in Florence’s Mercato Centrale (Central Market), navigated the intricate waterways of Venice’s Grand Canal during a traditional gondola ride and plunged into the clear refreshing waters of the Mediterranean Sea. In true Italian fashion, the group often ate family-style dinners at local eateries, where they tasted authentic cuisine from spaghetti alla carbonara to frutti di mare. They also sampled fresh bread and pesto, local cheeses and meats and delicious gelato in every flavor from coffee to coconut. “Diving into a new culture and really stepping out of my comfort zone in Italy has Above, left: Dean of the Division of Fine Arts Ted Whisenhunt addressed given me confidence to students during a visit to the Pantheon travel to other places,” in Rome. said Allison Burnham, Above, right: The group visited the a junior art major from Museo dell’Opera del Duomo in Perry. “I literally loved Florence. everything about the trip—the people, cities, food and art. The only thing I didn’t like was the plane ride back to the United States—I didn’t want to leave.” “This trip allowed me to make new friendships that are still growing and developing today,” added Heather Poole, a junior English major from Young Harris. “The memories from the trip will remain close to my heart long after I leave this campus.”
Museums
FAMOUS Italian
In addition to marveling at famous works of architecture throughout Italy like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Colosseum, the Young Harris College travelers took in some of the most famous works of art in the world while visiting seven well-known museums.
FLORENCE The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Cathedral Works) contains original works of art created for the Duomo, including The Deposition by Michelangelo, a pietà intended for his tomb, and Lorenzo Ghiberti’s doors for the Florence Baptistery called the Gates of Paradise. The first academy of drawing in Europe, the Accademia di Belle Arti (Academy of Fine Arts), features David and four unfinished Prisoners by Michelangelo intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II.
VENICE The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a modern art museum on the Grand Canal was originally the private collection of the American heiress Peggy Guggenheim and features works like the Birth of Liquid Desires by Dalí and The Poet by Picasso. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest and most famous museums in the world, featuring The Birth of Venus by Botticelli and The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci.
ROME The Borghese Gallery is housed in a breathtaking villa located alongside the famous Borghese gardens and features Apollo and Daphne by Bernini along with some of Caravaggio’s most famous works, like Boy with a Basket of Fruit and Sick Bacchus. The Capitoline Museums feature the Capitoline She-Wolf that is portrayed in many forms around Italy and the equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Vatican Museum houses a vast collection established by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries, including the Raphael Rooms that lead to his famous masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel.
» Scan this code to watch highlights from the tour. V isit yhcitalytour.blogspot.com to read more about the excursion.
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