Calcio Storico

Every year on June 24^th, Florence celebrates the feast of its patron saint, John the Baptist. On this day several festivities take place including parades, Rowing club competition along the Arno river and fireworks. Though the most anticipated event of the day is Calcio Florentino, a mix between football and rugby. Though there is a good bit of bare-knuckle boxing and wrestling in the sport as well. As a result Calcio Storico is not a game for those who don’t like the sight of blood. This game can be traced as far back as the 16^th century Italy and every year this game is played in the middle of Piazza Santa Croce. Early in the day workers begin to setup the arena spreading sand across the Piazza and building stands for the spectators to watch.

History tells us that during the 1500s there were four teams that participated. The Bianchi, Verdi, Rossi, and Azzurri all partake in this historical event and each of these teams represents the different districts of Florence- Santo Spirito, San Giovanni, Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce.

Over the centuries not a lot has changed in the way Calcio Storico is played. Players still dress in traditional costume and parade around the city, eventually finding there way to the Piazza. Before each game a procession occurs in which many of the citizens dressed in popular costumes of the medieval time period perform a ceremonial act. Durring this time they play several different songs of the city of Florence and eventually introduce the two teams.

The game is played between two teams made up of 27 players. The field is essentially a giant sand pit with a goal on both ends. There is one main referee, six linesmen, and a field master who only intervenes when things become too violent, such as a kick to the head. The game is played for 50 minutes with the winner of the game being the one who has scored the most points. There are not breaks during the game. Even serious injury does not stop the game. If a player is hurt, a medical team will come onto the field and put him on a stretcher and carry him off the field while the game is still being played. At the end of the game the winners receive a pile of steaks that are equivalent to that of a white calf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm2hgqa-2ws - (video of Calcio Storico)

I felt that it was interesting that they divided the teams into the separate areas of the cities, distinguishing the different territory within the city. When I asked one of the locals what determines the different territories he said that the Arno River that runs through Florence is a major divider between the two teams that played that day. It was also interesting seeing the passion between the two sides because when we got there it was obvious where each of the teams’ supporters were supposed to sit.

Many of the fans were very passionate about the game. Some brought blue and white flares into the arena that represented the different teams. Additionally, I found it interesting that such a violent game would be played as a celebration of the city’s patron saint.

In my opinion there can’t be a better way to end a seven-week trip abroad than by experiencing the cities of Italy. I was lucky enough to go to Florence and Rome for four short days and come back with a lasting love for the Italian culture. Through my encounters what I found most fascinating was Italy’s effort to globalize their economy but at the same time preserve the massive amounts of history and tradition that exists in the country. I noticed this divergence in many circumstances for example at a nice Italian restaur

ant in Florence, the Vatican in Rome, and the language barrier in general which was prevalent in both cities.

Of course, before coming to Italy I heard about all of the historical and tourist sights that were important to see including the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Steps, The

Vatican, The Duomo, David and many more. However, Florence proved to be so much more than just the significant monuments that were there. Their culture was like no other I had seen on my travels thus far. It is a city with plenty of monuments and history that has been conserved for years, as well as a city with a new lively tourist based economy. There are leather or food markets on almost every street you turn, and their primary customers are tourists.

One night we happened to find this very nice Italian restaurant on a little side street for dinner. The reason we chose this specific place was because the atmosphere looked so authentic. We had been around so many tourist attractions all day so we wanted to get a sense of the “real” Florence. This little hole in the wall restaurant had a beautiful terrace with oil, Parmesan cheese, flowers, and wine glasses carefully placed on each table to set the mood. A few minutes after we sat down and stopped a

dmiring the fascinating Italian pictures on the walls, we heard familiar music. I soon realized the American pop song Hot N Cold by Kate Perry was playing in what we thought was an authentic Italian restaurant. I was in pure shock and kept thinking maybe it will just be this one song. However, the American pop songs continued to play. We heard everything from Cold Play to Rihanna. The atmosphere was completely ruined by this music, however it served as an example of how globalization is affecting these European countries.

This idea of globalization mixed in with historical preservation was also demonstrated as I arrived at the massive Vatican in Rome. As one has to know when they arrive at the Vatican, the lines to see the monument go on forever. The only way to avoid the lines is to pay for a private tour. So when we finally made it up to the line, tour guides surrounded us trying to sell their tour. They always began with, “Do you speak English?” There is one specific girl I remember talking to I remember because she tried to persuade us by complementing our clothes and saying she is from the states as well. When we were still hesitant about taking the tour she offered us an English tour guide instead of an Italian one assuming we would like that better. I found all of this fascinating because several of the tour groups happened to be run by Americans, so that American tourists could understand the information. So globalization can be seen everywhere and clearly plays a significant role in the language barrier as well as the nations economy.

Although I could see this theme of globalization through Rome and Florence, I also experienced the Italians desire to preserve the monuments and the history that the country

has to offer. For example, the monuments are to be respected so police patrol around all of the monuments to ensure this high value. When I visit the Trevi Fountain there was a vandalism act where someone through a bottle filled with orange paint into the clear beautiful fountain. It was apparent how upset people were by this selfish act. This monuments and its history mean a lot to the people of Rome. They have maintained its beauty and symbolism for so many years and will continue to do the same in the future. So in the end we cannot tell which of these two different ideas serves greater importance in Italy, it is just interesting to look at how the both coexist in this gorgeous country.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jJvt0bbVwOeGG-FUxLEM4NHuq-Tw

