Last Field Trip – 23.4.2010

This dark day was our first and last time to travel on a bus with Marco, our history professor, for our field trip. He used the time on the bus in between stops to explain more about what we would see. I tried to stay awake but with the winding hilly roads I began to feel car sick as usual. The cloudy rainy day did not help my case any either. It was disappointing to not see the unique country side of Siena County because of the fog and the rain drops running down the window. Our first stop was at a Monastery where we spent most of our time in the enclosed colonnade around the central courtyard. The walls were covered with paintings by Sodoma telling the story of their Saint. He had some interesting interpretations and humor with his paintings. Later a lady opened up the library for some of us to see. It was nice but the best part was a door in the bookcase leading to spaces behind the wall of bookcases. After a three course meal with some delicious local wine we walked up to St. Antimo Abbey. Everywhere we looked there were vineyards, rows and rows of grape vines that were beginning to sprout green leaves. Inside the small plain church we waited for the seven monks living there to come in for their prayers. I have always wanted to hear monks sing their prayers live and in person. Now it is time. The church was packed and silent when they entered and pulled out their prayer books from their desk pews. The first word harmonized so well it sent chills all through my body. For fifteen minutes we all sat listening and absorbing up all of this rare experience. Outside on our way out an older Italian lady came up to a couple of us that were conversing. She asked us in perfect English where we were from, what we were doing here, and what we thought of the experience we just shared. She was a little surprised to hear we were American students. She complimented us all on how well behaved we were during the prayer service. She wished us luck and happiness as we parted ways to our buses. Our last stop was at a Renaissance centrally planned church. Nothing too special or different then what we have seen these four months in Italy. One distinctive aspect of this church is the two towers on the back side were not attached to the church; they had their own walls and roof. The towers were nestled in niches into the church with an exterior pathway where they would connect to the church. That was the end of our field trips.