Mantova

Our last Brown orientation trip was to Mantova, Feb. 6.

Located in the South East corner of Lombardia, Mantova is about 70 miles North of Bologna. It was founded by the Etruscans about 2000 BC. The Gonzaga family was very influential in the 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th centuries and was largely responsible for a renovation of the city’s architecture, the effects of which remain to this day.

We first visited the Basilica of Sant’Andrea, considered one of Leon Battista Alberti’s best works. We then moved on to the Palazzo Ducale. For the most part, it has been decided to keep the palazzo’s original lack of central heating intact. Even in winter, tourists can experience a significant drop in temperature as they enter the Gonzaga family residence. After lunch, we took a bus a little ways out of town to see Palazzo Te, the summer home of Frederick II of Gonzaga. He was a man who, judging by the frescos, did not believe that less is more.

Charles Dickens spent some time in Mantova (Mantua, in English) in 1844. He described Mantova as “dreary… intensely dull, and flat.” Who am I to argue with genius?

Verona

The second trip, Jan. 23, was Verona. It is super pretty and has good shopping. Despite the ultra conservative politics—Verona is a huge center for La Legua Norde, or the “Friendly Fascist Fraternity that doesn’t like Southern Italy”—I would love to live in Verona.

Pictures are of letters to Juliet, Juliet's Balconey (orginally a sarcophagus), Verona's Roman Arena, and a piazza.

Ravenna

Our first Brown orientation trip was to Ravenna, Jan. 16.

Ravenna is a small, but important city in Emilia-Romagna. No one is really sure who founded it, probably the Thessalians, Etruscans, or Umbrians. It eventually became Roman and was later conquered by the Ostrogoths, before reverting back to the then Roman-Byzantine government. It is known for the well preserved 5^th century mosaics in its cathedrals and chapels.

Fun Fact: The water table under Ravenna has changed over the past several hundred years. It is currently landlocked, but it used to be very similar to Venice. Like V

enice, the buildings are sinking and some buildings have had flooding issues.

One of my favorite mosaics, Mosaic of the Palace of Theodoric, was commissioned by Theodoric the Great, an Ostrogoth. When the Rome regained control of Ravenna, they changed the mosaics that celebrated Ostrogoths so that they would celebrate only religious or Roman figures. The figures on the mosaic (Theodoric and friends) have been removed, but for some reason the removal was not thorough. There are floating hands on the pillars of the Palace depicted. I like to think that the 5^th century mosaic served as an inspiration for Thing from the Addams Family.

In addition to the mosaics, Ravenna is also the final resting of Dante Alighieri. Florence is unhappy about this and has tried to explain that they only meant to exile Dante while he was alive.

Ciao!

It's a rainy day in Italia so I cancelled my trip to Sienna and decided to update this blog.

The picture is of the lemon meringue pie that Jessica and I brought to a dinner last night. We couldn't find a pie tin anywhere, so we used the square tins. Still tasted good.

Sta Nevicando

It is a winter wonderland here in Bologna. There was a "grande freddo" and Bologna received several inches of snow. Yesterday the sun came out and is still shining. Bologna typically doesn't get very much snow in the winter and is known for being overcast, so these last few days have been odd.

The Brown in Bologna program is winding down, sort of. Ending is probably the more correct term. We had our last history class on Monday and will have our last Italian language class tomorrow. I have oral exams in both and a final paper in Italian.

*The picture of the street was taken right outside of my apartment building.

Il Cibo

The standard lunch break in Italy is two hours long. Businesses (including some restaurants) close from around 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Most people aren't lazy, Italian food is just that good. A traditional meal has an appetizer, a primo piatto (like pasta), a secondo piatto (typically meat), and a dolce (dessert). Sometimes they throw out fruit and cheese after the dessert, and usually serve espresso or cappucino.

Though in America I'm not much of a coffee person, I have come to rely on espresso to help me function after 2 p.m. Caffeine is the only thing that keeps me standing upright when all the blood in my body rushes to my stomach to process the insalata(/pasta/pizza/random pastry that I bought on my walk to class even though I was really full because, let's face it, at that point a dolce con crema wasn't going to make a difference.)

Pictured above:

Grilled vegetables from lunch at a restaurant in Ravenna, Saturday. Italians swap meat with grilled vegetables for the vegetarian secondo piatto.

Fresh tortellini in a fresh tomato sauce, dinner from tonight

Fresh gnocchi in a fresh tomato sauce, dinner from last night

Io Amo...

I am in love and unashamed. The object of my affection is tall, dark, and handsome. Quiet and strong, also willing to carry me where ever I want to go.

Daddy, if you are reading this, I love you very, very much and would like to remind you that I don't own any black boots. A girl only needs one pair, and this pair is way less than 600 Euro.

P.S. Turns out a decrease in jetlag and an increase in homework leads to a less frequently updated blog. I'll add pictures tomorrow.

*Boots pictured are not "my boots."