http://www.vaticantour.com/

http://www.allbusiness.com/government/3583896-1.html

Milan has been one of my favorite places so far because it is a city that is known primarily for it’s shopping but while I was there I discovered so much more. We decided because we were not as familiar with the city as we had been with other places to do a bus tour that allowed us to get off and see so much more of this history then just shopping. My first impression was that the Milan is a lot quieter and does not get the bustle of tourist through their small towns. The things about Milan that I loved were the old churches, which were some of the most interesting places I have been. They are nothing like the churches in the states, with relics of saints and priests that had once served in the church. Along with having relics I felt a sense of pride and value from the people who we came in contact with. For some parts of Milan the church was the main and focus and has not stopped being. We were able to go on a tour of one of these churches that had crypt’s that had been excavated and we were able to actually see where they had been dug up. They were the actual stones. It was very eye opening realize how important these churches and these relics were to the people in the towns. The woman at the front desk was very helpful and she made us understand how sacred everything we would be seeing was. The last and most magnificent cathedral that we saw was the Milan's Duomo which is the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world: only Seville Cathedral is larger and St. Peter's Basilica doesn't count because it's not a cathedral. Milan Cathedral is 157 meters long and 40,000 people can fit comfortably within. This is a very big tourist site but once I was inside the cathedral everyone was silent and just took on this very peaceful mannerisms. It was beautiful inside; I had never seen a church or cathedral that was large. The Duomo of Milan has both Gothic and neo-Gothic architecture, for the Gothic west front was begun in 1616 and completed 200 years later. Only in its details does it reveal its Baroque and Neo-Classical date. From 1900 some of the less Gothic details of the facade were replaced in a true Gothic style, to designs of Giuseppe Brentano. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/milan-cathedral Mass takes place there at least once a day and still under construction continuously to maintain the structure. The roof climb provides a unique and memorable opportunity to walk high on the roofs of the huge Gothic cathedral. The views are magnificent and the opportunity to see the pinnacles and sculptures close up along the way is worth the climb alone. While we were not able to do the climb to any one that goes there I think that it is a must and I am sad that I did not have the opportunity to do it myself. Overall Milan was a place I will recommend to all.

Rugby gone Wild

Hearing about a festival in Florence, Italy that had to do with rugby, I was not expecting what I experienced on June 24 at 7pm in the middle of the Piazza Santa Croce. There was a huge stadium set up with bleachers surrounding a field of sand, screaming fans, one side wearing all blue and another side wearing all white. We took our seats and my heart was beating pretty fast with anticipation of what was going to happen next…

The day starts off with a parade around the different plazas throughout the city with around 100 or so men dressed up in medieval costumes, holding flags and guns, marching to the beat of the drums. We got the most pleasant wake up call at about 8am of the drum parade making its way around the city. This event happens once a year and we were lucky enough to be apart of its festivities for the day. The festival is in the honor of St. John, the patron saint of the city. The event is called “Calcio Storico Fiorentino,” or “Historical soccer from Florence,” originated in Florence around 1200-1300 AD. It served as a competition for many of the nobleman in the area at the time and it was seen as ok because violence and death were accepted back then. The fighting that goes on during these games can date back to when the Gladiators fought during Roman times. The players and the men in the parade wore clothes that represented what was worn in the 15^th century. In an article I read about the annual event, even popes such as Clement VII, Leo XI and Urban VIII are said to have enjoyed the bloody game. However, in the last few years, the game has been seen as too violent because of the fights that have broke out in the middle of the game and was actually banned for the entire year of 2007 as punishment for their “unacceptable behavior.”

My friends and I sat down and waited for all of the members of the parade to line up on the field and then it was time for the two rugby teams to enter the arena. The crowd was going wild and I was having a hard time just taking it all in. There I was sitting in front of one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen and I was about to watch big hefty men tear each other to shreds for possession of the ball and trying to win for their “side” of he city. Wearing blue meant you were from one side of the river and wearing white meant you were from the opposite side of the river. The parades of medieval men were summoned off the field and it was time to begin the match. There were 27 muscled and shirtless players on the field from each team and I knew from that point on I was in for a real surprise. The whistle was blown and I was shocked at all the hitting, punching, tackling that went on in the first minute of the game. I was seriously in my own little world trying to keep up with what was going on. The ball was being tossed from player to player but then that player would get pounded into the ground and the next player, white or blue would pick up the ball and run. Men from opposing teams were tackling and fighting all over the field while referees were trying to break up the major punch throwing also going on.

A couple of times during the match, a stretcher made its way onto the field, but no one on the field even noticed. The game continued on as a member of the white team was carried off the field in agony. The gruesome game went on for about 50 minutes and by the time it was over I had to sit down for a good 10 minutes and take in what I had just witnessed. Nothing like that would ever be played in the United States.

The event was more than just a game and some hitting; it was a major symbol for

Italy and city of Florence and the specific neighborhoods playing in the match. The blue team ended up dominating the white team and I even saw one of the blue team members crying to one of his buddies. I was in awe that a man of his size was getting emotional over something like this, but it just made me realize how much nationalism and pride went into this one game. People from Florence and even people from all over Italy take pride in this event and have for centuries.

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/sport/soccer-origins.asp

http://www.aboutflorence.com/folkloristic-in-Florence.html

(Map of where the Piazza di Santa Croce is located)

Lion, Tigers, and Gladiators...Oh My!

I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel Europe the past six weeks. I have learned to navigate trains, buses, discount airlines and hostiles. I have also learned that things don’t always go as planned and last minute flexibility is an important aspect of the traveling Europe, the worlds most important tourist region. For my last weekend traveling Europe, my friends and I agreed that Italy would be the perfect final destination.

