Submitted by Jessica Kolesar on the 2013 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics…
Pisa, a small city in Tuscany, is prominently known for its leaning tower located in the city square, Piazza del Duomo. This remarkable landmark had me eager to visit Pisa on one of our group day trips. After arriving in Pisa, we walked a short distance to the Piazza del Duomo. Upon turning the corner and entering the square, I gasped in amazement. The Duomo (Cathedral), the Baptistery, and the Leaning Tower struck me with charm. It took me a few moments to take in all that stood before me, and I admired the beauty of the structures and their attention to detail. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, a well-known landmark, was incredible. To put it simply, I was in awe.
From here, I was able to meet up with a longtime family friend, Dave, who had moved to Italy five years ago when he signed a two year contract for his job as a Firefighter. When the contract was coming to an end, Dave refused to leave the beauty and culture of Italy behind him. As a result, he signed another contract and has thus been living in Italy for the past five years. At the end of this contract, he will move back to the United States, but most definitely he will make a return to Europe. Having the opportunity to meet up with Dave was truly special, and I was able to gain a true Italian experience while in Pisa.
Moving away from the Piazza del Duomo, we followed Dave through the streets of Pisa. Because of the holiday season, lights were strung between the buildings of each street, decorating the town and bringing life to the city. We visited the Piazza dei Cavalieri, otherwise known as Knight’s Square, where a beautiful high school is located. Further down the street we crossed a bridge over the Arno River and accompanied his Italian girlfriend for lunch at a local restaurant. This small, charming restaurant defined true Italian culture – we set up and disassembled our own tables and received our food from a counter joining the kitchen to the dining area. It was a remarkable experience to interact with local citizens and observe their daily routine. Dave gave us insight into his own life in Pisa and gave us recommendations for places to visit and things to do while in Italy, such as visiting Rome and Cinque Terre. Following lunch, we were brought to a local coffee shop and had our first espresso. After a wonderful afternoon with Dave, we concluded our adventure in Pisa by visiting the local street shops in the Piazza del Duomo, getting gelato at a nearby gelateria, and watching the sun set over the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The scene was picturesque and truly unforgettable.
