On one of our off days from the program activities, our group decided to travel to Cinque Terre, a series of five towns along the Italian Riviera. We took a train from Florence and got off at the second town to the east. As we hiked west we walked along paths through brush with the Ligurian Sea left. The steep cliffs with the towns atop them made this area arguably the most scenic of all the places I traveled to this summer. When we got to the one town that was actually at sea level, Monterosso Al Mare, we were greeted with white sand beaches and rocks along the shoreline. The town was only about a mile long, but had plenty of activities from shopping to water sports. However, in the heat of summer we decided to grab some drinks and relax by the waves. The amazing part of this excursion to the riviera is that the scenery gave off the impression of it being a tropical island of some sort, but the area is located at almost 45 degrees North. The maritime influence allow for the area to become a tourist haven during the summer months with its sea breezes as the rest of the region braves the heat.
One of the most romantic and fascinating cities in the world, known for its canals and gondolas is becoming infamous for what makes it so unique. It is one of the largest cities in the world that for the most part does not have any cars. With the exception of the area around the bus station, the city is void of streets as people use boats and their feet to navigate. Areas of the city where the sidewalks and squares aren't significantly raised above the water are extremely susceptible to flooding, especially when boats pass by. The rise of the water in the canals and the lagoon is the result of modern industrial projects such as the railroad bridge to the mainland as well as melting sea ice. The geography of the city in the Laguna Veneta is such that because of the opening to the east, between the two barrier islands to the northeast and southeast of the island, water can easily funnel in and cause flooding issues. Another issue is that the sediments the city is built are still compacting after thousands of years causing buildings to become increasingly susceptible to the water.
This gallery located in a nondescript part of north Florence contains one of the most famous sculptures in the world. The statue of "David" by Michelangelo attracts thousands of visitors annually alone, not including his other great sculptures. No matter the what the weather is outside people brave the long lines to the amazing Renaissance Era masterpieces inside. The works of art in the Accademia show of how talented and rich Italian culture is, at least in the form of art.
The actual marble sculpture of David by Michelangelo
Perched atop a hill on the south side of the Arno River, Piazza Michelangelo is a famous square with spectacular views of the historic architecture of Florence. The piazza was built in the late 19th century during a time of urban renewal in the city to provide people with a panoramic view. It pays homage to the great sculptor with several replicas of his great works including the David, although these are not in the original marble media. The walk up the ramps and stairs leading to the hilltop are a challenge, but well worth it, especially at sunset when the light shines over the Arno. This piazza located in the more contemporary Oltrarno quarter gives locals and especially tourists amazing views of this great city and is arguably a top three destination on a Florence vacation.
A mix of rugby, soccer, martial arts, and wrestling, Calcio Fiorentino or Calcio Storico has been a tradition in Florence for almost 100 years. The matches occur on three different days in June and the participants, mainly ex-cons and the like come from each of the four quadrants of the city. The players do anything they can go score on the opponents' goal, including beating each other senseless. Last year, during this cultural spectacle one of the players was hit in the head and later died, as a result the city decided to cancel the matches this year. While I did not get to witness this gruesome event just hearing about it made me think of the gladiators who used to fight a couple hours away in Rome as it is based off of a version from the Renaissance Era. This event is the only one of its kind still in existence and Florentine's are proud that their city is where it goes down.
The Duomo, or Cathedral Complex at Piazza del Duomo is located at roughly the geographic center of the city and coincidentally the most visited part of this Renaissance city. The building's white, pink, and green marble facade give it the illusion of being a painting as opposed to something 3D. The dome of the building is in the shape of an octagon and boasts an 360 degree observation area above it. The Piazza del Duomo is similar to every other square in Europe with one huge difference. In the center of the piazza is the baptistery, which is also octagonal and is one of oldest buildings in the city.
Just upriver from the famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge lies a sizable break from the foliage lining the river. Several years ago the city decided to make a sandy beach in this spot so locals and tourists alike could relax and enjoy the city views from a unique perspective. One possible reason for putting a beach in this location is that the river narrows at this point and a metal plate and sand bridge was established to slow the flow of water. This allowed people to cross from one side of the city to the other easily and even lay out on the bridge in times of low flow. The beach has an area for volleyball as well as gazebos for shade.
For dinner that night we had another four-course meal that was just as delicious. The meal was accompanied by a description of the different wines that were paired with each course which added to the atmosphere in the small medieval town of Monticchiello. The grapes that are pressed into wine are all locally grown at an elevation of about 1,000 ft. Grapes for both the red and white wines are grown in the area. Temperatures at this latitude and elevation are warmer than at "Poggio Etrusco" and freezing temperatures are less common even though it is in lower than the surrounding area. (lower elevations typically get colder than hilltops in winter because cold air sinks). The vineyards face south meaning they get the most sun towards the heat of the afternoon. The trip to this amazing hilltop town was one I won't soon forget. .
Long known as a dream destination for couples, in part because of its extraordinary array of wines, this part of Italy is both elegant, yet simple. With its rolling hills full of grapes and olives to the hilltop towns of Monticello and Montepulciano the area is truly majestic. Those fortunate enough to visit this region argue that nothing else compares. I recently stayed at a bed and breakfast called "Poggio Etrusco" near Montepulciano (about an hour and a half south of Florence) with a couple, Pamela and Johnny Johns. The couple moved here from Santa Barbara fourteen years ago. Two years later the grape growing began.
They maintain about a thousand square meters worth or well over 400 vines of Sangiovese, which is the main red grape type of Tuscany. The vines face east which allows them to get an adequate amount of sunshine year round. Despite the fact that Tuscany is in the Mediterranean region, the vineyards do experience all four seasons and snow does fall annually as they are located at over 500 m or 1,500 feet in elevation. Even in the hills where convectional rainfall is common in summer, the humidity is usually low which is typical of Mediterranean climates.
Tuscanys` countryside is a haven not just for wine enthusiasts, but couples with the financial resources who are looking for a romantic getaway. The variable microclimates of different elevations and the allure of the landscape make it an exciting destination and a slice of heaven on Earth.
It has been an exceptionally hot and humid week here in the Renaissance city which has made it feel oppresive for residents and tourists alike. The low skyline of the city doesn' t provide much in the way of shade as most buildings are no more than six stories tall as many are at least 200 years old. Unfortunately, residents have to make due without A/C in their homes as energy is exceptionally expensive in this southern European country. Most streets are one way and vespas and bicyclists fly by narrowly missing tourists making the cities' seemingly straight roadways a major hazard for the millions of tourists who visit yearly. While most of the tourists are trek to attractions north of the Arno River, the southern half of the city features lusurious hotels and five star restaurants while giving people a hilltop view of one of the continents most magnificent cities. These tourist attractions have encountered major flooding in recent years as the tyically calm Arno has overflowed its bank disrupting the lives of those along it banks. Despite the heat, humidity, traffic, and incredible number of tourists, the cities` architecture and charm gives those who enter her limits the feeling of being in a time warp. The feeling of being sent back into the Renasissance Era, a time when Firenze was the most important city in the world economically speaking, fills visitosrs with envy ove having to leave and locals pride in that they are privledged to call this home.
Tomorrow I will be departing for the picturesque vineyards of Tuscany. While there I will visit several wine producing areas and speak with vintners about how geographic aspects affect what types of grapes they are able to grow.
My name is Ryan Anshell and I am a traveling throughout Tuscany researching how geographic location affects the selection of different grape types in this region of Italy.