Over the week-long spring break in April, Prof. Iannacco and eighteen Italian students from Italian 2, 3, 4, and 5 went on a trip around Italy. It was a new and exciting experience for everyone. Students were able to use their knowledge of the Italian language and speak with some of the natives, especially when ordering food for lunch. “Speaking to the natives was fun, most times they did respond back in Italian. I ended up actually getting discounts at some places due to speaking Italian rather than English. It was a good way to practice, and I definitely got more comfortable having basic conversations by the end of the trip” commented Italian 4 student Sofia Kriegel.
When they landed in Rome, students visited Campo de’ Fiori as their first stop before heading to the hotel. A lot of the girls ordered their first meal at a local bar. After dropping their luggage off at the hotel, they visited St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. They could walk through the Vatican and admire its beautiful artwork. Students visited many Piazza’s, including Piazza di San Marcello where the Fountain of Trevi is located. Rome is also home to the Colosseum; the group went on many guided tours throughout the trip learning about the historical significance of everything. They even got to visit Ancient Rome and see how people from the 8th century once lived! Through these trips, the students were able to learn about Ancient Rome’s history and how it continues to shape Western civilization in areas like language, law, architecture, and politics.
In Siena, the students visited Piazza del Campo, Piazza del Duomo, and Jacopo della Quercia. The Duomo is famous for its iconic Renaissance architecture including Brunelleschi’s groundbreaking dome; this is the largest masonry dome ever constructed. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and holds significant religious importance for Catholics.
In Florence, students were able to walk around the different historical sites such as where the famous sculpture, da David, was created. Then, they got to see the original David at the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze. In the museum, there were a lot of different artists featured, including Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures. Not only did these students get to see the amazing landmarks, but they created unforgettable bonds, “It was an amazing opportunity to go on this trip! Not only was it fun but educational! I loved getting to see famous sights in Italy and getting closer with my peers!” Natalie Pelosi, an Italian 5 student, explains.
To get to Venice, students took speed boats onto the island. During their time in San Murano, the students saw many glass shops and even got to witness glass blowing firsthand during their time in San Murano. A lot of students bought glass souvenirs that they took back to America. While in Venice, students were exposed to Italy’s famous seafood; the students could choose to order fresh salmon for dinner and were served risotto with shrimp. Meals were a bonding experience for everyone on the trip. Not only did the students try Italian cuisine, they ate these meals while being surrounded by other students that they may not have spoken with. “It was very enriching. I enjoyed learning about the culture and especially trying the food. It was fun to pair my experiences in class with real-world experiences and converse with the group over dinner,” Italian 3 student Katelyn Khan reflects.
In each city, the students stayed in a different type of hotel. Prof. Iannacco chose the specific hotels not just based on availability but on different artistic techniques that correlated with each city. In Rome, they stayed in a more Baroque style with beautiful artwork all over. In Florence, they stayed in a more modern, eco-friendly hotel. For example, to turn on the lights, the students needed to keep their keycard plugged in and the bathroom was separate from the showers. In Venice, they stayed in a more old, Venetian Renaissance-style hotel, transporting the students to an old castle from the 15th century. This was just one of the many ways students were exposed to Italian culture.
Overall, the whole trip was a huge success and students made lots of unforgettable memories. Prof. Iannacco hopes that she can continue this wonderful experience for years to come and potentially open it up to more programs in the future.
