The Travels of Emma

I’m currently studying abroad in Florence, Italy through the ACM Program, Florence: Arts, Humanities, and Culture. Thanks to the Mary Bartling Crow Prize, I was able to go to the National Archaeological Museum of Florence, where I saw a special exhibit on Mesoamerica as well as the Etruscan, Greek, and Roman collections. I even had the opportunity to see the famous Chimera of Arezzo, which I studied in a previous history course, HIST 140: Archaeology of Rome (Fall 2013), with Dr. Lorenzo. As was the case with many of the site visits that I have taken through the ACM program, there was something undeniably special about studying the artifacts themselves rather than photographs or images.  Over fall break, thanks again to the Crow prize, I was able to visit the Etruscan necropoles and museums in Tarquinia and in Cerveteri, which I had also studied in HIST 140: Archaeology of Rome (Fall 2013). It was really amazing to wander amongst the tumulus tombs of the Etruscans at Cerveteri and the beautiful frescoes in situ at Tarquinia. I also was able to tour the inside of Nero’s Domus Aurea or Golden House, which was recently reopened to the public, as well as Trajan’s Market and the standing Greek temples at Paestum. These experiences were particularly moving for me as a history student because these structures are standing almost in their entirety. I could not help but marvel at these grand structures.  With the help of the Mary Bartling Crow Prize, I was able to further supplement my studies in Italy and visit sites pertinent to the study of ancient Etrusco-Roman history. These museum and site visits helped to supplement my studies of the art, architecture, and history of the Italian Renaissance by placing the Renaissance within a broader historical context. Moreover, the element of experiential learning greatly complemented and enhanced my past classroom experiences at Monmouth.