Until next time, Italia...

Last week was super busy with finals and wrapping up the study abroad program. We had an oral exam and a written exam (one Italian essay and one in English about the Florentine culture). I can't say I'll miss studying, but I will definitely miss our instructors from the Accademia del Giglio. Cecilia and Eleanora were the best teachers we could have asked for. Eleanora even surprised our class on the last day and took us on a field trip around Florence. We saw the Basilica di San Michele and the Chiesa dei Santi Apolosti, ate some focaccia bread, and visited the site where the mafia bombed the Uffizi in 1993.

Class picture with Eleanora

Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli

Rebuilding after the bombing

Olive tree planted as a symbol of peace and strength through hardships

The KU girls went out together one last time before us one-month session people had to leave Florence. It was a really fun night. I am going to miss all of the girls from the program so much!

 

The next day was definitely an emotional one; we had to say goodbye to our host family and leave Florence. Saying goodbye to Paolo and Marisa was really tough. They were the best host parents I could have asked for! Not going to lie, I cried the entire taxi ride from their house to the bus station.

Madeline and I took a bus from Florence to Pisa and stayed the weekend there. The city was having their annual Medieval festival, so there were parades a lot like the one we saw in Florence for the Festa di San Giovanni. Of course, we visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa and took the cliche tourist pictures of us holding it up! It took a lot of tries to get just the right picture, but in the end, I think we nailed it. We also saw the inside of the Duomo di Pisa and the Baptistery. It was really interesting to see how much the architecture differs from Florence to Pisa! After the Piazza dei Miracoli, we wandered around the city, but honestly there wasn't much else to see.

Piazza dei Miracoli 

The Leaning Tower

Baptistery

Duomo di Pisa

The cute robes we got to wear inside the church!!

Sunday night, we headed to the airport to fly to Barcelona. It was definitely a sad moment, realizing we were officially leaving Italy! I've only been gone for 2 days now, and I already miss it so, so much. I'm hoping someday I will be able to return to Italy again. Spero e prego! Ciao, Italia. Mi mancherai!

Festa di San Giovanni

On Monday the 24th, we were lucky enough to be in Florence for one of the largest festivals of the year--la Festa di San Giovanni. June 24th is the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of the city of Florence. The Florentines celebrate this day with Medieval-themed parades, concerts, the (in)famous Calcio Storico game, and fireworks at night. Nobody goes to school or work, and most businesses are closed for the holiday.

After doing a little shopping in the market near San Lorenzo, Madeline, Kaylin and I headed over to the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella to watch the Medieval parade. It is tradition for the Florentines to dress in costume and process to the Piazza di Santa Croce, where Calcio Storico takes place.

For those of you who have never heard of Calcio Storico, basically it is a soccer-football-rugby-wrestling hybrid, but about 3294 times more violent. The object of the game is to toss the game ball into the goal of the opposing team. Other than that, there are absolutely no rules, and all forms of physical contact in order to stop the other team are free game! A few years ago, one player's ear was bitten off by another. Prisoners that have displayed good behavior in jail are released on this day and are allowed to participate in the game. Just in case my description didn't paint a vivid picture for you, here's a video of clips from Calcio Storico! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcwAJIRMLzI

Unfortunately, the game was postponed due to lightning, but it was exciting getting to see the players and other Florentines parade toward the arena for the game. All of the Medieval costumes were so elaborate. Some men played instruments. Others held swords, spears, guns and other weapons. All together, the parade was definitely a fun tradition to witness.

Some of the players from the red team!

After all of the parade festivities, we ended the festival watching fireworks over the Arno River. It was absolutely beautiful and one of the best firework shows I've ever seen. The way the fireworks reflected off the water was beautiful. It ALMOST made up for me having to miss the 4th of July this year.

Anyways, more to come! Baci e abbracci :)