The first two days of the trip were long. Mired in the indecent struggle of man and espresso versus crippling exhaustion, we managed to see Milan, Verona, and Venice within a span of 48 hours. Our CEL Practicum team flew from St. Louis to Newark, and then made our connection just in time to head to Milan, where we boarded a train bound for that hallowed romantic city of Romeo and Juliette, Verona.
“In fair Verona where we lay our scene.”
– William Shakespeare.
The countryside passed in a blur of golden browns and bright greens; rolling plains and misty peaks whisked by as we discussed the work before us. We arrived in the rolling hills of Verona, where we deposited our bags in our quaint hotel and headed out to explore the town.
After sitting down for a delicious meal of pizza, washed down with some Chianti, and gelato, we then wandered about the town square and into the Duomo. Verona had a strong fortress that was built around it during the medieval times to protect it from enemies. 
We stood on top of the crenulated bridge that connected the two sides of the town, and looked down upon the river.
We walked across the town to see the old Roman ruins and stood upon the steps in the Verona Arena. It was both eerie and awe inspiring to see the giant marble slab steps and realize how many centuries had passed since they were built. Remnants of the old Roman aqueduct surrounded the Arena, and it was fascinating to realize and see in person how advanced the Roman technology was during the ancient times.
After the Arena, we wound or way through the cobbled streets to Juliet’s balcony. The nondescript, white balcony was tucked away in an alcove off of the main path. Rumor has it that Shakespeare never actually visited Verona in his life; but the romantic in each of us believes that by visiting the balcony and rubbing the breast of the statue of star-crossed Juliette, we will bring fortune to our own romantic endeavors. After taking a long walk back along the brightly lit river, we headed off to catch some blessed sleep in our hotel rooms.
The next morning, we woke up early to head to Venice. We took one of the quick trains and arrived around 11 am. The sweeping vistas of the Grand Canal from the top of the many bridges took our breath away as we pined for the Italian “Bella Vita” and conjured up images more fitting for a Disney movie than real life. The many canals swirl past pastel colored buildings and cobbled streets providing liquid roads for the city’s many gondoliers to ply their trade.
We took the day to wander around the streets, get lost, and window shop at stores full of glittering masks, handmade paper, and pastries. We grabbed a simple breakfast of sandwiches and proceeded to exploring different parts of the city, including the Jewish Ghetto, where the Jews were forced to live and work during Italy’s ill-fated foray into fascism. It was very moving and solemn; on two occasions in WWII, Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps, many never returning. The area had a distinct feel to it, and the old age of the area was evident.
From there our adventure led us towards the Piazzo San Marco, a giant square surrounded by glossy shops and gold rimmed buildings. We decided to explore the Doge’s Palace, where the Venetian government used to sit, when Venice was the trade capital of Europe. The judiciary, the Doge (the head of the government), the legislature, and the other branches of government would sit to discuss the issues of the day, and keep Venetian goods flowing to distant lands while keeping the gold coming in. The intricate wood carvings and lavish paintings were majestic. After walking through the judiciary, we headed into the prison area. Bereft of good food or a chance to see their beautiful city again, prisoners would occupy these cells until they made their last walk across the “bridge of sighs” to meet their doom. It was a big juxtaposition and very memorable.
We then walked back towards the main part of Venice, towards the Rialto Bridge, where we explored different side streets. After stopping off for a meal of pizza and pasta near the water, we headed back to the train station, exhausted but exhilarated for the next part of our Italian trip.
Submitted by Rebecca Lantner, MBA’15, for the CEL Artex team.
To learn more about this CEL Practicum team’s trip to Italy, read previous blog post.