When I first arrived in Rome I could not help but think about everything I have learned over the summer about the Roman Empire. I was standing in the city that was the beginning and end of the Roman Empire, which ruled Europe for over one thousand years. I will admit Rome was exhausting sharing the sidewalks and streets with 2.8 million locals along with thousands of other tourists. However, the museums, medieval churches, ancient temples, and amazing Baroque fountains were worth the long lines, crowds, and some of the strongest body odors I had ever smelled! I enjoyed each place I visited in Rome, but I believe the Colosseum symbolized the ancient city.

When I arrived at the Colosseum, I couldn’t believe I was finally looking at the famous landmark of the eternal city. The structure was enormous and made every other ruin in Rome look dwarfed in comparison. Within seconds of arriving at the Colosseum, my friends and I were approached and asked if we wanted a tour in English. Besides information from our Baedekers we did not know much about this important Roman ruin so we decided to join the tour.

The Colosseum is an amphitheatre located in the center of Rome. It was built on a site of an artificial lake and was part of a massive park. Construction started around 72 AD under the reign of the Emperor Vespasian and was completed by the emperor Titus in 80 AD. It was built in the heart of Rome, as a gift to the people of Rome by the Emperor because he realized he was elected and ruled by the consent of the people. The Colosseum was the largest structure built in the Roman Empire. It is 188 by 166 meters with a height of 48 meters and was and continues to be famous for its Roman architecture style. I also learned that the current name of the amphitheater came from the nearby Colossus statue of Nero, which no longer stands by the structure because it was probably melted down for its bronze after Nero’s reign.
Once I was standing inside the structure, it seemed even larger than it did from the outside. I felt as if I were melting standing in the Colosseum in the hot summer sun I couldn’t imagine being part of the 50,000 spectators crowed in the Colosseum to watch the bloody battles. The large size was necessary for large and growing city during the rise of the Roman Empire. Emperors used the Colosseum to entertain the public. The floor no longer exist so I could see all of the underground passages and brick cells that once held animals keeping them without food or water for weeks. I could also see platforms that were used to bring the animals to arena level where they were set free to attack other animals and human slaves. Gladiator competitions were also popular fights that ended in blood and death. After gladiator contests were outlawed sometime around 438 AD, the Colosseum was used for several different purposes in the centuries that followed. By the renaissance era the theatre was being used as a quarry to supply the stones from the structure to renaissance buildings around the city of Rome.

After visiting the Colosseum it was evident that even though only a small portion of the structure still exists, the Colosseum is Rome’s most recognizable classical building. I am very glad we decided to take a tour because if we had not we would have been taking pictures of ruins we knew very little about. I can see why this amazing structure is one of the 7 Wonders of the World!

I would highly recommend an English tour of the Colosseum. The following link has has several different options of tours. http://www.viator.com/Rome/d511/the-colosseum?pref=02&aid=g1999

The Flavian Ampitheater Exposed

Over the centuries, Rome has been the most influential city in shaping political and economic powers in the world. Dating back to 753 BC, the intense and overwhelming history is difficult to fully comprehend. While visiting this world city I was hoping to see and experience this history through the ruins, monuments, and urban landscape. While there is not a shortage of sites to see, there was a shortage in time. In realizing this unfortunate reality, I would advise visitors to write down their top sites to see and leave the other sites for a future return trip. Once you’ve narrowed your list, it’s time to finally see the Colosseum you saw in Gladiator or the Pantheon you learned about in history class Our first must-see stop was the gem of Rome; the Colosseum. We could see it at the end of the main street standing tall and proud. It was just as you see in magazines; the skeleton of a famous amphitheater with architraves that have witnessed countless battles, dramas, and reenactments. The worn pale grey stone ellipse decorated with layers of round arches, engaged columns and string course all fit together like one large tiered architectural cake. This architectural spectacle built in the 1^st century AD exemplifies the power, skill, and growth of the Roman Empire. The geographical landscape was ideal due to the flat ground snug between 2 hills. Originally there was a lake made around the structure to accentuate the site. The lake was later filled in and developed. Streets form an organic radial star around this monument and other major structures such a

s the Arch of Constantine, Foro Romano, and Domus Aurea. This shows that even today, this powerful structure continues to stand its ground between the grid of the busy streets filled with tour buses and vespas. The Colosseum was not only site to entertainment and public social status during Roman times, but also held religious significance. Only a hundred yards away from the Colosseum stands the Arch of Constantine; erected in 315 AD as a symbol of Constantine’s end to long history of Christian persecutions. The location of the arch says a lot about the importance of location and the significant ties it has to buildings and their past. The Arch of Constantine is a symbol of peace and religious relief, standing next to the Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum); site of countless Christian executions. It is interesting to think about why the Colosseum is today one of the most recognizable symbols of Rome and Italy. Why do 3.9 million people visit it each year? Is it to see where thousands died painful, bloody deaths? Is it to see where Christians were burned at the stake? Is it to appreciate the architecture and structural qualities? Or is it to check another major attraction off your bucket list? I think it’s unknown for many until they actually visit. You can’t fully get the appreciation or understanding for such a masterpiece such as the Colosseum until you have visited it. Even more incredible is the broader view of other famous monuments and ruins Rome has to offer. Just in this one example of the Colosseum, one can see how complex its history and influence is. By visiting other famous landmarks in this city one can slowly piece together Roman history and revisit its past. The Flavian Amphitheater is the centerpiece of Roman history and world influence that has lasted for centuries and continues to be an international icon for Rome. Visiting these landmarks gives one an even greater appreciation for travel and opportunity to experience such wonders.

