Saint Francis of Assisi

While at the time my visit to Assisi was purely for fun, returning to class made me realize that much of what I learned and saw pertained to my path following monastic life.  The pictures in Basilica of Assisi showed how Saint Francis become a friar.  He once loved the lavish lifestyle but realized that he had a deeper calling.  He began to give away all of his belongings and clothes from his father's store to the poor. His father yelled at him and told him to give back the clothes because they weren't his so Francis stripped down in the middle of the square and began his journey as a friar.  He preached love and acceptance to all people and advocated giving up worldly possessions and soon he gained many followers.  I also saw the little church that Saint Francis built, which is now surrounded by the giant Saint Mary of the Angels church.  His construction of his small church demonstrates how preaching was very important to him, as said by the monk at San Miniato. Finally, we saw the cloister where Saint Francis and his followers often went to pray.  It is built in the middle of a forest on the side of a mountain in a very secluded area.  This is where I believe the monk at San Miniato overestimated how much the Franciscan monks preached because prayer in solitude is clearly also a very important aspect to them.  Here too, the monks offer handmade goods to help support them and I bought a small watercolor flower painting.

San Miniato Path 3

When I went to the church of San Miniato this time, I focused more on the monastic aspect of it.  So while I took a quick look in the church again, afterwards I stopped in the little shop run by the monks on the side of the church.  After purchasing some lavender, I was able to ask one of the monks some questions about life there.  He told me that they spent a large portion of their day in prayer; they prayed 7 times a day.  When they weren't praying, they take care of the grounds and make the goods they sell to support themselves. The most interesting part was when he told me why he joined the monastery.  I had originally meant why he chose this religious life and all he said was that it called to him.  He elaborated and told me why he chose that particular monastery.  He said it was because the monks here focused more on prayer while other monasteries with Franciscan monks focused more on going out and preaching and he preferred dedicating his time to prayer.

The Nun

     In class, we watched a short documentary about a woman who has completely given herself to God, in that she had given up her former ways of life in order to follow Him more closely.  In the documentary, we saw how she would not only attend confession with a priest regularly, but she would also keep track of the sins she considers herself to have committed on a very regular basis.  I would consider myself a rather religious person- I pray for my loved ones, I attend weekly mass, etc... However, after seeing this documentary and the way that this woman's life was portrayed, I'm not so sure how comfortable I would be giving up my current lifestyle to engage myself that deeply in religion.
     I would argue that most people would view this woman's lifestyle as extremely ambitious - being content with a life in which you spend a majority of your time in solidarity and in prayerful reflection, constantly repenting for your wrongdoings... it doesn't seem like the ideal life. However, what I found most interesting was how she was not only content, but she was joyful for her current way of life!  She found a calling through conducting music, and reconciled the two world of family and God.  Without a doubt, she was a strong woman with deep-rooted faith.  I'm just not sure how many people would be willing to carry on such a life... a rarity, for sure.

Film in Class: The Nun

In class, we watched a documentary called, “The Nun,” while watching the documentary; I started to think about the discussion in previous classes regarding the differences between spirituality and religion. I find it very interesting how certain people feel the need to be completely devoted to a certain religion, while for other individual’s, spiritual will suffice. In this documentary, The Nun in the documentary decided to devote her life to religion during a later point in her life. By the time she had made the decision to become a nun, she was in her fifty’s, married, and three kids. However, she felt that something was missing in her life, and she needed to devote herself to a certain religious practice.  

While watching this documentary, many things arose which I found particularly interesting as a result of how devoted this woman was to her practicing religion. Certain things which struck me as particularly interesting are the following; the nun habitually recorded her daily sins in a journal, the nun prayed on a consistent basis, she also lived in a monastery which posed various questions; such as, why do people feel the need be so devoted to one particular religion; furthermore, what specifically makes one begin to fathom or realize their true or purpose on earth?

            The overall successes of the nun in documentary are very impressive, she managed to find herself, raise a family, and serve as the director of a choir of the monastery. While she did indeed give up a tremendous amount to change her life, it seems as though she is extremely content with her current state in life; in addition to the direction of where her life is going. While such a change in one’s life could possibly bring personal and emotional distress, I commend the nun for making such a change in her life.

