_assisi

Not a whole lot is new. I have a nice block of time this afternoon to catch up on life (but what is life really?), since I don't have my printmaking class until after dinner. We haven't done the late night art class yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. It is really the only time that I have to myself since I live, eat, and go to school with everyone here.

_I'm looking forward to_spring_the budding flowers_birds chirping (hopefully they are the ones that can actually sing and not the ones that think they can)_walks on the outskirts of town_not having to wear my coat all day every day_sketching comfortably outside_

I am beginning to realize how fast time is passing. We really only have two more months to go and I am wishing that the days didn't slip away so fast and easily. I want to be able to hold onto every experience, moment, and feeling of awe and wonder...

Anyway, we spend the colder than usual day in Assisi yesterday. We visited the Basilica of Saint Francis first. The crypt wasn't constructed until the 20th century, when the body of St. Francis was discovered. Above the crypt is a Romanesque church, and above that, an Italian Gothic church with the famous painting of Giotto di Bondone. Apparently they have frequent earthquakes here- the last one in 1997, that destroyed some of the frescoes and killed four people- 2 monks and 2 art historians.


It threatened to rain the entire day, but thankfully, we only experienced a few sprinkles. Below is the facade of St. Francis with the ominous sky. Quite beautiful, minus the tourists.


Santa Chiara


The view of the town from the castle that we hiked to after lunch.


The wall of the castle with one of the 'trucks' that exists in the small towns.


I love all of the 'pockets' of interest as I walk the streets.


I can't wait for spring!!!!!


Typically, we have a tour in the morning and then we are on our own for the afternoon. Some friends and I ended up spending a good part of the afternoon in a cafe talking about art, architecture, design, painting, styles throughout history, etc.. We met back in the Piazza del Santa Chiara to walk to the bus to go back home and this lovely burst of sunlight, highlighting the distant Umbrian countryside, presented itself beautifully.

_roma_

This past week, I had the fortune to spend four days in Rome, exploring the ancient and not so ancient... After a three hour train ride, we checked into the hotel and went straight out to explore the city and try to not get run over by the crazy drivers; if you aren't careful, your feet will get run over.

The larger than you could ever imagine Saint Peters...


St. Peters is huge!
View of the dome. I was shocked to learn that there is only one room of frescoes. Believe it or not, all of the artwork (that appear to be frescoes) are actually mosaics made up of quarter inch glass.

Piazza San Pietro viewed from the dome.

Double spiral stair in the Vatican Museum

School of Athens. A very fine, and much larger than I thought, work of art by Raphael. The Sistine Chapel is also part of the Vatican Museum, but unfortunately, cameras were not allowed and I wasn't about to risk getting my camera taken away.


Classic photo of the morning light accentuating the coffers of the dome in the Pantheon- the oculus, along with everything else I have previously seen only in pictures, and now see in person is much larger than I thought.


Roman forum

Me, with the arch of Constantine and the Colosseum in the background.

We explored Paletine Hill- a serene place within the chaos of the city.


My favorite, the Trevi Fountain. When we were there, we witnessed a really sketchy man with a magnet stealing money out of the fountain- lesson learned- throw your change far into the fountain and don't toss 1 or 2 euros...
San Carlo alle Quatro Fontaine- the facade that I am using for my current studio project. It is currently testing the limits of my intellect...



The stairs that lead down to the crypt- beautifully done.


The Spanish steps- my professor is the one standing with his arms spread- typical of Bob.


On Friday, we went to Ostia Antica. This ancient city was buried under sand and mud of the Tiber and wasn't discovered until 1909, which is probably why it is in the great condition that it is.


After Ostia Antica, we trecked all across the city to find the Contemporary Art6 museum, which was closed due to the installation of an installation that opens March 7th. I hope to make it back down to see Renzo Piano's Auditorium Parco della Musica, so I can catch the exhibit, among other things. This was one of the pieces hanging in the covered courtyard that was open to the public.


I went to Orvieto for the weekend, and we will be going next Wednesday as a class, so I will post pictures after that. We went to Assisi today, Luca on Friday, Orvieto for the weekend...

_beauty_

In the midst of all the work for school, we manage to make time for day trips such as Siena on Wednesday, and Florence, again, today.

Siena is where the color "burnt siena" derives its name, for obvious reasons. Most buildings are constructed of brick, since it was available and cheap, and shutters are painted gray, brown, or green for the sake of uniformity.

