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Published: January 18th 2018
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Studying abroad in Florence has made many of my dreams come true. I’ve traveled to several new cities, I’ve seen many extraordinary pieces of art that I spent years learning about in school, and I’ve discovered so many pieces that I never knew existed. Being able to see my favorite elements of art, sculpture and architecture, has been an incredible, emotional, and thought-provoking experience for me.
Touring the Accademia Gallery, Mrs. Elizabeth Butler taught us about the incomplete sculptures left behind by Michelangelo. It was difficult for me to concentrate with the statue of David standing only a couple hundred feet away: I was eager to see him. Finally, we walked up to the statue of David, and I was amazed. He stands at a glorious 16 feet tall, and the window above him allows the sun to shine at such an angle that appears as if he is illuminated. Standing in front of the statue, David appears as if he is looking in the distance to the right side of him. He has his slingshot in his left hand, and his head is turned so you see a calm expression on his face. He stands with most
of his weight on his right leg, and appears relaxed. Mrs. Elizabeth Butler asked us what we thought; was this before or after the battle with Goliath? I answered to myself, “before” and heard a few others say “after”. Then, we walked to David’s right side, where we could directly see his face. The expression appearing on his face at this angle was different: he has a stern look on his face, with his brow furrowed, and his eyes fixed on something in front of him. And staring into his eyes, I could imagine the feeling of fear he felt. Mrs. Butler again asked us if we thought this was before or after the battle. I heard more people say, “before” this time, and my answer remained the same. While looking at David, I thought of all the times I read the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. I was overwhelmed with emotion, and tears began welling in my eyes. I’ve always loved this story, but seeing the real statue evoked a deeper thought in me: You may hear that you’re too small, too weak, or that you should try something different, but with God by your side,
you will always win.
One of my favorite memories was seeing the Duomo in Florence for the first time. The only word I can think of to explain how I felt would be astonished. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in real life. From the colored marble, to the spiral columns, there are so many intricate, elaborate details. I tried imaging myself as a Florentine, watching the construction of the cathedral. I could almost see the workers building the foundation, with the sun beating down on their backs and sweat dripping from their brow. This same evening, I toured the inside of the cathedral with a couple of friends and one of our professors and her husband. As I looked around, I observed many beautiful paintings and three small stain-glass windows behind the altar. I also observed a large clock that was very different than our modern-day clocks. It had all 24 hours in the day on it and two hands that rotate counter clockwise. Though it’s beautiful, I think the inside is much too large. There are several large areas blocked off, which gave me an uninviting feeling.
While touring Siena this past weekend,
we stood outside of a cathedral similar to the one in Florence. The astonishment I felt looking at the other Duomo rushed through my body as I stood, staring up at a cathedral that looks identical to the other one. However, the inside of this Duomo felt much more welcoming. It was decorated beautifully with pictures and paintings. The room wasn’t too large, but it was very open, making it seem much brighter and warmer. I thought to myself, “if I were in search of a church to attend, this would be the one”.
In my previous blog post, I mentioned Dr. Sarti’s concern with the decline in birth rate, and I would agree that it’s very apparent in Florence. Walking the streets, you typically don’t see many families; and the ones you do see consist of two parents and usually only one child. However, as I observe these families, they appear truly happy. Maybe it’s the food, or it’s the Florentine lifestyle, but they are smiling and laughing, and it’s extremely obvious they are in love with one another. Seeing the happy families here makes me miss my own. I love Florence, and a part of my heart will remain here long after I’m gone, but my heart yearns to get back to my Old Kentucky Home.
STEPS (I forgot to put them on the last blog post):
January 14
th: 5,623
January 15
th: 22,423
January 16
th: 7,921
January 17
th: 10,874
January 18
th: 11,045
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