While my trip to Italy has been over for a few weeks, I find myself looking back and reminiscing about one experience over and over and over: Florence’s Duomo. Before we climbed it, I didn’t have very high expectations. I thought it would be just another church that we visit with the same statues and decorations as all the rest. Luckily, I was very wrong.
During the first hundred steps, we were stuck between bleak walls with small windows and no end in sight. One of us even started to feel nauseous and get sick from how close everything was. Albeit it, we carried on.
All of a sudden, the stairs opened up to a grandiose dome beautifully painted. It depicted amazing scenes from the Bible as well as the last judgment. After admiring the interior of the dome, we continued climbing. The steps rose in a gentle spiral and soon became angled downwards. As the steps got steeper and steeper, we were able to notice the inner dome curving sharper. At the top it was a surreal experience. We walked around the top of the dome, and directly below us was a 376 foot drop.
Sitting at the top, with wind blowing gently around us and people in the street looking like ants below was a huge turning point for my trip. I gained a much deeper appreciation for the innovations and amazing wonders that this country had built many centuries before.
Looking back, waking up at the crack of dawn and walking over to the Piazza to get in line to climb the dome of the church was beyond worth it. It showed me not only an excellent view of Florence but also of the intricacies and detail that make up the dome. Coming down from the dome was almost sad. It was an amazing climb a beautiful view at the top, and now it was over. Luckily, I was consoled by the fact that we had so much time left in Italy.
If it weren’t for that gruesome climb on a frigid day in Florence, I wouldn’t have as much appreciation as I do now for the amazing works that we saw on that trip. I realize now that each and every one of our daily excursions, classes, and early wake ups were all part of an unforgettable journey that has shaped not only my appreciation for culture, but also who I am as a person.
I’m extremely grateful for the Mark family and their foundation. Receiving the scholarship enabled me to really immerse myself in my trip. Major John H mark also serves as a personal inspiration for me. His spirit of adventure is still very contagious to this day and without this influence, who knows how much I would’ve gotten out of this sensational trip.
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