Ciaowdy! Today was filled with exploration, excitement, and one euro bathroom breaks. The group left the hotel early in the morning for a day trip to Perugia, which lies roughly 36 miles southeast of Hotel Park in Castiglione Fiorentino. Upon arrival, we met up with our tour guide, Maura Baldoni, and roamed around Rocca Paolina, a Renaissance fortress built in 1540-1543 by Pope Paul III during the Salt War. The gritty texture of the stone-cold walls sent us back in time to the 16th century; at that time, Maura explained, the Pope ordered the people to buy salt locally at an unreasonable price. In response, the people boycotted salt, angering the Pope and serving as a catalyst for the ensuing Salt War. In its current state, the fortress is mostly destroyed and many of the parts still standing are heavily damaged. This is due to the hatred the Perugian people have for Pope Paul III and his policies that caused the Salt War.

As we explored the city, we were greeted with several beautiful panoramas of Perugia and the surrounding area, providing the perfect opportunity to photograph the Italian landscape. Today’s hit, however, was undoubtedly the Perugian chocolate. As we entered the shop, we were bombarded with the various scents of the different chocolates. From Baci to fondente, they were selling it all, and we were the buyers! One of the favorites was the classic Baci, and some families may expect some when their students return home.

After we returned from Perugia, students prepared for their Pecha Kucha presentations. Students presented on topics such as trains, food, coffee, and safety. Groups clearly put a lot of effort into their presentations, especially given the short time-frame in which they were allowed to work on them.

For dinner, the group was treated to a traditional Indian buffet, a nice break from the regular routine of pasta. It was one of the favorite dinners of the trip thus far, and there is no doubt that students appreciated some new flavors. As always, the night came to a close with gelato. With our stay coming to a close in Castiglione Fiorentino soon, it will be interesting to see what everybody’s favorite flavors are!

Signing off,

Abdulrahman Sayedahmed  ’22 & Alex Labbane ‘22