 

A REPORT ON: The Nun

This documentary got me thinking back to the discussion we had in class about the differences between spirituality and religion. It is very interesting to see how some people feel the need to be so devoted to a certain religion, while for others it seems that just being spiritual can be enough. In this documentary, The Nun, the women who decided to give her life over to a religion at a later point in her life. By the time she decided to become a nun she was in her fifty’s, had a husband and three kids. However, she felt that something was missing, and that she needed to devote herself further into a practiced religion.

            As I was watching this documentary, many things stuck me as interesting because of how devoted this woman was to practice her religion. Things such as habitually recording her sins in a journal, constantly praying, and just the fact that she was living in a monastery made me ask questions such as - why do people feel the need be so devoted to one religion? What makes one start to realize about their destiny?

            The successes of this woman are very impressive, she has a great family, managed to find herself, and now is the director of a choir in the monastery. Although she gave up a lot to change her life- she seems to be very content with where she is and the direction her life is going. My question to her would be - has she ever regretted giving her old life up? A change that drastic would be hard not reassess, in my opinion.

-Claire Shumaker 

The Nun

The first thing I noticed while watching this film was the nun who was being filmed throughout the DVD seemed entirely dependent on the man who I am assuming would be called the priest.  I know that female subservience is valued in Christianity but I thought it was strange that such a religious woman would be asking a man permission to leave the convent for her son's concert when I feel like she should have been asking God.  The nuns seemed to worship the priest as if he were an apostle when he really had no more of a connection to God than they did.  I also thought it was strange that a group of religious women never mentioned praying or worshipping the Virgin Mary.
My favorite part of the video was when she discussed the inner conflict she had with herself while in the process of becoming a nun and how she did not want to appear orthodox to the rest of society and tried to dress up to show off her beauty.  I thought this part was particularly thought provoking when she explained that this was a natural progression in accepting becoming a nun and that God understands this. This is because I have never previously heard of someone describing their conversion to a more monastic life by saying they avoided showing off their religion in public.  Her admission of this demonstrated that ever for those who have the comfort of faith in God acknowledge that it is a difficult transition.

The Nun

I don’t know if it is possible to understand the position that the nun featured in this film was in.  She was a wife and a mother who had very powerful beliefs in her religion.  When her son was diagnosed with a very severe stage of cancer she went on a great pilgrimage to find salvation for him.  His life was saved and even the doctors gave credit to God’s influence.  As a form of thanks the nun had a revelation and after her 50th birthday she gave herself over to God.  Her husband had left the family and her children were grown, so she made the choice to enter a convent to become a nun.  She found her place there in directing the choir and offered her thanks to God in the sacrifices that she made.

I cannot relate to most of the experiences that this woman had therefore it is very hard for me to understand the choice that she made.  Having once given into the ‘temptations’ that she now sees as incredibly sinful makes it even harder for me to see.  The gratitude that she had for the work that God did for her family and her son’s life was so much that she began to question her freedom to enjoy her son and her family.  I don’t understand why it is not possible to give yourself over to God without sacrificing basic human needs.  This nun questioned the choice that she made to hear her son’s concert.  She is his mother and should have the freedom to support him in his accomplishments.  Granted the priest was very supportive of her decisions and encouraged her to maintain her relationships with her children, but why does it have to be such a hard choice in the first place?

The Nun

Today in class we watched the film "The Nun." I found this film to be extremely interesting. At the beginning I was confused when the nun was explaining about her husband, but soon it all started to unfold. The documentary told the story of a nun who was not always a nun, and it took place in Russia. She started out as an incredible singer and went to university level schooling for it. At music school she met her future husband. Together they got married and had three kids, two sons and one daughter. The mother was proud of herself, until her husband left her and her youngest son was diagnosed with cancer. Her whole life seemed to be falling apart so she turned to church. Her and her son prayed for his health and he was saved. Later, there was a divorce, and the mother moved to the convent. She is telling her story in the convent now. She is worried that she will succumb to temptations, and forget what is important to her, like her life devoted to God. She doesn't want to go back to being the person who was too proud and cared some about material things. In the convent, she teaches choir. Not only to other nuns however. There is a group of men who are a different part of the convent. They are men who had been troubled in the past, and they are in the convent to work and become better people. The nun states that when she is working with them, she fears she will lose sight of the new person she has become, and fall back into her old self. The father in the convent explains she has nothing to worry about, that temptation is a normal part of life, but the nun still worries. It seems like she just wants to do the right thing. The nun still gets to see her children, but does so with a blessing from the church. Most nuns are not divorced nor have children so she is somewhat of a special case. I enjoyed the movie because it showed how anyone can devote their lives to God if they are willing. Just because the nun had a completely different life before doesn't mean she can't change who she is when she wants to. The documentary showed a good mesh between the everyday life of an average person, and the everyday life of a nun living in a convent. It showed that it is still possible to look into the past while moving forward into the future.

