Category Archives: Siena

My thoughts on Italian language school

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

My personal feedback on Italian language schools, after studying in Siena, Firenze (Florence), Lucca and Verona: They are fun! I have been at four schools and they were all fairly similar in terms of having a set amount of time … Continue reading →

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Padova (Padua to you Yanks!)

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

The school organized an outing to Padova on Sunday which I very much enjoyed. Padova is known for such things as being the setting of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, for having a University more than 800 years old … Continue reading →

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Torre dei Lamberti

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

The Torre dei Lamberti reminds me a lot of the Torre del Mangia in Siena.   They look very similar to me and are of similar height and my legs were screaming out loud when I got to the top of … Continue reading →

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Wien, Österreich

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

Vienna, Austria! I arrived late last night and am in one of the strangest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in. There is a slight circus theme to the room in that it has a large mural of various carnies … Continue reading →

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I can’t get Siena out of my head!

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

This is my fifth night in Firenze and at times I am convinced that I hear the drumming and singing of the contrade! I miss Siena, but I don’t miss not being there, if you know what I mean.  I … Continue reading →

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City mice versus country mice

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

I am back in Florence this evening and start at a different school tomorrow. I made a quick reconnaissance trip to locate the school.  The hotel is quite close to the Ponte Vecchio and the school is quite close to … Continue reading →

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Palio pantaloni!

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

This is now tied as my favorite photo opp of the trip (along with the old people lined up on the bench in San Quirico Val D’Orcia). These are the tights that the Oca contrada members wore in the Palio … Continue reading →

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Santa Caterina

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

On my tiny walk home from lunch I stopped in to take some photos of the convent of Santa Caterina. Reminder that her head is down the road in the church of San Domenico, and this is also where the … Continue reading →

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Il mio ultimo giorno a Siena!

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

It is not all that sad, really. Most of the people I became friendly with have gone or are close to leaving, and my toilet paper has just about run out so the conditions are perfect! Linda left for a … Continue reading →

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What Palio? There was a Palio?

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Sophia la Vespa

It’s Thursday morning, less than two days after the Palio events and there is virtually no evidence in the Piazza del Campo that there ever even was a Palio! All the stands, benches, barricades, Formula I padding, decorations, etc., are … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian language school, Palio, Siena | Tagged , | 1 Comment