Goodbye Italy - Lilyanna Reed

Our time in Italy has been absolutely amazing and such a unique experience I wouldn't trade for anything. We saw so many things in our three weeks here and I would very much love to come back some day to see more. 

My absolute favorite place was definitely Florence because of the beautiful artwork done by famous artists like Michelangelo and Botticelli in the Renaissance period. The Birth of Venus and Primavera were such memorable pieces and showcased the brilliant artworks of the time, and were located in such a beautiful building it made it hard to leave the city after only three days.


Another of my favorite locations was the Amalfi Coast with its stunning views and surplus of lemon themed souvenirs. While in the town of Amalfi, we went to a paper making museum where we learned about one of the oldest factories in Europe dating back to the 13th century and continuing its legacy by teaching visitors how to make paper using their centuries old techniques.

On the very same coastline we went to Pompeii, where we learned about the ancient city and its subsequent burial after the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius. One thing that really surprised me was that surrounding cities never really forgot about the city and were just waiting for the funds and motivation to dig it up for the following centuries. This is because Pompeii was a much more important city than I thought, known as a hub for trade and travel in ancient Greece, often visited by important people and politicians.


The last of my favorite places was Venice with its vast network of canals and expansive history as a trade city, home to Marco Polo and his family in the 13th and 14th centuries. The views were absolutely beautiful and I went to my favorite castle by far at the edge of the city on one of our free days. The history there was fascinating and I am excited to go back soon.

I want to say thank you to Italy and all of the people who made this possible. Ciao Italia!

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