Pilgrimage

Some of the most beautiful sights I have seen on film came from the "The Road to Santiago" DVD we watched in class. The way the red gleaming fireworks bursted over the St. James Church and Milan Cathedral was awe-inspiring. The St. James Church pilgrimage lasted about three months of walking. I appreciated and was a bit intrigued by the Gothic designs.  I myself do not believe I could make such a tiresome trek because I do not possess that amount of dedication in this point in my life. Followers take this pilgrimage for religious and moral reasons. They seem to desire a search for some spiritual answer in their lives. However the amount of sights the participants are allowed to explore would certainly be an enlightening and spiritual experience. I believe the enlightenment one would receive would far out weigh the physical strain. I consider studying abroad in a Italy is a pilgrimage in itself even though I had to take a plane to get to here. Those who go on real pilgrimages are most definitely demonstrating their intense devotion to God. I do feel however I am gaining a closer connection to God by residing in Florence, a place of great religious culture. Looking up at the vast dome at The Duomo while walking to class during the week still amazes me. 

Church of S. Miniato al Monte

I had been to the Piazzale Michelangelo several times before and although I knew where the church was located, I had never actually seen it before.  The outside of the church didn't seem to impressive.  This could be because the outside wasn't as intricate or detailed as many of the other churches I've seen such as the Duomo di Firenze or the Duomo di Milano whose exteriors are a work of art themselves.  This inside however was incredible.  The columns and arches on either side of the isle reminded of many of the churches that I've seen in Italy.  My favorite part was the beautiful mosaic near the alter.  I didn't have a chance to visit the cloister but I have to go back to see that for my path and I can't wait to see the beautiful church again.

A Follow up on the The Many Faces of Mary in Art

After watching the Many Faces of Mary in Art video in class, I decided to do some research online regarding the different depictions of Mary - I find it interesting that Mary is perceived by different cultures (and therefore, depicted so differently) among various cultures... Yet, historically, all of these images depict the same woman.
On the online Encyclopedia Britannica online, I found a more in-depth explanation that touches on the same things as our video - bringing us through the timeline of Mary's different "faces"... from the Theotokos, to the Byzantine icon, to the devotional images later on popular in Western Europe.. and we also must think of other artists' depictions of the Mother Mary... Michelangelo's Pieta, for example.
She has been portrayed as humans have wanted to portray her, which was based on cultural standards and likes... I have included a couple of links..

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/355920/Madonna
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Madonna_(art).html

Church of San Miniato al Monte

This week I visited the Church of San Miniato al Monte. I actually chose to walk up to the church rather than take the bus, because I live on the same side of the rive and have walked up to Piazzale Michelangelo before. It ended up being a bit of a hike but it was a nice break from class. When I stepped foot into the church I was amazed at how large and grand it was. I couldn't believe that it went upstairs because it made it seem so giant. One of my favorite parts of the church was the inside of the dome at the top of the stairs. I always enjoy seeing the parts of the churches that are very intricate, and I was very impressed by this mosaic dome. The gold that was used in it made the dome sparkle and add vibrancy. The marble pillars and stairs added brightness to the interior. The marble floor also had the zodiac signs in it. This reminded me of the baptistery in Piazza Duomo. This was the first church I have visited in Florence with a cemetery, and it was a very large cemetery. It was also very grand in terms of the tombstones and statues. There were different colors used like blacks, browns, whites, and even greens. When outside in the cemetery, the view was amazing from every spot. It was like being in Piazzale Michelangelo, but better. The outside of the church was similar to that of the Duomo. The same colors and patterns were used. It is interesting to see how many of the churches in Florence look similar on the outside because of the time period, but the insides are always so different.

