Florence/Rome : Reflecting on a Pilgrimage

One of the first things Brother Robert informed our group before beginning this course was that taking this religion class in Italy was most definitely not a vacation. We were going there on a mission and so this was a pilgrimage, or an important journey, but not a vacation. 

And when we arrived we quickly learned what he meant by that. 

We were immediately thrown into a whirlwind of mesmerizing churches, charming little neighborhoods, and what seemed like an endless number of cafes and gelatarias.  There were almost no lines at most of the churches and museums, so we were able to take full advantage of the rich opportunities the towns had to offer and became quickly immersed in the local culture as well.

I loved the excursions we were able to partake in such as visits to Fiesole, Sienna, Lucca and Pisa. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was particularly astounding to see in person; it really does look like it could collapse at any minute.  And every time there was a new hill to climb, (there were some serious hills!) I knew the view at the top would be worth the sweat and tears.

Florence felt like the perfect intersection between culture, history, and gastronomy. Some of the top highlights of our stay in Florence include getting to see the David statue by Michelangelo in the Accademia Galleria, touring through the Basilica of Santa Croce where famous greats like Niccholas Machiavelli, Michelangelo and Galileo are buried, and visiting the sprawling Pitti Palace which houses some of the most incredible sculptures, paintings and artefacts. In Rome, I could never forget standing in the Colosseum or walking through St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. Pictures simply cannot capture the absolute grandeur of these locations, works of art and architecture and they can only give you a small glimpse of the meticulous details and workmanship put into these relics. We were always blown away.

As our pilgrimage in Florence and Rome, Italy comes to an end, I can’t help but take some time to reflect on the experiences of the past three weeks. Considering the ever-changing pandemic situation, I never lost sight of the fact that we were very lucky to be able to study in Italy this summer at all. It was an incredible experience filled with beautiful sights, amazing historical and religious visits, as well as delicious foods. Plus, I think I speak for all of us when I say, we formed friendships that would stay with us for many years to come and created significant memories that only the eleven of us share. I honestly spent so much time laughing I thought I would cough up a lung or something and there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't wish I could take all of the great pasta dishes, cappucinos and italian cornettos home with me.

Italy served as our classroom as we learned about catholic saints and history and explored themes of personal spirituality and purpose. However, some of the most important lessons, those about human connection, compassion and learning to appreciate every little moment, came from the friendships we formed with each other as we experienced this unique pilgrimage together.