Submitted by Paige Pavleszek on the 2017 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science and the Department of English…
Details. Details. Details. It’s all in the details. As a Fashion major, I have a keen eye for intricate, minor details and everything in Italy is making my eyes fill with admiration. I have seen some of the oldest, most historic buildings in the United States as I distinctly remember the first time I traveled to Washington D.C. I was amazed at all of the history and beautiful buildings, monuments and statues I saw, but on Italy’s timeline these structures would be considered new. It’s a really hard concept for me to wrap my head around. As I walked around Siena, I stood in the same place where an ancient civilization was thriving almost 3,000 years ago – it blew my mind. I saw buildings and churches that were extravagant with fantastic detail and I have felt this way in every new city that I arrive in. My mouth drops open as I gasp in shock and I ask myself “How? How did they do this?” I still think about it, wondering how without modern technology, without computers, without electricity, how did they make this building into a true masterpiece? My mind races as I try to envision 2,000, 1,000, 700 years ago people coming together and combining their skills to create something that people come from all points of the Earth to see. I wonder about how much these places must have meant to them, the hard work and commitment that went into these structures. Someone dedicated so much passion and effort into every inch of the surface, every cervice and there were no mistakes. It’s all in the details and every meticulous detail is rich in Italian history – nothing was there on accident. They represented famous Italians, biblical figures or Roman mythology and the combination was astonishing. Every painting and fresco is painted with such intricacy and everything holds meaning. It is truly amazing to me how beautiful something can become if you put in the time and effort because it truly is all in the details.