Bridget's Final Blog Post

 I learned so much during my time in Italy. I came into this experience not really knowing what to expect. This trip has taught me so much, and has exceeded my expectations. There were multiple highlights of my trip. The first related to the reading that I did my first blog post on about renaissance art and masculinity. During our second day in Florence we went to the Accademia museum. I have learned a lot about renaissance art in my art history classes, so it was extremely exciting to see those paintings in person, especially seeing how those restorations were being done. I also felt like I learned more about the topic when I was able to teach it to my classmates. Second, we were able to spend quite a bit of time in a small town called Fontecchio. From getting to know the cats in that town, to visiting a sheep and donkey farm, I really enjoyed slowing down and experiencing life there. It was especially interesting due to the fact that we were reading about the environment in Italy during that time, including an article about the sheep farm. Finally, I got to see some things that I had been really wanting to see, including Pompeii, a Etruscan museum and Etruscan architecture in Orvieto,  multiple Triumphal arches that I learned about in my art history classes, and a pyramid built by a wealthy Roman. I also got to pet a ton of cats, multiple dogs, see a gecko and a number of parakeets, crows, and pigeons, and get obsessed with some sheep and donkeys. I also spent a lot of time by the beach in Maiori, which had terracotta that would wash up on its shore (which combined with other ceramics I saw on my trip have inspired many potential ceramics projects next semester). I have also acquired a large amount of chocolate (more than I was expecting).

My favorite fresco at Pompeii.

The pyramid we saw in Rome!

One of the cats I made friends with (specifically at the sheep farm).

The gecko I saw in Rome!

And last but not least the donkeys I made friends with in a village near Fontecchio.