Submitted by Jenna Stiansen on the 2018 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics and the Department of English…
As I arrived to Volterra, Italy this past week with my group, I felt the butterflies in my stomach begin to start! I was nervous, but excited for this amazing adventure to make new friends and immerse myself in the Italian culture. Volterra is a small mountain town in Tuscany, known for its rolling hills, curvy roads and a view from the top that goes on for miles and miles. After being in Volterra for a few days, I found that my favorite day so far was our day trip to Siena. Siena was about an hour and a half away, but it was well worth it to see the medieval town. Our tour guide brought this old city to life by discussing the beautiful Siena Cathedral and Piazza del Campo. We had plenty of free time to explore the city where I went shopping in local stores, ate a delicious pizza and went into the Siena Cathedral. I have learned that almost every city in Italy has at least one church, but they are all unique and are dedicated to different people. I enjoy walking into the churches, looking up at the paintings or sculptures and having my breath taken away. One of my favorite moments from that day was going to the top of the Panorama of the Siena Cathedral.
The Panorama is a wall adjacent to the cathedral that was built to extend it in 1330, but that plan was stopped in 1357. However, the structure of the wall still stands and you can climb to the top of it. The 360° view from the top was breathtaking as it extended past the city and to the mountains in the distance and gave a new perspective on the cathedral and the Piazza del Campo. I left Siena smiling, knowing that one day I will return to this stunning and medieval city.