Useful sites:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/colosseum_01.shtml

http://www.roman-colosseum.info/index.htm

http://www.the-colosseum.net/idx-en.htm

http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/colosseum.htm

Think I can- Vatican

The long weekend of travel to Italy turned out to be one of my favorite European visits to date. With five days of amazing travels to Venice, Florence, and Rome, the trip was full of sightseeing and beautiful scenery. After looking back on Italy, I realize that one of the most interesting parts of Italy for me was Vatican City.

Arriving at Vatican City on a hot Saturday afternoon, my group was just happy to finally get some relief from the torturous heat. We felt that the Vatican Museum would be extremely interesting and of course air conditioned. After just a few minutes of walking from our bus location to the museum, we were approached by several English speaking tour guides that promoted various tour options to us. We decided that after a day of heat and bus travel, the two hour tour that one guide had offered would be our best option. After the decision was finalized and our $35 fee paid, we trudged up the hill behind the Vatican Museum to a back entrance with our tour guide. Our tour guide was a tall dark haired American man that looked to be in his mid 30’s. Right from the start, he began guiding us through various museum galleries and continually talked nonstop with a sort of enthusiasm I had to admire.

In one of the outer gardens we stopped to talk about Vatican City in greater detail. Before the information was given, I thought of Vatican City in terms of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. To me, it was a simple location that held famous historical elements of Rome’s past. I never really thought of it as a sovereign city state with its own national identity. I quickly learned from the information given that Vatican City goes far past the museums and churches tourists are drawn to. Physically, Vatican City is surrounded by tall brick walls and spans for around 100 acres. Located on the Western side of Rome, Vatican City has its own government, military, and even a specialized currency. Governmentally, the city is set up as a monarchial society with the head of state being the Pope. Under the Pope, high Catholic clergymen are appointed governmental positions to carry out executive and legislative matters. In addition to governmental autonomy, Vatican City employs its own military defense, the Swiss Guard. Founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, the Swiss Guard was originally hired to act as body guards to the Pope. Prerequisites for being a guard in Vatican City include being Catholic, male, and Swiss. Today, over 100 guards still serve as the main defensive force in the city. The last quality that makes Vatican City unique is its economy. Being a city based on traditional values, the economy is not commercialized and relies on tourism for financial support (check out how much the U.S. trades with this city: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c4752.html). It contains its own church and has a differentiated form of the euro which depicts the current Pope on one side of the coin. All of these factors make Vatican City a symbol of tradition within Rome (for more info on Vatican City: www.populstat.info/Europe/Vaticang.htm)

Overall, the Vatican is truly a unique City that seems to be preserving traditional values of the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire. As my tour guide discussed the information above, I thought back to the numerous articles we have read discussing nationalism and national identity. Vatican City can be viewed as perhaps one of the most traditional cities present in today’s world. It contains political, religious, and economic entities that set it apart from Italy and Europe in general (Check this interpretation out: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/articles/1042vatican_city.html). People living within Vatican City identify themselves with strong Catholic values and support the Pope led monarch. Likewise, when speaking about Vatican Cities tourist driven economy I thought back to the reading relating to tourism and the shaping of nations. Relying on almost solely tourist purchases, Vatican City is just one more competitor in the tourist market. It shows that even traditional markets can be shaped by tourism.

To future students, my main recommendation would be to splurge on a Vatican Museum tour. Throughout this trip, I have questioned if tour fees are worth paying. For the Vatican Museum, a tour guide is a must unless you know all of the information. Having someone describe to you the history behind the art work makes the museum far more interesting and efficient. In addition, eat a meal in Vatican City so you can witness a bit of what you have just learned. The food is amazing and it is fun to see tourists, Swiss guards, and priests walking intermixed down the streets.

3,000 Euros a Day for Good Fortune

Each and everyday in Rome an estimated 3,000 Euros are tossed into the Trevi fountain with hopes of new romance, good luck and wishes. As the legend tells it one must throw two coins into the fountain for good luck. One must throw them out of their right hand over their left shoulder. Although this seemed cheesy, it was one of the main places that were on my long checklist of “must sees” in the vast city of Rome. When arriving I excepted to gaze at another beautiful fountain full of history and statues and beautiful baroque intricate, incredible monument, which seemed to blend together after two full days in Rome. For a 360 view of the fountain visit this site: http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/trevi.htm Instead I came away with a greater knowledge of the importance of this monument to the great empire of Rome as well as the significance of the technological advance of the aqueduct that makes Rome’s geographical center today. This iconic fountain is located in the small Trevi Square located in the Quirinale District. For a map of this location and further transportation information click on this link: http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/trevi.htm

This fountain is the ending point of the “Aqua Virgo” an aqueduct that was made in 19 BC. This aqueduct brings water all the way from the Salone Springs and supplies water to all the fountains in the historic center of Rome. Aqueducts display the genius of the ancient Romans, these are large structures that basically transport water, a “water road” for more history and construction information: http://www.rome.info/ancient/aqueducts/ Because of this technological advancement this monument was made possible, as well as an empire because of this system of aqueducts Rome was able to transport water and become the urban and large city it is today. Not only does this fountain represent this technological advance of supplying water to Rome but also it shed light to Rome as a place of importance through the elaborate fountain. The fountains many figures also hold meaning it is a two tiered fountain, with Neptune his chariot and his sea horses on the sides you see statues that represent abundance and health. As I contemplated a wish while looking across the vast fountain I also thought to myself, this was built in 400 years ago, they were able to make this that long ago, that’s insane. I looked around at my group of friend who were also thinking hard about their one wish we all got ready to make a wish one by one. As the Ancient Romans did I turned around backwards put two coins in my hand, I closed my eyes tight and clenched my two 10-cent coins.