The Faces of Mary in Art

We recently saw an interesting video in class that went on to discuss the various forms that Mary has been portrayed in art. In the majority of Mary artwork, she is placed with Jesus, whether he be young or old, The interesting part is how even though it was only those two in the various pieces of art, they each could mean or represent something entirely different. I take a class called Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Bernini. In this class, we have discussed many pieces of art that are of Mary. My favorite has to be Michelangelo's Pieta. It is a sculpture of Mary holding the dead body of her son Jesus. It is one of the most beautiful marble sculptures I have ever seen. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how the various faces of Mary have changed throughout time and in different places.

Pilgrimage

Recently in class, we were fortunate enough to watch a video about pilgrimages. I feel like I gained a good amount of information about pilgrimages that I did not know before. The one that was discussed in the video was a pilgrimage to the Church of Saint James in Santiago, Chile. This incredible journey took these very religious people about three months to visit churches and to reach their final destination.

The question now becomes whether or not I would go on a pilgrimages at some point in my life. The intense physical strain and the need to be away from home are two of the major cons of going on one. On the other hand, the spiritual enlightenment you can receive from going on a journey like that would be incredible. So at some point in my life i would like to go on a pilgrimage, maybe not for three months like those who go to the Church of Saint James, but i would like to something a little shorter. The sacrifice it takes to go on a pilgrimage would lead to a fantastic experience.

Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage to Santiago seems like a long and tiring one. Going from church to church, it was interesting to see which cities the pilgrims would stop in on their way to Santiago, and to hear the importance of those churches. On this particular pilgrimage, the travelers were heading toward the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral is said to house the remains of St. James the Great.  There is a vast number of cities that pilgrimages can head for. Some of the major ones are located in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, and Turkey. Specifically, Christian pilgrimages are blessed by visiting places mentioned in the Bible. Many of the stops on the pilgrimage to Santiago had a gothic design. Most of the churches or cathedrals also had the same name, and usually referred to a saint. In the beginning, the reasons for pilgrimages were to find traces of Jesus and his disciples. Today, people usually take the journey for spiritual enlightenment or even to find themselves. I personally do not think I would go on a pilgrimage because I am not very religious. When people go, it is usually for religious reasons and I would not have a reason to go. However, I do think it sounds like an interesting adventure to stay at the cathedrals and trek across the globe.

The Faces of Mary in Art

The video on the different faces and representations of Mary in art was very interesting. What I found most interesting was how many different forms there are of Mary holding Jesus. It can be depicted in so many different ways, yet they are almost all trying to represent the same thing. One thing I noticed while the video was showing different pictures of Mary from different cities, is that she is mostly depicted with Jesus. Most of the paintings showed Jesus as a young boy with Mary holding him. I thought it was interesting that Mary is rarely shown alone because of what message that could convey. Although she is sometimes praised and depicted by herself, it is interesting to think about how when she is holding Jesus, most of the attention goes to him. I enjoyed seeing how the faces of Mary changed throughout time and from place to place.

Pilgrimage?

Pilgrimages: yes or no? 

       After watching the video presented in class, I think I have a pretty good understanding of what a pilgrimage is.  A pilgrimage is the making of a journey for the purpose of religious significance and many times or reflection and revelation.  In the video we watched,  the people were making a pilgrimage to the Church of Saint James in Santiago, Chile.  This took them three months worth of playing a spiritual vagabonds and visiting many churches along with the way to their Chilean destination. 

     Do I think that I could ever make a pilgrimage myself?  Honestly, yes.  I don't think that I would have been able to say that about myself until this trip to Florence, though...  I have done so much traveling in the past month or so; all of this exploration gives me a feel for what these pilgrims must experience on their journey - new lands, new experiences, new systems of beliefs... 

       I actually consider both my semester abroad here and even the visits to local places for this course to be "pilgrimages" for me... I say this because in each of these instances, I am in a new location, I need to become better acquainted with my surroundings, I gain new experiences, and I travel with the intention of taking something from my experience - are these not the motions of a pilgrim? Granted, I am not only making these visits for solely religious purposes, but I believe that the concept is quite similar.  

