from Dean Laura Tonelli
The Montserrat Italy group started its second weekend in Italia with a day-long field trip throughout the region, led by “yours truly” in the Etrusca cap, painted by Viterbo alumnus Jim Falck.
I am sitting here with Liz Goodenough of Beverly.
First stop was the Etruscan necropolis of Cerverteri (a city of 30,000 people at its height c. 650 BCE that traded with groups from all around the Mediterranean, from Sardinia to Sicilly, Carthage to East Greece.) This is our Indiana Jones caper, dodging in and out of the tombs for several hours and getting lost on the Via degli Inferi. The most distinctive tombs are enormous mounds, covered in earth (and thus integrated into the landscape) with interiors carved out of the tufa to form replicas of Etruscan houses. The Etruscan art history students gave the tour to the whole group, describing different aspects of the architecture and decoration.
This is our Indiana Jones caper, dodging in and out of the tombs for several hours and getting lost on the Via degli Inferi.
Next stop was Tarquinia, with the spectacular painted tombs with banquet scenes of Monterozzi.
The Art History class paused to take in the view.
After a quick swim in the Mediterranean, we finished the day exploring the dazzling color-encrusted sculpture park built by Niki de St. Phalle and Jean Tinguely. The park is filled with characters from the Tarot, with the Empress-Sphinx serving as the house of the artist during the park’s construction.
Montserrat students Meghan Hawkes and Victoria Belisle catch the view from the top.
After gelati, acqua, and a pisolino (nap), we’re good to go again.
Next weekend – ROMA!
It is difficult for me to believe we’ve begun our 2nd week here in Viterbo. Arriving crunched up, sleep deprived and suddenly stepping into the heat and sunlight, now seems a distant memory. The first days are always a blur of arrival: settling into our apartments at the student residence or through the walled city, eating our first meal, blissfully falling asleep at the end of that very long first day. That first Saturday we have initial class meetings, find our way around the city, eat more together (this is Italy after all!) and spend a leisurely Sunday on the shores of Lago Bolsena.