I thought hard and said my wish to myself I threw my coins effortlessly over my left shoulder in hopes of good luck. They splashed into the fountain, one of the most memorable moments of my adventure to Rome. Heiken states “ From lessons of urban development and prosperity, the Roman people developed the capacity to recognize and manage in a positive way the natural resources of the region. The volcanic terrain, the Tiber River and its complex watershed, the water resources of the central Apennines and surrounding countryside, and the abundant natural materials for construction, roads, and aqueducts have all contributed to the birth, growth and success of Rome.”http://www.google.com/books?hl=de&lr=&id=d0Zk_Vh3J8EC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=Trevi+Fountain&ots=BOOzzc9lgb&sig=oTiYdLvnJuRBB6LWaOxkZ8oCnAY#v=onepage&q=Trevi%20Fountain&f=false This encapsulates the greater meaning of the Trevi Fountain, greater than the legend of good fortune, a legend of the success of an empire through aqueducts.

Bon Appetit!

Italy may be home to

some of the oldest history in all of Europe, but I have to admit, what I was most excited for was the food!

Whether Elizabeth Gilbert is writing about her falling in love with the pasta and gelato, Papa John is bragging about his pizza, or Lady and the Tramp are sharing a dish of spaghetti, we have been raised as an American culture to associate Italy with authentic cuisine. Therefore, my goal of the weekend was to have the most delicious pasta, pizza, and whatever else I could find in Rome or Florence, in my opinion, the ultimate tourist attraction.

As usual, on the train to Florence I was preparing for the weekend by reading the “Let’s Go: Western Europe” travel book. The first subject I flipped to (rather than the sites, museums, or transportation) was the Food section. There I found out that F

lorence is known for bruschetta and gelato… and considering I find anything with tomatoes to be amazing and, well, gelato speaks for itself, I was even more excited for our arrival.

Florence has it all figured out: plant four gelaterias on every block and everyone is bound to get business- or at least that’s how it seemed. As soon as we stepped out of the train station we bee-lined to the gelateria across the street only to

find it packed with the every other tourist from the train station. Clearly we are pretty obvious about our desires in Italy, because everything was written in English at each gelateria, and we never came across a non-English speaking worker. This solidified the fact that the Duomo, Academia, and Roman ruins weren’t the only tourist attractions Italy has to offer.

Then for dinner we put all of Italy’s, and especially Florence’s, traditional cuisine to the test. First (and what I still think of as the best) thing for me to eat (after the gelato,

which is in a league of its own) was Bruschetta al Pomodoro (grilled bread soaked in oil and garlic topped with tomatoes and basil). The tomatoes were bright red, and the entire combination of bread, olive oil, and tomatoes tasted fresher than I could have imagined. No wonder tourists craved Italian cuisine and the media has inflated these historical traditions- it was amazing! I savored every piece of tomato in hopes to make the appetizer last long enough until my dinner came.

Needless to say I indulged in gelato twice a day four days straight (literally) and had bruschetta with every dinner, and I don’t regret a single bite. But I will say, that the hype of the Italian dishes was kind of crazy, and really made me wonder how Italy (specifically Florence) became known for its gelaterias and bruschetta dishes. I found out that although gelato is adored and enjoyed throughout Europe, it is especially famous in Florence because the inventor of the desert, the Buontalenti family, is Florentine. Therefore, the Florentines take this history very seriously and claim the delicacy as their own- proven by the abundance of gelaterias throughout the city.

And although it may seem obvious, pasta and tomatoes are a cultural norm for Italians because of their geography and history. It used to be that the Italians only ate and produced according to the resources they had access to and also according to their funds. Pasta was an inexpensive dish that could be eaten with meat in order to appease an appetite without spending a fortune on the meal. The olives and tomatoes that are present in almost every dish are so ripe and fresh because they grow in the perfectly in the Italian climate- therefore the locals always have access to these ingredients. It is because of the spread by word of mouth, media, and photography that these traditions have spread globally and made Italy an eating capital of the world. So while I found the David to be extraordinary and the views from the Duomo breathtaking; it is the authentic Flortine cuisine that brought me to Italy. After seven weeks of travel I have definitely learned that it’s not just monuments, museums, and landscapes that will bring me to a country- but also the food and deserts!

Venice Tourism

This past weekend I was a tourist to the extreme. With large ambitions of seeing the most I could during my last travel time here in Europe, I choose to travel to two of the most frequently visited countries by tourists: Italy and France. During my last weekend here I managed to see some of the most iconic monuments and images within Europe. Going to Rome, Venice and Paris, I tried to see everything those cities had to offer, in a very short amount of time. My overall favorite city I went to had to be Rome, but I’m extremely happy we stopped in Venice even if it was just for the night.

We took the train from Rome to Venice Friday morning, which is about a four hour-long train ride. This was an experience all its own; little did we know we were getting on a fast-train and needed reserved seats so the whole four hours we kept having to find new seats, since no where did it say where the reserved seats were. So, words of advice: make sure you buy tickets before getting on the train to avoid seat hoping for four hours.

Once arriving in Venice we unintentionally did what everyone told us to do, get lost. We quickly found out that our hotel was located on the island part of the city and the only way to get to it was by boat or foot, so we took off walking. The city of Venice is made up of 117 islands, formed by 177 canals and connected by 455 bridges. The city is also divided into six main areas known as: Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, San Marco and Castello. Are hotel was close to the train station and the main taxi area in the Santa Croce region. During our visit we mainly stayed in this area, but I would have loved to have more time to explore the city.

