Greece, Italy, and Spain - Study Abroad Trip

          During the summer of 2024, I was lucky enough to participate in a study-abroad trip to Greece, Italy, and Spain. Led by a tour director and multiple tour guides, I was able to learn an abundance of new things about each country. I learned about the cultures and histories of the countries. I also gained an understanding of how these cultures and histories were intertwined with one another to create what we now think of medieval Southern Europe. Due to various excursions and journeys through the most significant landmarks, locations, and architectural works of Greece, Italy, and Spain, I have obtained a more global perspective.

          The first country I visited during the study-abroad trip was Greece. My time in Greece consisted of visiting Ancient Greek monuments and beautiful mountainous landscapes and cities. The first day spent in Greece consisted of visiting the Acropolis (known primarily for being the site of the Parthenon), the Acropolis Museum, the center of Athens, and eating a traditional Greek dinner. During this day, I learned about the history of the Parthenon (including why it was built and why it has been destroyed and reconstructed), I saw pieces of Ancient Greek ruins and artwork from the Acropolis, I gained an understanding of daily life in the Athens city center, and I participated in traditional Greek dances and food customs. The second day consisted of travelling through Greece, visiting the Delphi site (known for being the site of the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle of Delphi resided) and museum. During this day, I was able to see some of the beautiful landscapes of Greece, learn about the history of Delphi and the Temple of Apollo, and see some of the artifacts that used to inhabit the Delphi site. On the third and final day I spent in Greece, I visited the Meteora region, took a tour of one of the Meteora monasteries, and left Greece by ferry to travel to Italy. On this day, I was able to see the beautiful and unique rock formations of the Meteora region and learn about the history of the monasteries of Meteora. I am very grateful that I was able to spend so much of my time in Greece learning about its ancient history, and I found the time spent to be extremely educational.

          The second country I visited on my study-abroad trip was Italy. The time I spent in Italy consisted of visiting historic cities and medieval towns and seeing Ancient Roman monuments. I spent my first day in Italy in Florence. Through a tour of Florence led by a tour guide, I learned about the extensive history of the city, including its architecture and artwork. I also visited the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower and learned about its architectural and religious history. On the second day I spent in Italy, I visited the medieval city of Orvieto, the city of Rome, and the Colosseum. During this day, I was able to learn about the history of the city of Orvieto, including the Cathedral of Orvieto, experience daily life in Rome, and see the famous Colosseum (through a tour I was able to learn about its history as well). On the third and final day I spent in Italy, I visited Vatican City and walked through the extensive Vatican Museum. On this day, I was able to learn about the Pope and his official roles, see the illustrious interiors of the Apostolic Palace (the official residence of the Pope) and the Sistine Chapel, and learn about the histories of the Apostolic Palace and the Sistine Chapel. My time spent in Italy was enlightening, as I had a preconceived notion of what the city would be like, which was proven to be unfounded. Overall, I enjoyed becoming more educated about the history and culture of Italy.

          The third and last country I visited during my study-abroad trip was Spain. Unfortunately, I was not able to travel throughout Spain as I had in Greece and Italy. However, my time in Spain was still enjoyable and educational, as it was spent visiting historic cities, landmarks, and monuments. The first day I spent in Spain consisted of flying into Spain from Italy, taking a walking tour of Madrid, and exploring Madrid on my own. During this day, I was able see beautiful landscapes in Spain, learn about the history of many famous sites in Madrid, and experience daily life in Madrid. On the second day I spent in Spain, I participated in a kart tour of Madrid, explored Madrid on my own again, and took part in a tour of Madrid, which included the Royal palace of Madrid. On this day, I was able to see beautiful gardens in Madrid, learn more about daily life in Madrid, and learn about the elaborate architectural and political history of the Royal palace of Madrid. My third and final day in Spain was primarily spent in the medieval city of Toledo. During this day, I learned about the history of Toledo and its religious sites (both Jewish and Christian), visited its numerous magnificent religious landmarks, and experienced the modern culture in Toledo. While I did not travel through Spain as much as I did through Greece and Italy, I learned just as much about its culture, history, and architecture. I could not have asked for a better finish to my trip, as my time in Spain was informative and entertaining.

          Through the study-abroad trip, my perspective of Greece, Italy, and Spain, and their cultures became much more informed, accurate, and receptive. Because of this, my mind has opened, and I am eager to learn about more cultures and their history. I will use my experiences with this trip to approach future global endeavors with more preparation. I will be more open to new experiences, participating in cultures that are different from my own, and meeting new people. I believe that with my new and improved mindset, a result of this study abroad trip, I can become a globalized student.