Becoming a Local

I am so grateful to be able to spend time getting to know Florence. These last two weeks I’ve been able to explore outside the city center and see the real city. In addition to my own exploring, Richmond University organized a lot of extracurricular activities and field trips for us students that go beyond the typical tourist experience.

Here are a couple of highlights from the past couple of weeks:

Cooking Class/Pastry Class/ Pizza Class

During the month of September I did a cooking class, a pastry class, and a pizza class. For the cooking and pastry classes, we went to the cooking school inTavola. Our teacher would give split the group up, sometimes making the food from scratch, other times working with prepped ingredients. Each cooking class was completed in under an hour-and-a-half. After we made the food we went under the kitchen to a restaurant-style room where we got to eat our creations! (Don’t worry, they gave us all the recipes!)

For the pizza class, we went to restaurant called Finisterra. We got to see the kitchen and work in the pizza-making station. The cook taught us how to prepare the dough (though I couldn’t master the flip!) and how to properly sauce our pizzas. Once we chose our toppings, the cook popped the pizza into the oven and it was ready in minutes! I would say it was the best pizza I’ve had so far in Italy.

Vespa Museum

With one of my classes we took a field trip to the Vespa Museum! Unfortunately we were not able see the actual factory but we were able to see a myriad of Vespas. Here are a couple of my favorites!

(also fun fact- Vespa means wasp!)

Corri De Vita, Florence

Last Sunday Florence held the Corri De Vita (Walk for Life). People from all over Italy come for a marathon and a noncompetitive 5k to raise money for Cancer Research. With Richmond, I walked in the 5K (wish I could have run it!) Everyone who participated received a Salvatore Ferragamo bright blue tshirt. The 5K took us all throughout Florence, including through the Boboli gardens. I did not take advantage of this, but if you had a Corri De Vita tshirt you could enter any museum for free!

You can see how many people show up for these things!!!

Soccer

Last weekend Richmond University took us to our first soccer game! It was Filorintina vs Milano. Though the game itself wasn’t too exciting (0-0), it was really cool to be at a European soccer game. The stadium is relatively small compared to American football stadium standards. The endzones are comparable to college student sections. People stand the entire game waving flags and singing songs. Richmond University was located in a quieter area, but it was still a fun atmosphere.

Additionally I should mention that I have joined Richmond’s soccer team! We play against other American schools in 30-minute games. Tonight is my first tournament!

Castello del Trebbio

Another field trips took us to the Castello del Trebbio. Castello del Trebbio is a winery and castle located in the Tuscany valley. We got to pick the grapes straight from the vines! Despite being seeded, the grapes were AMAZING. After picking grapes, we toured the castle (which is still occupied by a private family!) and its dungeon that acts as a wine cellar. After the tour, we were treated to a meal prepard by the winery that including some fantastic pasta and wine that Cestello del Trebbio produces.

Running Trails

I love running in Florence because it allows me to explore parts of the city that I would not experience otherwise. It turns out right outside the city center in about any direction you go you can find BEAUTIFUL parks and trails. Within the last couple days I’ve discovered a school, a church and a nature preserve. It looks like Florence would have amazing bike trails too. I see people cycling and wish more than ever that I brought my bike with me (though if I actually did I probably wouldn’t bike at all). I also weirdly miss swimming…? But it is hard to do without other people.