During our mere twelve-hour or so visit we did what most tourists do, we took a gondola ride, shopped, ate gelato and Italian food. Today Venice’s main economy is based on tourism. In an article from the New York Times called, “Vanishing Venice: A City Swamped by a Sea of Tourists” written by Elisabetta Povoledo, she talks about how tourism is taking over the city of Venice. She mentions that within the last year about 15 million to 18 million tourists have visited Venice within the last year and on some days tourists out number the residents. While in the city most of the people that we saw were tourists all doing the same things we were. The four of us did the number one tourist attraction in Venice and that was taking a gondola ride. Our server at dinner gave us a nice tip and told us that they will say the price is around 1oo to 150 Euros, but to make sure you lower the price to 80 Euros. After doing what our server had said we all had to pay a mere 20 Euros for about a forty-five minute ride down the Grand Canal and through some of the smaller side canals.http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/world/europe/01venice.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=venice%20tourism&st=cse

Another main thing we ended up doing while in Venice is shopping. We all knew Italy is known for their leather so most of us ended up buying a purse or a wallet. All of us also bought Murano glass that we found in every shop we walked into. This glass comes from the Venice island Murano and is one of the main things to purchase while in Venice. Another item you will see in every shop are masks. I didn’t understand them at the time but I guess if you go during Carnival these masks will make more sense to you (Carnival starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday).

After visiting Venice there are plenty of other places I wish I could have gone within the city, mainly St. Mark’s Basilica and the Piazza San Marco. However, I think I would have been more upset if I didn’t get to see the Eiffel Tower while in Europe, spoken like a true tourist, I know.

Sovereign State Within a City

When I started planning my trip to Rome I knew I wanted hit the main sites. This included the Trevi Fountain, Coliseum, Roman Forums, Arch de Constantine, the Pantheon and the Vatican City. I knew this would be tough since I only planned to be there for less then two days. We quickly discovered that Rome is a relatively small city and as we wandered through the narrow ally ways it seemed that just about every time we turned a corner there was something to see. It almost became a natural feeling to stumble upon the Trevi Fountain or hang out at the Spanish Steps without thinking ‘wow, I am in Rome!’ There is definitely no need to take any kind of metro or bus from place to place and I feel like this would limit what all there is to ‘run into.’

Our trip to Vatican City was a little different. It requires some strategic planning like what to wear and when to go to avoid mass crowds. I thought

Vatican City was a very interesting even without knowing anything about the politics of this place. All I was familiar with was that the Pope lives there and I needed to go see St. Peters Basilica. The area was truly beautiful. The street leading to the city with the site of the basilica in the distance and the overwhelming size of the pillars surrounding the plaza are a site to see. After waiting in a short 15 minute line we were required to cover our shoulders and pull down what we already thought were our long enough skirts to enter the St. Peters Basilica. Just simply entering the church is breathtaking! The architecture of the building is impressive as is the art on the walls and ceilings. St. Peters tomb in the center of the church is a gorgeous combination of woodcarvings and gold. Experiencing this important city meant a lot more to me after I left. It started as just a visit to a landmark not knowing anything about it. As we were leaving Leah just mentioned, “isn’t it neat that Vatican City is pretty much its own country?” I was kind of surprised by that since I had no idea and thought it was a city within Rome and part of Rome. I asked Leah what exactly she meant by this. She didn’t know much other than it is the only place where there are Swiss guards and they have another currency in addition to the Euro. This information intrigued me and made me want to further research it.

Vatican City was founded after the signing of the Lateran Pacts between the Holy See and Italy in 1929. (The Holly See is the universal government of the Catholic Church and operates from the Vatican City). This treaty makes Vatican City its own sovereign State with a central government that consists of the Pope and the departments that assist him. For example, the Pope’s bodyguards, Pontifical Swiss Guards, are the last of the old-school mercenaries and have been the army of the Vatican for over 500 years. These guards are still trained and combat ready although there are only about 130 or so men as of 2003. These men guard the five entrances to the city. When I saw these guards it was almost hard to take them seriously as trained military men. Their uniforms consist of bright red, yellow and blue puffy suits and matching helmet and socks.

The geography and territory of the Vatican City is also a very important aspect of what makes the city its own State. The city covers about 100 acres with a population of 800 people and includes a front square, Basilica, gardens and museums all of which is surrounded by a distinct territory. The surrounding wall that stretches into St. Peter’s Square marks the outer boundary as well as the international protection of the territory.

After reading so much about the Vatican City it would be really neat to go back. I feel like I went there just to see it and didn’t really get that much out of it. Although I enjoyed walking around St. Peter’s Basilica and have beautiful pictures there was so much more I could have done. While researching I found a list of about 19 different museums, which included the famous Sistine Chapel, and pictures of the Vatican gardens and other palaces. I had spent a total of 30 minutes walking around the Basilica and the square and wondered why people said going to Vatican City was almost a day trip, now I understand why. For future traveler, my advice is look into the Vatican City BEFORE you go so you know what all is there and what to see.

This website is great for more information on just about everything you need to know about Vatican City

"This is the Goddess of the Mini-Skirt" - Vatican City

A visit to Italy wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Vatican City, situated on the Vatican Hill in west-central Rome. It is an urban area and the population of the place is approximately 932. The languages spoken by the people of Vatican City are Latin, Italian, French and English, even though the current Pope nicknamed Papa Benedicto is originally from Germany. It is hard to fathom that Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state in the world at 110 acres because it houses the Pope who is the head of the Catholic Church, the most practiced religion in the world. The Pope has many other titles and duties. He is the bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, patriarch of the West, and the sovereign of Vatican City. The pope also creates cardinals, names saints and intervenes in disputes between the Vatican and local bishops. If you couldn’t tell by now, Pope Benedict XVI is kind of a big deal with lots of responsibilities. This is why I was so ecstatic to see the Pope pass me by in his Mercedes Macbeth and army of police while I was grabbing some Southern-Italian style pizza across from The Apostolic Palace where the Pope resides. I literally had to rub my eyes and blink twice just to make sure this was real life.

