While abroad, I had an almost continuous urge to bounce around to other parts of Italy. However, I decided to conduct myself with wisdom and travel very sparingly. I got to see other parts of Europe during our fall break, but I hadn’t seen much of Italy outside of Rome. And while my wallet is thanking me for that choice, with one week left in Italy I am trying to fit in as much as possible. But still, there remains the final presentations and essays that demand my attention. Of course, I know the importance of finishing the semester strongly, but I also had the urge to explore before I ran out of time. So, I did girl math and figured out a way to combine exploration with productivity. I quickly pulled up the Trainline app (they always have the cheapest tickets) and bought a round-trip ticket from Rome to Florence for $15.
Why, Florence? Because I had a date with Artemisia Gentileschi. Throughout my women and art class, I marveled at her work from its use of color to its social commentary. So, since my final paper was incorporating one of her most famous paintings as well as some sculptures, I decided to see it in person to spark inspiration, of course. The two-hour trip to Florence allowed me to see some much-needed greenery that juxtaposes the stone-covered streets of Rome. I checked a few things off my TikTok bucket list while getting material for my papers.
One of the highlights of my time in Italy has been the abundance of art available to me at every turn. In such a brief time, I have seen artwork that I have previously only ever seen in a textbook or on Pinterest. And while I only had a few short hours in Florence, I enjoyed it wholly and cannot wait to return someday. Traveling within your host country does not always have to be an extravagant, expensive thing, it’s possible to still see plenty of things and still be back home for dinner. Feel free to check out my other post about affordable travel in Italy!
