Submitted by Marisa O’Connor on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Art…
It has always been my dream to travel to Italy and I can’t believe I have already spent a week in this beautiful place. Florence is everything I had imagined and so much more. The scenery, architecture, and museums are all incredible and I’ve had so much fun just looking around. I have definitely had some of the most surreal moments here. Including my first glimpse of the Duomo, which is a 5-minute walk from my apartment. The first time I saw this breathtaking cathedral, I couldn’t believe it was real. It almost looked fake against the dark Florentine night sky. Another unforgettable moment that I have had on this program was seeing a view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. Some friends and I walked all the way up to this cool spot to watch the sunset while listening to live music and taking in a view of the fascinating city we are lucky enough to call home.
Overall, throughout this program, I have enjoyed just sitting and taking in all of the views and things I have seen. It has been so nice to reflect and be present in the moment during this experience in order to get the most out of it. I have had so much fun living and having adventures in this city so far and I can’t wait to see what else is in store. Tomorrow, we will be taking an excursion to Siena and San Gimignano and I am very excited to see some new places in Italy which I’m sure will be equally as beautiful as Florence.
