To the Top of the Duomo

This week for my "Architecture in Italy" class we went on one of our many site visits.  This one happened to be to the Duomo, all the way to the top.  After 463 steps, we made it!

looking down the street to our apt. we back up to the second big green space on the right

class on top of the dome

Cinque Terre!

This weekend we went to Cinque Terre. This translates to the five lands, made up of Riomaggiore, Manarolo, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterossa.  After 2 hour bus trip to La Spezia, we took a train into Riomaggiore.  We were now at the beach and in "Cinque Terre".  We walked from Rio to Manarola which took about 30 minutes.

Starting the walk

Manarola

 After we took pictures we had to get on the train and go to Vernazza.  We had to skip over Corniglia due to flooding that had happened there earlier this month.  Once in Vernazza we started our 3mi hike to Monterossa and the beach we'd be hanging out at.

Vernazza

3 mi hike trail

Monterosa

Wacky Signs of Florence

Part 1

ARCH_410: Design Studio VII

Franco and his Marywood 12

Pisa !

Last Saturday we went to Pisa with school.  We took a tour of the church, baptistery and cemetery.  Line was waay to long for the tower so a picture instead.  It was a quick trip as we were going to Lucca for the afternoon. We got lunch in Lucca and took a bike tour through the city and on top of the old city walls!

Chianti! Wine Tasting

Last friday we took a trip with the school into the hills of tuscany.  After great views and winding roads we made it to Vignamaggio.  This Winery is centuries old and beautiful!  We were lucky enough to get a full tour of the place from the history to harvesting and the whole winemaking process.  After the tour we sat down for wine tasting and a light lunch that was like every other meal here, awesome.

Come on Come on Baby i'm Buyin

Ciao! From Florence

It has been a hectic first few days here for me and all my roommates. Classes jumped right into it before we even knew how to make it to the right building. I am taking a studio class as usual Arch_410 and cannot believe this is my seventh studio class! Along with studio I have; "Architecture in Italy: History and Preservation", "Drawing 101: the Human Figure", and finally "Italian II".  Classes are only Mon-Thurs, so we have the full weekend to travel. I miss everyone! at home but Florence thus far is amazing and I am grateful to be apart of such an experience.  I will update very soon with pictures from last weekends trips!

View off our back balcony

View hanging out of bedroom window