The Italy Business program is one of my first times in Europe! The flight to get to Italy on the first day was an extremely long travel day, and a lot of students also had similar experiences. Starting with our drive to the hotel, one of the first things I noticed was the difference in driving, it was a lot less structured than the US and a little less predictable. After our initial orientation, our program did a walking tour of Rome, which allowed us to see a lot of different parts of the city. There was a lot of hustle and bustle around the city of Rome, and the city looked different at every turn. The next day, we visited the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Vatican City. Seeing the Colosseum in person was a surreal experience, it was so much larger than I could have imagined – what is left is only a third of the original Colosseum! The Roman Forum had so much history, and it was interesting to think about the fact that these structures have been here for over 2,500 years. From Rome, we took the public transportation to Vatican City, which was similar to what we had, but you just have to be more aware of your surroundings. Vatican City had a slower pace than Rome; it was less crowded and calmer, which was appreciated. Saint Peter’s Basilica was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever visited. The ceilings are so tall with endless beautiful engravings and statues. We got the option to climb to the top of the St. Peter’s Basilica dome, and although it was harder than anticipated, the view was worth it. At the top, I could overlook the whole city and see the Colosseum. Compared to Rome, Florence is a more walkable city and cleaner feel. It feels nice to be in the middle of the actual neighborhood and not just in a hotel because it makes exploring the city so much easier. Every corner in Florence has something to offer, and the view of the Duomo is amazing! Although I did research before the trip, there were still things that stood out to me more than others. There are not as many places that offer water, and that can be a shock to a lot of Americans coming to visit. The cities we are in are very walkable, so definitely bring comfortable shoes. Almost everyone speaks English, but definitely try to learn some Italian phrases or words to communicate better when you are visiting, I learned some on Duolingo. One thing that I will miss when I am back home is the view of historical buildings at every corner.
