9/27 Vatican, Florence, Opera

The Vatican is a world-renowned attraction for a reason. In spite of being herded like farm animals, through hallways crammed full of people with an assortment of body odors, pushed, shoved, stepped on, and “shhhh’d,” the Vatican is a one-of-a-kind location. If I gave the impression, which I think I did, that the museums I previously spoke of were filled with art, then I must emphasize that the Vatican surpasses them all. With great works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Salvador Dali, and mediums ranging from sculpture, painting, wood carving, tapestries, jewelry, and metal-work, it would be impossible to choose a favorite piece. To my surprise, we were able to get extremely close to the works of art and even more, we were able to take photographs. The Sistine Chapel was very different than I had imagined. Though Michaelangelo’s paintings were faded from aging, lighting, and candle smoke, it was undeniably well executed and a true display of his talent. With the help of Jim Baken, one of our art teachers, we were able to identify two major regions of tension. The first and most well-known was the one inch space between the fingers of Adam and God. The second was between Adam’s foot and the next painted quadrant. Another interesting thing I learned was that Michelangelo began using smaller human figures, which in turn forced him to have to paint more figures to fill the space. As the paintings advance toward the other end of the chapel, the sizes of the figures progressively get larger, which I view as a win-win situation. Michelangelo doesn’t have to paint as many figures, and the viewers can see the images more clearly from the floor. The elaborate decorations did not stop at the chapel, but instead carried on into St. Peter’s Basilica, also in the Vatican square. By the time we reached the basilica, our eyes and minds were just about on overload. It was beautiful with painted narrations, high ceilings, gold embellishments, and an elaborate four-pillared baldacchio (a gazebo looking altar) in the center of the nave. Needless to say, the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica were wonderful examples of “horror vaccui.” (fear of blank spaces)

By taxi, train, and foot, we made our way to Florence. The city is rich in music, art, fashion, and, of course, gelato. From what I have seen thus far, Florence seems to be somewhat less crowded. There are more open spaces that are blocked from traffic. These squares are filled with entertainment, castles, shopping, street vendors, restaurants, and even a beautifully lit carousel. Though you may not have to worry about getting run over by the cars, horse drawn carriages trod their way through the crowds with only a bicycle-style honk and a two second warning. The music never seems to stop, which causes sudden outbursts of foot tapping, dancing, and singing. Our hotel location is centrally located, making sightseeing much more manageable and the entertainment literally only footsteps away. However, the only downside to being located in the midst of the nightlife, is the non-stop crashing of dishes, swells of laughter, opera singing, violin playing, and siren ringing, making earplugs a wise investment. It is indisputable that fashion is a significant staple and quite important to both the locals and tourists. With the clothing prices high, and the American dollar low, window shopping has never looked so good.

The other night I went along with the Moak’s and another student to experience a more local show. Maroon dress, black piano, 1400’s church, intimate setting, seats full, and projection like I have never heard. The opera was AMAZING! With only a pianist and a soprano, the duo put on a tremendous performance. The church was located across the Arno River allowing us to see a different part of the city. Luckily for us, the sun was going down making for a beautiful sunset on the bridge. Lined with shops filled with elegant gold jewelry that illuminates the streets, the bridge is a common attraction and great setting for live music. On the way back to our hotel, we ran into some more entertainment. While lying flat on their backs in the middle of the street, two very talented guitarists were finishing up their gig. Great ending to a great day.