Villa Medici and Sagra

A week ago my friend Nick got us (his 2 roommates, our friend Anna, and myself) a private, after-hours tour of the Villa Medici. Apparently his dad is good friends with a guy that is good friends with a guy that has some authority over the French owned properties within Roma, possibly Italia, but at least Roma.

We all agreed that it was incredible to be able to get a private tour of such an amazing building without it being mobbed with tourists - just us annoying, college-student, tourists!! But beyond that, Didier, our guide for the evening, took us into one of the towers, off limits to the public, where they are currently restoring the fresco on the ceiling. First, he took us into a small side room and gave us a run down of the frescos covering all of the walls. Then he actually took us up on top of the scaffolding to see the fresco that is currently being restored - it was amazing!!

Following our tour, Didier even took us across the street for drinks! All in all a very good night and an incredible opportunity.
















Of course, we then took full advantage of our location and swung by Giolitti's for some gelato on the way home.

Finally, last Saturday, my roommate Jasmine, Nick, and I all ventured out to Velletri, a small, hill town about 24 miles southeast of Roma, for Sagra dell'Uva e dei Vini. Sagra is apparently a festival that towns throughout Italia that celebrate the speciality of said town - in this case, it was grapes and wine! It was fun to get out of the city, explore a new town, and experience something so traditionally Italian. And, of course, we each came back with a bottle of wine!!


















That's about it for the last two weeks. Booked a weekend in Paris in 3 weeks, a weekend in Venice after that, and then a weekend in Prague in November before the parentals come. This weekend is a SAI (Study Abroad Italy) trip to Tuscany and Lazio. Horseback riding through the Tuscan countryside - so excited!! Plenty more to come, so keep a look out.

Ciao, ciao!!