Worth the Climb: Fiesole, Italy 2021

 

As I woke up on the first day of July, excitement filled my body as I knew today would be the day we were visiting Fiesole, Italy. From google searches, the words of Brother Robert and many Italian locals, I knew we were in for a breathtaking view and an unforgettable experience. After class, we met at the lobby of the monastery at 1:00 pm, did a 5-minute walk and took two buses from Florence, and finally got to the main square, Piazza da Mino di Fiesole.

We first visited the Cathedral of Fiesole which was right across the street from our bus stop. The interior of the cathedral was breathtakingly beautiful with such a minimal interior design inspired by the Romanesque Era. The change of pace in architectural and interior design was very different from previous churches seen in Florence which were more modern and ambitious. One thing that stood out for me was the simplicity but yet obvious beauty that lied within the church. I remember being told the cathedral was built in the 11th century and I couldn't help be amazed by how many people and generations were able to step foot into this cathedral and now I am one of them.

After leaving the cathedral, we went to the Convento di San Francesco. Within a matter of 5 minutes on our way to the next location, we were all faced with a steep climb. Not knowing what was ahead of us, we put our trust in Brother Robert who kept saying, “Don’t worry, it’ll be worth it”. 

On our way up we stopped and saw a truly unforgettable view. Just standing there looking over a panoramic view of Florence from afar was so overwhelming I had to close my eyes for a minute because I thought what I saw right in front of me was my mere eyes playing tricks. Just yesterday, I was looking up at how big the Duomo was and upon that hill, it didn't seem so intimidating after all. My favorite part was seeing the Convent of San Domenico and learning the history of the Dominican convent in Fiesole that started in the 1400s. 

As I got one last picture of the view, the group started walking towards the convent. The convent had this ancient charm to it, we were even allowed to visit the chapter room where the monks would come daily to sit in silence with one another and even discuss important matters. It was an interesting place to wander around and we got to visit a museum at the convert which housed many ancient artifacts that missionaries and monks had gathered over the years, including a very interesting collection of Asian artifacts. What stood out to me the most was going upstairs and exploring the old rooms that were considered home to various monks. It opened my eyes to how materialistic we have become in today's world and learning to value the beauty of simplicity.

I don't think words can describe the breathtaking experiences I have encountered so far on this trip. Just a week in and I'm so grateful for what I have seen so far and I am looking forward to what is to come.