        I would actually love to escape the normal pattern of daily life for a while and grant myself the time to remain open and aware to my surroundings.  One of the nuns that is from my home parish, a family friend for years, is making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land this month and will be in Florence this weekend on her way home... I look forward to asking her questions and discovering more. 

Visit to The Church of San Miniato al Monte

Church of San Miniato al Monte

       When I entered the church, I found it strange that although there were signs before you walked in the doors, there was very little guidance to familiarize tourists with the church. I walked in a square around the church- I admired the paintings and I even said a prayer in front of the tomb (down the stairs) that contained the bones of Saint Minias.  I soon spotted a man wearing white vestments. I introduced myself, telling him that I was a student and I was interested in knowing more about the Church. 

      He proceeded to tell me that the Church was actually a basilica, and it was named after Saint Minias, who was beheaded for his faith, making him the first martyr of Florence.  It was most interesting to learn that this Romanesque structure was even older than the Duomo...  by about 200 years!  I also identified a depiction of the Pantokrator we had discussed in class- it was situated right above the main apse of the basilica. This section of the basilica was technically upstairs, while downstairs there was a separate chapel - the Chapel of the Crucifix.  As I faced the basilica's main facade, the door on the left was blocked off - I found out that this was the portal that was referred to as "the gate of heaven". There was so much symbolism everywhere I turned... I also found it interesting that on the wall, there was a zodiac symbol- I feel as though these are rarely depicted in religious centers... but I guess I could be wrong!

        The monk with whom I spoke, Francis Kumi, proceeded to tell me more about the Church.  He also told me about how he began his monasticism when he was a young man in Ghana, and how his education led him to Rome and eventually to Florence, where he then joined the monastic community situated right next door to the Basilica of San Miniato! My conversation with him was enlightening, to say the least.      

       Upon exiting the Church, I walked through a cemetery - Florence's first Christian cemetery! It was ornamented with flowers and vines of all sorts. I also found it interesting that unlike most cemeteries in the United States, this cemetery featured all sorts of tombstones.. most of which were completely flat on the ground, as I found a few weeks ago upon my visit to Santa Croce. As I overlooked Florence from the front facade of the Church, I realized how people must have believed that Saint Minias was "watching over" them, as well as the entire city of Florence! Overall, this was an enlightening experience. 

    

Charity: Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella

Charity

Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella

Before visiting La farmacia di Santa Maria Novella in person, I did some research online.  I learned that this was one of the oldest still-operating pharmacies in the world, and certainly the oldest still-open pharmacy in Italy. In 1221, It was founded by the Dominican monks who lived next door at the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella.  The herbs that the monks had been growing possessed healing properties.  In the 17^th century, the monks opened the pharmacy up to the public, and it has been operating since!

When I visited in person, I was very much surprised by what I found!  Initially, I had pictured the interior of the pharmacy to resemble what I know to be a “farmacy”… white floors and plain walls, and pill bottles everywhere.  However, as soon as I entered in the front door and continued down the ornate corridor toward the first room, I realized that this interior was palatial! 

I was surprised to find that the first room I entered did not consist of drugs at all, rather various types of fine perfumes, many of which used natural herb extracts for their aroma. The walls were extremely ornate – as I continued through the pharmacy to the right, and then to the left, I found the natural herb room.  Here, I found herbs and pills for nearly every type of ailment… from gastro-intestinal pills, to treatment for cellulite, to medications for children, to pure ginseng!  This room made me realize that La Farmacia Santa Maria Novella is not only a functioning pharmacy, but also somewhat of a museum!  There was another separate little room for tea and a hallway with glass cases with what would have been fine ceramics, if they hadn't been away for restoration.

Relating to the theme of “charity”, I also found an informative interactive history of the monks and their resulting pharmacy.  I learned that the monks, taking pity upon the frail and sick, reserved two rooms for treatment: one for meat, and one for other foods… later, in 1609, there was a friar herbalist who served as a catalyst to establish the pharmaceutical workshop that opened its services to the public three years later!  It is also presumed that the political climate (Cosmo I de’Medici and his successors) would have helped to spur on the establishment of this pharmacy, partly due to the Medici family’s interest in the sciences.  The relationship between the Medici family and the Dominican order was strong, and remained so even centuries later!

