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Olivia White

Thanks to both the SMCC Global Classroom and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)* program, eight students and I took a trip to historic Italy for spring break as part of Professor Jeffrey Badger’s online class Italian Renaissance Art and Architecture. The first half of the semester focused on the historical backgrounds of the Italian Renaissance, including the art, architecture, and artists, as well as the influences provided by the Church and wealthy benefactors such as the Medici family. The course also prepared us for this intercultural experience by  reminding us that Italy would be very different from America in many ways, such as food and language.

Although we felt very prepared for this trip, one thing that no one can be prepared for is Italy’s beauty, such as how it felt to see the snow-capped Alps from the plane’s window, or to experience Ferrara’s tall and proud Castello Estense. Florence’s Duomo completely overwhelms you in size and intricacy, and Venice’s web of canals is simply amazing, as it weaves a wonderful, even poetic, puzzle around you. It was surreal.

We spent most of our time in Ferrara, a relatively small, charming city mostly un-known to tourists. Ferrara is also a city rich with Renaissance history, much of which we were able to visit and explore, including the underground prison and rooftop orange trees of the Castello Estense. (The castle used to be the home of the Este family, who served as the dukes of Ferrara for many years.) Ferrara is famous for their delicious cappellacci, which are ravioli stuffed with sweet pumpkin.

All this and more made Ferrara the perfect destination for us to set up camp at the Hotel Touring near the middle of the city. Our days in Ferrara were sunny and warm, and one morning a few of us rode bicycles around the city wall, which stretches for about five miles,

and once protected the city from Medieval invasions. Mostly, though, we spent our time going from one historic site, such as the top of the bell tower (which sported terrific views), to another, such as a local contemporary art gallery.

Our trip also included tours of Florence and Venice — cities that strike your heart with allure after one glance. In Florence we visited the Duomo, a great cathedral overwhelming in both size and intricate detail. A picture doesn’t do it justice; one must walk around it in its entirety to get the full effect. While we were in Florence, we also visited the Uffizi (“offices”), once the offices of the wealthy Medici family and now a popular museum. People from all over the world come to see works of art by highly esteemed artists, such as Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus (1486) and Primavera (1482).

In Venice, it seemed that every picture taken was one that belonged on a postcard. The bright blue canals that stretch throughout the city shimmered in the light, carrying tourists and newlyweds aboard beautiful gondolas. While in Venice we visited three particularly captivating historical sites: the Doge’s Palace, Saint Mark’s Basilica, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

The Doge’s Palace housed immaculately detailed ceilings and frescoed walls depicting

religious scenes, and also gave stunning views of Venice from the top floors. Saint Mark’s Basilica is an incredibly gorgeous cathedral, with every part of its walls covered in gilded mosaic scenes of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, and many other significant religious figures. Each small piece of mosaic is gilded with gold-leaf paint, which creates an illusion of dancing sequins in the sunlight.

Lastly, we visited the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which is held in the house she lived in, and her body presently rests under a small garden outside the building. Inside we walked through Peggy’s personal collection, which includes pieces by Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Jackson Pollock, and Man Ray.

When we weren’t visiting museums, cathedrals, or other historical sites, we were eating. The food in Italy was remarkable, exceeding all expectations. Dinners would sometimes be hours long, full of conversation and one delectable course after another. We relished Ferrara’s famous

cappellacci, the pizza was amazing, and we revisited the handmade gelato multiple times. We learned how to make pasta by hand from a real Italian chef, and we were also invited to Azienda Agricola BioPastoreria, an organic farm in Ferrara, to make pizza.

It was all an incredible experience that I’m sure none of us will soon forget, leaving us all wanting more of the beautiful country of Italy.