After I overcame my initial shock of seeing the Pope, I began to search for a representative of a travel agency offering tours inside the Vatican. Before walking a block, a nice yet quiet Italian man sold me on his agency that offered a student discount of 5 Euros. He escorted me to the headquarters of the travel agency around the city wall of the Vatican that was constructed to protect the Pope from any outside attacks. I booked a three hour tour for 40 Euros.

The tour was spoken in English and Spanish by probably the most stereotypical Italian man. He talked with his hands and emphasized every syllable of every word. Sometimes he would just at an ‘a’ at the end of words. Then there was his sense of humor that reminded me of my grandfather’s humor. For example, before we started to walk towards the Vatican, there was a picture of Vatican City and Rome outside the agency. On the map was a Pagan church that was converted into a Catholic Church. My tour guide said anyone can convert a Pagan church into a Catholic one by adding a cross to the building. For another example of his sense of humor, we were looking at a picture of the Last Supper inside the courtyard of the Vatican and our tour guide ask, “What was the last thing Jesus said at the Last Supper?” So I volunteer my input and say, “this is the body of Christ, the Blood of Christ…” and then he cuts me off and makes me feel like I am a bad Catholic and says, “look at all the people at the table, Jesus asked for separate checks.” Also, when I told him my family descended from Rome and Naples, he paused for a second, shook his head in agreement and said “sounds like a good cocktail”. Then, he was always trying to hook me up with one of the Australian guys on our tour. This man was a character.

Looking back on the tour, I am not sure if I even learned anything about the Vatican except St. Peter’s Basilica is the tallest dome in the world at 452 feet. Honestly, I was satisfied with his jokes because the Vatican is full of too much history for me to understand without watching a few documentaries on the History Channel or something rather. I really went to see the spectacular Sistine Chapel which was painted by the famous sculptor (not painter) Michelangelo. The guards in the Sistine Chapel are very strict and do not allow any pictures to be taken or noise. However, I was able to sneak in a picture because my tour guide demanded that everyone took one knowing it would be breaking a rule. Of course the guards saw some of us take the pictures and ran over to our group and forced everyone who they saw snap a picture delete it. Then, no surprise, my tour guide starts yelling at the guards in Italian that he told us not to take a picture and we all didn’t listen. Once the guards left, he whispered in my ear that these guards were new and normally they don’t care.

All in all, I wished I spent more time in Rome. The Vatican at least takes a half day and there are so many other museums that I wanted to see. My tour guide referred to the Vatican as a plague because it is all anyone visits when they come to Rome, while the city is full of hidden gems.

For the history on St. Peter's Basilica, check out this link: http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/sanpietro.htm For more information on the tour I took, check out this link: http://www.vaticantour.com/ For an article on Pope Benedict XVI election, check out this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7523254/ Finally, here is a map of Vatican City:

Crawling into Trouble

For the last weekend of travels, we decided to go to Italy and visit Venice, Florence and Rome. By this time in the trip I feel like I have gotten a good sense of the tourist traps and schemes. These traps seem to normally be found around major monuments, main train stations, and sometimes even hostels. This was especially apparent in Rome as we visited the Coliseum, Spanish steps, and Vatican. We were constantly being nagged about doing tours, skipping the lines and trying to sell you on pub-crawls. These people would trick you because most of them are either British or American so they speak perfect English and makes it hard for you to play the “what, I don’t understand” language barrier excuse. When traveling everyone is always in a hurry and looking to hear the cheapest amount, when they won’t realize all the options and what is actually worth your money. One of the more common tourist trap that I have experienced are the pub crawls. They have been at all the cities that we have visited, they know exactly their customers, for they stand outside major tourist attractions and approach the big groups of Americans wearing the backwards baseball caps, shorts, college t-shirts, and maps in hand. As we were approached at the Coliseum, we were first taken back for they came out of nowhere and didn’t even have flyers in his hand. He then pulled out a hand full of flyers and he went into trying to sell us that pub-crawl. He said what all the others said “only 20 Euros, with 1 hour of unlimited drinks, a free shirt, will be taken to 5 exclusive clubs with no cover” all of which when said together and in a new city with absolutely no idea where to go at night sound like a pretty sweet deal. He gave us his name and then quickly disappeared. When we got back to our hostel from our day of travel we asked the front desk about which pub crawl she would suggested, she quietly said “ they don’t go on anymore”. We were confused. After doing some research and asking another person, I found out that pub crawls were illegal in Rome since May 26, 2010 due to a death of a drunk man who was walking on the edge of the bridge and fell off, wearing a pub crawl shirt. This all started to make sense to me now, why the man at the coliseum was being more restrictive when handing out flyers. Rome has been trying to cut down the drinking of tourist, along with littering and loud noises when also passing this law. Getting back to Luxembourg I looked up more about these restrictions of pub crawls. There seems to be a large increase of alcoholism in Italy, both of native Italians and tourist, mostly mentioning, British, Irish, Australian and Americans. Judging from the flyers that they hand out it is very obvious that they are geared specifically towards Americans, seeing uncle sam and lure of beer pong. The idea that the younger generation is going from the past Italian culture of drinking wine with dinner and never being drunk in public, to binge drinking and needing to get drunk. Pubs and clubs are starting to advertize to this market, giving deals for drinks, having more of a British pub feel. The pub-crawls are doing the exact same, with their deals of free entrance and unlimited drinks; it is now attracting more locals. In Rome there is now a bigger concern about teenage alcoholism and the general idea of what drinking is about. The government and adults that are concerned are claiming that the urge to party and binge drink is coming from the British and Australians, who have different cultural views on alcohol consumption. Having learned about the combining of social identity in geography, the idea that Britain’s culture is now affecting the Italian culture shows how European as a whole with the freedom to travel around so easily, is also making it easier for people to see what else is out there, travel around and do pub-crawls, and adapt to what other teenagers are doing. Rome, being one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world, is ironically struggling with the tourist that they are collecting income from. The constant flood of young tourist that are traveling abroad and coming to Rome, is also causing them corruption of their culture along with legal matters, such as the pub crawl restriction. Rome's concern about binge drinking and their culture being influenced by others, might begin to show up more in other european countries, for many Americans have already clumped European culture together as a whole as being a drinking culture, when many of these countries, although their drinking age is lower, is not always about drinking and partying, but the alcohol is weaved in with their everyday life and to enjoy dinner.