As I tried to internalize my surroundings, I couldn’t help but think of all of the consideration and effort that had gone into figuring out which herbs can help certain ailments.. which combinations of herbs can work together to better the human condition… Obviously, these monks were not only extremely intelligent to have established such a system, but they also must have had an incredibly selfless regard toward other people.  Often times we hear of the 'regard for the poor, the marginalized, the frail'… this seems to be the exact focus of the Dominicans as they founded this establishment. They worked together with the political leaders of the city, they identified a need for health improvement, they responded to God’s call, and they established a pharmaceutical system for the betterment of people… an establishment which would succeed them for centuries later!  This is a true example of charity.

The Concept of Pilgrimage

The Concept of Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage to St. James church in Santiago took travelers through 3 long months of walking in addition to visiting various churches along the way; many of which were also referred to as “the church of St. James.” One thing in particular that I noticed about the churches that were visiting was that most of them had small carved statues of people; these carving repeating for several lines, and all together formed an arc over the entrance of the church.

The pilgrimage to Santiago is one of the many pilgrimages people embark on for religious; or furthermore, moral significance. Within the Buddhist religion, Buddhist’s embark on pilgrimages to various cities; namely, Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kusinara; all of which have a certain level of significance within the context of the Buddhist religion. Within the realm of Christianity, Christians travel to various places that hold important religious significance; such as, the site of the crucifixion; which, according to The Bible is Golgotha in Jerusalem (John 19:17). Golgotha is also referred to as, “the place of the skulls,” the site of Jesus' birth; thus, Judea, and Rome; thus, the location of the Vatican; and other sites with noted significance to the various apostles and saints. Pilgrimages are not exclusive to one single religion; the concept of pilgrimage spans across all religions; thus, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism as well as smaller religious sects.

Before my experience attending the Papal Mass with Papa Francisco, I do not believe I could go on a pilgrimage myself; however, after I attended the papal mass, I might considering embarking on such a journey. Although, I do not feel as though I would be able handle the physical demands of such journey; however, I feel as though the spirituality component would override the physical component.    

A VISIT TO: St. Miniato al Monte

            It was a very convenient coincidence- I was able to go on a tour with my Cultural Introduction to Italy Class, with Martina Ghiandelli as the tour guide- to San Miniato al Monte. While, honestly as the tour began I had no idea where we where going, I knew from the beginning that it was going to be a hike (although Martina was wearing heels). As we climbed the hill up to the church, I knew that at the very least - there would be a great view. Little did I know- St. Miniato al Monte would be my new favorite church in all of Firenze (so far).

            Since this was a tour - I was able to learn about much of the history behind the church such as how and why it was built. I learned that is it considered to be one of the finest Romanesque basilicas in Tuscany. I was surprised to learn that St. Minias was an Armenian prince serving in the Roman army and was denounced as a Christian after becoming a hermit. The most exciting part of his story was that the Emperor ordered him to be thrown into the Amphitheatre with a panther, but the panther would not kill him! Therefore the Emperor, did something much less exciting, and just beheaded him (lame). Due to the story as well of the character of St. Minias, his friend, Bishop Alibrando started building him this beautiful church in 1013.

            While this story was very interesting and caught my attention- seeing it for yourself is a whole different story. First of all, the view was brilliant (in my opinion better then Piazza de Michelangelo). Second, the church’s style of art was very tasteful I thought (I am comparing it to the artwork in the Duomo and baptistery which I did not like so much). You can see in one of my pictures, there is a magnificent golden mosaic at the apse of the church, as Martina told us, it depicts Christ between the Virgin and St. Minias and Christ is surrounded by four winged creachers.  This was my favorite part of the inside of the church. The crypt was also interesting to visit because I learned that it is the oldest part of the church and maybe even contains the bones of St. Minias himself! (But who knows for sure). I also thought the frescos where a nice touch- some of them where not finished which gave the church a very authentic feel - almost as if you where back in the time period when they where being created. Not to mention the cemetery in the back was very charming place to be dead.  Overall the church of St. Miniato al Monte is a very beautiful place to visit as well as has a very interesting history, making it one of my new favorite places in Firenze.

-Claire Shumaker