Class Discussion 2: Galleria Accademia

  On our second day in Florence my main goal was to visit two key art museums, the first on my list being The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, or Galleria Accademia.  This museum’s main draw is Michaelangelo’s marble statue of David, but it features a large collection of Renaissance paintings and smaller marble statues as well.  Since I was unable to prebook tickets, I arrived at the museum before it opened to ensure that I would be able to enter without waiting in line for hours, which meant that the museum was incredibly crowded once I was finally able to enter.  This made it difficult to view the majority of the paintings and smaller statues, since the sheer volume of visitors was difficult to get through in a cramped space.  With that being said, the museum was definitely laid out to maximize viewership of Michaelangelo’s David.  While other statues had been placed too close to the wall to view all angles, or displayed in close proximity to similar works, David was placed independently of any other displays on a pedestal that allowed visitors to see all angles of the statue as it towered over them.  The height and separate display made it clear that this statue was valued more highly to the curators than the rest of the exhibit, which makes sense since it is one of the most famous statues in the world, but this does make the rest of the collection seem less important by extension.  By dedicating the majority of the space to this singular piece, the Galleria Accademia creates an optimal viewing experience for the details of this statue at the expense of the other work featured in the gallery, which made it difficult to appreciate the rest of the art in its entirety.

Wilson College Does Rome: May 29

 After our first week, our group was beginning to feel the strain of our busy schedules, but thankfully today’s schedule was less structured than most so far, which gave us the chance to explore the city at our own pace.  Most of the group woke up early for a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica (Photo 1), where we were able to take in the beautifully detailed architecture as well as the underground tombs of previous popes.  Since we arrived early, we were able to find a spot in the shade to watch Pope Francis deliver the Angelus from his apartment (Photo 2).  The message was delivered in Italian, so our understanding was very limited, but it was still an interesting experience to see the energy and excitement of the crowd when he appeared at the window.  At this point, the group split up to explore the city in smaller groups or as individuals.  Personally, I visited an indoor market with booths set up by local artists and merchants who were selling clothing, jewelry, art prints, and more.  

By mid-afternoon, most of the students were ready to embark on the main journey of the day by following the route of the Roman Triumph, following a map and audio recordings provided by Dr. Rock-McCutcheon.  We started at Largo Argentina, the site of several temples and other significant buildings (including the site where Julius Caesar was assassinated), which is now home to a cat sanctuary.  Next, the route led to Porta Octavia, then to the Theater of Marcellus (Photo 3).  We then passed the Forum Boarium, which was located near several temples and a more modern basilica, which provided an excellent opportunity to see how time and other civilizations have influenced architectural styles in this area.  The next stop on the agenda was the Circus Maximus.  Next, we passed by the Arch of Constantine, which also provided a unique view of the Colosseum, followed by a walk alongside the Imperial Forums.  Some parts were more difficult to view since there was a significant amount of construction along the road, seemingly to provide seating for the upcoming Republic Day parade.  With that said, we were still able to see the majority of the sites mentioned from the next stop: Capitoline Hill.  The stairway to the top was a bit steep, which was tiring after the rest of the walk, but the view from the top was absolutely incredible.  I had taken a break for a coffee and pastry midway through the walk, so I was arriving near sunset, and the view of the golden sunlight over the ruins was absolutely breathtaking.  The experience was an amazing opportunity to reflect on the fact that I was standing in what was once the heart of one of the most powerful empires in the world, and it was incredible to see how much of it remained even after so long.

In the evening, the group remained split across a variety of activities.  Some chose to go for dinner and to see a movie, while others took the opportunity to get dinner and continue exploring the city as well as its nightlife.  A relaxing day of setting our own pace was much-needed at this point in the trip, and I was thankful for the ability to relax a bit more to recover from a busy week as well as to prepare for the next day’s trip to Florence.

May 30- Florence

 The train ride to Florence was around 2 hours. Once there, we were greeted with many different shops and restaurants. Our first quest was gelato. We sat outside our hotel and dove into an internet rabbit hole, comparing prices, reviews, and walking distance until we found the one. We decided to try a new spot called Amorino. To say we found the best gelato was an understatement. The shop sold the classic gelato flavors with macroon side dishes. Their signature dish was macroons filled with gelato. For less than a euro more, we could have our gelato topped with said macroon! Today I wanted something different. I elected to get a frappe, a gelato that was blended until it became a liquid consistency. The frozen drink was a perfect drink on such a hot day.

After our snack break it was time to shop. My inner child too ahold and I was drawn into a toy shop down the road from our hotel. I was delighted by the variety inside. Legos ranging from tiny figures, to huge airplane and other movie props. Puzzles of classic art pieces and scenery of local attractions alike. Being a VMT major, I was in awe of the assortment of stuffed animals. I treated myself to a life size squirrel plushie.

Finally, two adults and three of us students found a restaurant for dinner. We decided on a small restaurant called Nerone. After ordering, we spent hours discussing a range of topics. Us students reflected on the trip and talked about how we think it has and will change us. Once finished our meals, we got a quick gelato snack and went to bed, both belly and head filled with happiness.

June 5th Travel Blog

     June 5th was our last full day in Rome, and it definitely felt like the final day with the chaos that ensued in the morning. All I can really say to explain this chaos is to say that it involved a positive covid test. As most of us tested negative and had been relatively safe in terms of mitigating the risk of spread, we went about our day. 