http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/factsheets/harm_ukeu.pdf

Some Wishes Don't Come True

Prior to departing for our last weekend excursion (destination: Italy) I was told that there were many attractions that I had to see and several foods that I couldn’t leave without trying. Some of the tourist attractions included the Spanish Steps, the Duomo, and the Vatican, but the one that seemed most appealing to me was the Trevi Fountain, so I decided to do a little research before getting onto the plane in Brussels.

From the research I did I found that the Trevi Fountain is the most famous and possibly the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. It is an impressive monument that dominates the Trevi square in the Quirinale District and brings in thousands of tourists each day. Aside from the obvious, I also learned at http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/trevi.htm that the fountain is the ending part of the Aqua Virgo. It brings water 20 kilometers from the Salone Springs and supplies the fountains with water. It was built in 1732 and commissioned by Pope Clement XII. Nicola Salvi, the architect commissioned to do this painting, based his design off of a design by Bernini that had been halted a century earlier. After 30 years, the fountain was completed in 1762. The central figure of the fountain is Neptune riding a chariot pulled by two horses. The differing personalities of the horses (calm and restive) represent the fluctuating moods of the sea. The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea and legend holds that if you throw a coin in the water you will return to Rome ( but only if you toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain). The fountain consists of unique Baroque architecture. With all of this in mind I packed my bag and headed for my final destination: Rome.

On our first day in Rome, we decided to squeeze in as many sight-seeing activities as we could so that we could save most of the second day for the Vatican. So at 8:00 AM on Friday morning we woke up well rested and ready for a big day that would end with tired feet and unforgettable memories. We were able to see the Colesseum, the Spanish Ruins, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain. After a long day of walking and filling my find with historical facts the fountain was a perfect way to end the day because the peaceful flow of water and the magnificent architecture of the monument created an ideal combination of not only a tourist attraction, but also one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

Hundreds of people gathered on the seats that surrounded the fountain simply admiring the view and trying to take it all in. Because it was the end of the day and we had seen everything that we wanted to see that day we decided to join the crowd and relax amongst a sea of tourists. However, I immediately proved my own theory wrong when I realized that this fountain not only attracts tourists, but Roman locals, as well. Some sat in the crevices of rocks reading while others decided to show off this incredible monument to their friends and family. This showed me that just because it is a huge tourist attraction does not mean that is doesn’t create a sense of nationalism for the local people.


However, while I had my back turned to the fountain with my eyes closed and a coin in my hand ready to toss I heard a loud splash. I knew that it couldn’t have been my tiny penny that had made such a noise, so I immediately turned around in time to see that someone had thrown a coke bottle full of thick red paint into the center of the fountain. From the rapid chatter that I heard around me I knew that my reaction had been similar to others. Who would do such a thing? My friends and I scanned the crowd, looking for a snickering teenager or a stealthy local, but to our dismay we came up empty handed. Policeman showed up just minutes later and began roping off the main area as the fountain keeper frantically tried to use a rag to keep the rocks from staining red. Shortly after that the fireman appeared with power hoses and high tech equipment, but it seemed too late.



As we discussed our own theories and compared ours to others around us, we came to the decision that it had to have been a crazy local trying to cause a scene or a terrible tourist who did not understand the significance of this historical monument. Out of further curiosity, I searched the internet for more information and found on http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jJvt0bbVwOeGG-FUxLEM4NHuq-Tw that investigators believe that this act was a repeated attempt of a 2007 stunt when a guerrilla artist turned all of the water blood-red. Apparently, the artist called the act “futurist” in reference to the art movement of 1909. This same man also covered the Spanish Steps with colored plastic balls in 2008. From the article I also learned that because the Trevi Fountain is one Rome’s best-known landmarks, that it is a magnet for attraction-seeking stunts. It didn’t seem a surprise that something so drastic as turning the fountain red might happen. Another man that has been called into question is a man that is known by “D’Artagnan” who has repeatedly climbed on top of the fountain after trying to steal coins thrown in by tourists. This news was so intriguing to me because I really couldn’t believe that someone would do such a horrible thing.

After witnessing the Trevi Fountain being vandalized I realized that this monument was more than simply a popular tourist attraction. It is a representation of the politics of Rome and an imagined community in itself. People may come together for a common goal that includes seeing all that the Trevi Fountain has to offer, but ultimately there are certain individuals that have a hidden agenda and may do the unexpected. This in itself brings people together because whether we identify ourselves as first timers or native peoples no one wants to watch a historical landmark being ruined.