Italy Imagined: Part I

I have the amazing opportunity to spend a week in Italy, and I am very excited for the cuisine, culture, and history. I can't wait to try gelato, ride on a gondola, and walk through the streets of a city as unique as Venice. I have no doubt that some of my presumptions about Italy will be wrong. Most of my expectations have been formed by my education, experience, and pop culture.

Italy was the focus of history class when we discussed the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. My teacher spent a lot of time talking about architecture and infrastructure in the Roman Empire. I’ve seen a million pictures of aqueducts, roads, and bridges built by the Romans that still stand today. I don’t remember much about Roman culture, but I remember discussing gladiators and how the Romans first persecuted Christians, but then later became Christian. In English, I was required to wear a toga while reading Julius Caesar out loud, so now I am capable of tying a toga, which is only a useful skill if you live in the Roman Empire. However, this class isn’t going to Rome, so most of my limited knowledge about the Roman Empire will not be useful on this trip.

History class also spent a significant amount of time focused on the Renaissance, which will be much more useful for this course. The class discussed innovations in art, architecture, and science, made by people including Raphael, Michelangelo, Galileo, and da Vinci. I cannot wait to see paintings and sketches by some of the artists I grew up learning about. I think I’ll be able to see the influence the Renaissance and the Romans had on Italy, especially in the art and architecture.

Last spring break I went on the Harry Potter Culture trip. It was the first time I’ve been abroad, so it struck me how little history there is in America. The Native Americans certainly have history, but not many of their cities were as large or lasted as long as the cities in the United Kingdom. So many of the buildings in England and Scotland are incredibly old, and the history there is palpable. I am expecting to get a similar feeling in Italy due to what I’ve learned about Italian history.

Food is one of the things I am the most excited about in Italy. Most of my experience with Italian food comes from Olive Garden. I know that real Italian food might be different than the American version, but I’m excited to try it. I want to eat Italian pizza, spaghetti, and gelato. I’ve never had gelato, but I’ve heard it’s really good ice cream.

Most of my preconceptions of modern Italy come from books and movies. I read constantly when I was younger, and one setting that always stood out to me was Venice. It was the backdrop in the Magic Tree House book Carnival at Candlelight by Mary Pope Osborne, then in The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, and then, most recently, in Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Every time I’ve read about Venice, I’ve been amazed that there is a city with canals instead of roads. I’ve been interested in the architecture and history, but also in the functionality of a city without cars because it’s so different from most American cities. Even in large American cities where it can be impractical to own a car, taxis are still a commonly used mode of transportation. I grew up in a small town where there is no public transportation, so I have a hard time imagining relying so heavily on a public system to get from place to place. It’s strange to think that the only way to and from San Servolo is by boat; I can’t just walk to Venice if I miss the boat or if the weather is nice.

In addition to books, my presumptions have been influenced by movies. The Lizzie McGuire Movie was a popular Disney Channel movie when I was younger, and it was set in Rome. In the movie, Lizzie meets a cute Italian boy and then he takes her on a vespa ride to see famous Roman landmarks. I’ve also seen Angels and Demons, which is slightly darker than The Lizzie McGuire Movie, but it still highlights the architecture and history of Italy. While I don’t expect to be swept off my feet by an adorable Italian or to save the Vatican, I do hope to see some famous landmarks and architecture while in Italy.

There is always a disparity between expectation and reality. For example, I’ve always imagined Italy as being sunny and warm, but this week it is supposed to be cool and rainy, so my expectations for stereotypical Italian weather will not be met. However, I still have hope that some of my other expectations will be shattered, in the best possible way.