    For most of the day, we split off into small groups, though a lot of us made a quick stop at a little flea market. Many, including myself, had decided that this was not the most savory of flea markets and hastily found our way out. After this, the group of four which included me went off to find a particular restaurant for lunch. Finding this particular restaurant, which I forget the name of, seemed to pose a challenge to us as we got a bit turned around. Getting lost in this instance was good fortune as we stumbled upon a street festival that was being held to benefit a local school program. It was one of the most charming and cheerful things I have seen with my own eyes; a puppet show (as poorly pictured), kids making art together, small vendors with neat toys and trinkets, and everyone genuinely enjoying their time. This and the lunch that followed really made me realize the aspect of social that I feel is missing in many ways in American society, or at least in the parts of American society that I have been exposed to. After having a nice salad (as poorly pictured) and a wonderful chat at lunch we went back to the hotel to rest before the whole group went to the Catacombs which was an interesting experience. Finally, we finished our day with a mediocre farewell dinner, which, luckily, was free. Ultimately,

this day helped me to look back on the trip which made me realize the importance of social; chatting with strangers, forming new friendships, maintaining old ones, seeing myself as a part of a larger social body yet being able to express my individuality. To end the day I got a little selfie in front of the Altar of the Fatherland to remember the final night.

Ryan Blog Entry for the 31st

 The 31st was a day in which we were given the opportunity to freely flutter through florence, not attached to any group requirements, other than our departure time of 17:30. 

Having eaten a late night bowl of tiramisu the night prior, I evidently only had the ability to sleep for two hours. This was not the healthiest of sleeping practices but it allowed me to go to one of our groups photo session in Florence (mind you this occurred at the ungodly hour of 5:30). Though i felt like i had only slept for two hours, because i had only slept for two hours, this photo walk was still a memorable experience. Seeing the grand historical buildings and bridges of Florence mostly vacant from the chaos that occupies the street during the cities waking hours was surreal. it is powerful to experience a city of that age in this way; it feels as though the city has so much to say and you as an individual have to interpret it all.

 

After the photo session I went back to the hotel thinking I could get some rest, yet I could not seem to keep my eyes closed. the next few hours were spent in my hotel room as I attempted to process the many thoughts and feelings that were running through my mind as I interpreted the many voices of the city, until, finally, i ate breakfast and met up with Annie to go to the Galleria Accademia around 9.

Two hours of waiting is what it took for us to enter the Galleria without pre-purchased tickets, making us miss our time slot for the Uffizi Gallery which we had purchased the day prior. Though I would have loved to experience both museums, taking our time going through the Galleria Accademia allowed me to intake the art in a more thorough way. Not simply walking past and taking pictures but stopping and looking, truly looking, at the collection of the museum. The facial features and expressions of the David alone were enough to make this an enjoyable experience.

After the Galleria, Annie and I did some eating and shopping until we had to meet to depart back to Rome.

Being able to blossom off and explore Florence alone allowed me to enjoy both the serenity and the chaos of the city and the culture that is encompassed in it. It is hard to put into words the thoughts and feelings that arise from this but it is an experience I believe all people should have easy access to.

Discussion #4 Annmarie at Accademia Gallery

 Accademia Gallery was a short 3-minute walk from our hotel in Florence. Despite this, my roommate and I woke up around 7AM to get to the gallery an hour before opening. We got dressed and quickly headed down the street. The gallery opened at 9AM and we got there at approximately 8:15AM. There were still about 10 people in line ahead of us. A few minutes later, a couple got in line behind us. The next time I looked around, there were over 50 people in line after us, and we still had about 15 minutes to open. Once the museum did open, their first priority was getting everyone with preregistered tickets inside. It took us about 10 minutes for our line to even begin moving. By around 9:30 AM, we were in. 

Inside we had two options inside the first room. We could continue the causal museum route or follow a smaller path that leads to an instrument museum. Of course, we chose the latter. There was an arrangement of different wooden instruments. I was unfamiliar with the names of the instruments but some of the cello-like ones were larger than myself!

The first exhibit outside this subsection was a bronze head of Michelangelo exhibit. The exhibit begins with 3D recreations of the bronze heads. There were mirrors behind these replicas for us viewers to get the full 360 viewpoints. We then finally saw the actual bronze heads. Each one was of Michelangelo but still looked different from the other. Some were purely heads and others were down a little past shoulder length. The attention to detail was so meticulous for each head. I couldn't imagine the patience it took to create the bronze heads.  The museum staff has my full respect for the amount of work that went into replicating each head. The brief video they showed prior to entering shows a head being scanned over and over until they are sure each dip is measured, each raise is in the right location etc. The Accademia Gallery was one of the best museums I have been to in terms of art preservation. 

Discussion #3 Annmarie At the Uffizi Gallery

 It was around four flights of stairs to get to the Uffizi Gallery. As tiring as it sounds, and believe me, my legs were melting into the staircase, the hike was more than worth it. Immediately, we entered a hall of shoulder-up sculptures. In each corner, there was a centerpiece of a much bigger sculpture.  My personal favorite was two dogs on each side of the first entrance. The artist, who was unfortunately lost in time, truly captured the eager but loyal man's best friend. 

Once inside, each corridor was separated by the individual artists. I can't help my tourist nature at times and originally my favorite was the Birth of Venus. Once I saw Botticelli's name, I knew it was time to be on the lookout. To my surprise, the painting was huge! It covered the entire wall the piece was displayed on. The lighting of the room really helped to highlight the color scheme Botticelli selected. Ocean blues and sea greens complimented Venus and others so wonderfully. The golden frame was the icing on top of the whole viewing experience.

My one of favorite paintings, of all time, is  Judith Beheading Holofernes. To my surprise, the painting was housed in the Uffizi. As soon as I saw it around the corner, I was taken aback in awe. Reading 1.99m by 1.62m dimensions online versus seeing the image in person was a mind-blowing experience. The detail level was amazing and meticulous. I could see up close the emotion involved in each character. When I closed my eyes, I felt myself inside the scene. I could smell the blood splattering, and I could hear the probable screams involved. I hope everyone feels the same way about an art piece as I do with this particular one.