Volterra and Santa Margharita Day!

It's hard to trace my steps back to Volterra when there is so much going on right now! But I didn't tell you very much about our first field trip, so we need to back up a week...

We were herded onto a couple buses at 7:30 Saturday... in the morning... it was rough. But we did what we could and stumbled down the hill for the 2 hour bus ride through the mountains. Along the way, we passed so many small, walled towns, and I wondered why these were significant enough to stop at. But we drove on. Maybe I'll venture there another day. By the time we arrived, a few of us were green from the drive. It was a little twisty and turny, on small roads, in a huge bus. So I was ready for whichever town we were stopping at. 

But it was worth the drive. The city, though in the About Tuscany books sounded exactly the same as Cortona, had a completely different feel. It was great. I believe that more sunshine sneaked through buildings and onto the streets, both wider and better paved than Cortona. The town was bigger in general, with endless cafes (which we call bars here) and shops. But again, we were herded straight to our destination - the Etruscan museum. It was fascinating because, as I mentioned early, this stuff is old. Older than Rome. Older than anything I've ever seen. Without going into a full art history lesson, I'll just say that the cycle of art is amazing. It goes from very detailed and intense, to this fall out in history where there is hardly any art, and if there is art, it isn't very good, and then back to really good again. And I was looking at the first cycle, that the Etruscans were in. Crazy.

The museums were great and worth spending the whole day in, but for my Italian Culture class, our teacher gave us a good tour of the other sites of the city, including an ancient Roman theatre, a walking park that looks over Volterra, and one of the many amazing churches that houses some of the first terracotta pieces (Terracotta was a family name). So enjoy the pictures from Volterra. It was a happy place, though lacking in the enthusiastic Cortonese citizens that love us so dearly here in Cortona. 

Let's jump ahead to today, Friday, and jump back to Cortona. It is a big day today in the city... Santa Margharita Day! Margharita is the patron saint of the city, so everything is closed, including schools, to honor her and her church at the top of our mountain. The whole town (more or less) attended mass this morning, including yours truly. It was intense, but wonderful. I'm posting the pictures that my roommate Bobbi took of the church and festivities, so you can see for yourself how fun this morning was. We snacked on ham sandwiches and some of the treats that were handmade right infront of us. 

As for now though, I have a class in a couple hours and homework to prepare for it. I can't begin to explain how great it has been to visit the monuments and works of art that we've been studying. I'm pro-study abroad all the way, but ESPECIALLY for art history majors. There is nothing like standing infront of the alterpiece that I've studied for years. Thanks to everyone who helped me get here and for supporting me. Enjoy the pictures, and tomorrow I have another busy day with a field trip, so I'll keep you posted. Much love from Italy - Casey