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November 19, 2018

Charlotte Goes Travelling


Instead of the usual Reading Week in Week 6 of term, the Warwick in Venice programme has a Travel Week. Taking advantage of being in Italy, a focal point of much of our studies, we are permitted and encouraged to travel around the country and soak up valuable resources in the architecture, galleries, and libraries of key cities. I had held back visiting a lot of Italy before the programme, so that I could set off to visit Genoa, Florence, Pisa, and Rome with so much more excitement in this week.

Genoa

I set off to Genoa after trudging through the remnants of Venice’s acqua alta to reach the station. I eventually found my B&B for three nights in the city and was happy to find a shared kitchen in the building with facilities where I could make some dinner and save some money on my student budget. It was a mild evening, so I went for a walk around the old harbour, taking in the glittering skyline and the rows of stunning luxury yachts. After watching some Italian TV and enjoying a late morning, I made my way to the Piazza De Ferrari, where I looked longingly in the windows of designer boutiques and admired the Palazzo Ducale and Cattedrale di San Lorenzo. Then, I walked up to the Belvedere Castelletto to get a breathtaking vista of the city. The next day I headed along the Genovese waterfront to the picturesque fishing village of Boccadesse. For my last evening in Genoa, I decided to visit the colourful palaces which line Via Garibaldi, looking at some key paintings, and getting yet another excellent view of the city from the roof of the Palazzo Rosso.

Boccadesse

In the morning I got on a Flixbus service to Florence. Although taking a bit longer than a train, Flixbus is so much cheaper and was really helpful to my purse during Travel Week. When I was all checked in in the heart of Florence, I immediately set about looking at the sights, such as the Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and the Chiesa di Orsanmichele, as well as some lovely Florentine dogs! As it was the first Sunday of the month, I managed to enter the Accademia for free and visit Michelangelo’s David, which is so much more impressive in the flesh.

David

The next day I dedicated to the Duomo complex. First climbing the Campanile, and getting vertigo in the process, and then seeing the Duomo and the Battistero, before finishing the day in the astounding dome structure by Brunelleschi. It really was a day for braving a fear of heights and steep staircases but was undoubtedly worth the trembling. For my final day in Florence, I took a day trip to nearby Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, and the botanical gardens. It was very entertaining to see tourists in various wacky poses all around the cathedral. In the evening, on return to Florence, I visited the Uffizi Galleries, traversing rooms and rooms of renowned masterpieces.

Florence

The next day was another Flixbus to Rome. It was beautifully warm evening when I arrived, so I visited the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna which was bustling with tourists and locals alike. The Trevi Fountain was nearby and was certainly an amazing sight to behold. Waking up to a day of blue skies and sunshine, I started at the Piazza Venezia, and made my way to the Fori Imperiali. I spent so long walking amidst the collections of ruins and got great views of the Colosseum. I finished the day in the bubble and music filled Piazza del Popolo.

Rome

In the morning, I visited the inside of the Colosseum but quickly headed for the Vatican Museums. The museums stretch for kilometres, so I had to make enough time for them. After seeing the famous spiral staircase and the Sistine Chapel, I sat in the Piazza San Pietro. On my last evening of Travel Week before returning to Venice, I went to the top of the Altare della Patria for breathtaking views of Rome.

Vatican

I had an exhausting yet absolutely amazing Travel Week and I am very grateful to the Warwick in Venice programme for allowing and encouraging us to explore Italy and make the most of our time here!


Charlotte Wilson, University of Warwick History Finalist


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