Fun fact_ Siena is the first town in Italy that had cable tv.


This is the back side of Saint Catherine's Cathedral. Her head and thumb reside inside, but her body is in Rome.

Campo Square and Palazzo Pubblico. During the summer months, they have horse races.


The original plan for the Duomo of Siena was to exceed the size of Florence, however, the Black Plage wiped our 3/4 of the population, so they were only able to finish the transept.


The stonework is like nothing I have ever seen before in my life. There is an older gentleman that his sole job is to restore the floor, which has 56 different scenes created of marble.



A view from what I believe is an old part of a wall. It was supposed to rain, but instead we were able to get fantastic pictures and views, despite the wind and frigid cold (which is probably nothing compared to what it is back home).

Our very passionate tour guide, Chiara. Who says you have to wear black in Italy??

I should also add that I ate at the most amazing restaurant ever... If anyone is ever able to make it to Siena, you have to go to Osteria Boccon Del Prete... So good!!!

Today, our group made it back up to Florence for a morning of Medici's.


The courtyard of Palazzo Medici Riccardi. The Midici's lived here until they "outgrew" it, then the Riccardi's purchased it form them.


San Lorenzo.


The cloister of San Lorenzo. Yes, that is an orange tree with oranges on it, and no I didn't pick one even though I wanted to.

The group from Orvieto was in Florence as well, so I was once again able to enjoy an afternoon of climbing 464 steps to the top of the dome of the Duomo with Mitch and try to not to die.


I thought the frescoes were magnificent from the ground, but at essentially eye level, the amount of detail and graphical depiction of events was unbelievable.

The ingeniousness of Brunelleschi


The views were indescribable

Mitch and me

details_




I will be Heading to Rome next week and then I will probably try to plan a weekend trip somewhere. Stay tuned!!

Visuals_

Things are really starting to pick up around here. With two seminars, one about the relevancy of our perception of architecture and the connection between the emotional and rational view. The other seminar is on the topic art history, which is taught by an Italian professor- I am enjoying it thoroughly. I also have a studio that meets 3 times a week for 4 hours, a printmaking class that will begin on Thursday, a movie evening with Joe Campbell on the subject of mythology (Dad you should check it out, I think you would enjoy it). Wednesdays are our field trip days, and Fridays and the weekends are free unless our professor decides we need to be spontaneous.

I am beginning to get used to the Italian culture and how things are done here. I have learned to not expect to get anything done between the hours of 13.00 and 16.00; everywhere is closed.

_I am thankful for...
_flowers in february
_italian dogs
_small, italian speaking children
_dual flush toilets. everywhere
_long underwear_ it´s pretty mild here, but it get pretty chilly in the evening and in cathedrals
_warm water
_hanging cosmetic bags
_piazza spaces
_old men
_the views. everywhere
_hot chocolate and legitimate cappuccino
_color
_the food...

At the study center, Santa Chiara, lunch and dinner is served "family style" which means bad news when it comes to eating too much...


One of the views from the study center.

This past week, the group visited Florence on Wednesday, and then I went back on Friday to meet the group from K-State who is studying in Orvieto. My boyfriend, Mitch, is studying there, so we were able to explore and sketch together.

In front of the Pazzi Chapel


One of the sculptures from the Duomo Museum; where many of the original statues, figures, and architectural details live (replicas take their place, so as not to suffer any more damage).


La Pieta di Michelangelo. A brilliant piece of work...



Me, in front of the Ponte Vecchio.


I just thought this one was nice. I can't wait to get my hands on photoshop so that I can make it something really stunning...


When it wasn't raining, the sky was a beautiful blue.

Santa Maria Novella at sunset.

A scale model of one of Brunelleschi's proposals for the dome of the Duomo.

We came back to Castiglion Fiorentino, my home, Saturday and on Sunday, we had the opportunity to visit Foiano for Carnevale. Carnevale is a festival that takes place every weekend in February. There are four neighborhoods in Foiano and each neighborhood creates a float. On the last weekend, a winner is chosen and they essentially attain bragging rights for the year.


One of the floats coming out of the giant garages, where they are constructed and stored.


Mitch and me... Confetti and silly string was everywhere.

Tomorrow, I will be in Siena and Florence again on Friday!!!