Buongiorno, Studenti di San Antonio!
As spring blooms into action, UT San Antonio’s College of Liberal and Fine Arts students abroad make their way on a final extended trip before returning to Texas. The class visited the Amalfi Coast this week where they enjoyed the seaside cities of Pompeii, Sorrento and Naples. Each of these destinations have their own vibrant personalities, which allows for a variety of tropical experiences.
The first stop on the Amalfi Coast was the beautiful cliffside city of Sorrento. The lively streets of this city were lightened by the aromatic wisteria plants and the sweetly scented lemon trees. Wandering through this city was blissful during the day and at night. There are many different activities to take part in while in Sorrento, ranging from eating an artisanally crafted sandwich on a cliffside or exploring other hidden gems like Bagni Regina Giovanna — a beautiful cove on the coast. Those who strayed away from the beaten path discovered one small beach, which glistened with sea glass, and another that offered an enchanting view of Mount Vesuvius’ silhouette by night.
In Pompeii, COLFA students learned about the tragic history caused by the massive volcano known as Mount Vesuvius. The ancient city became trapped in time when volcanic ash swept over the archaeologically preserved area, killing nearly 2,000 people. A tour guide named Paolo told COLFA students the history of Pompeii as if it were never lost to time, encouraging all to picture the tourists in the ancient city wearing sandals and simple cloth garments. He requested that everyone look at the buildings with vivid imagination, asking all to wonder what the buildings would look like if they were wholly structured and painted. This perspective brought this city back to life, allowing students to realize what an important center of commerce this city once was. Every house and every community center held great meaning when looking at Pompeii through this lens.
The final city visited by UT San Antonio students abroad was Naples. This busy place is crowded with people from all over the world, which makes it somewhat comparative to New York City. The culture here is present through the street foods, the busy sidewalks and religious viewpoints. Naples alone has 54 patron saints, more than any other Italian city. The main patron saint of Naples is San Gennaro, who is still an active part of today’s society. In the Duomo di Napoli, San Gennaro’s blood is stored, which is known to liquify three times a year by some miracle. It is believed that if the saint’s blood does not liquify when it usually does, something terrible is going to happen in the city.
On the upcoming Thursday, the class of COLFA students will visit their final destination for this trip abroad: Assisi! Keep up with academics abroad by following @lettersfromurbino on Instagram.
Alla prossima, Studenti. Ciao!
