Ferrari at the Modena Museum 

When my semester started, one of my goals was to get to know Italy outside of just Florence. What has helped me achieve this most was signing up for day trips offered by SAI. I met some of my best friends here and I was able to see cities such as Modena, Scandicci, Bologna, and Venice!

Balsamic Storage Barrels

The first day trip I took was to Modena. We did a tour and balsamic vinegar tasting at the Leonardi family farm first. They have been producing vinegar for over one hundred years and one of the vinegars we tried was even aged that long. We also had lunch at the farm which was one of the best meals I’ve had in Italy. Afterwards, we saw the Ferrari Museum and got to look at a selection of some of the newest and oldest models of the cars.

Mushrooms at the Farm

ZeroLab’s Scrap Collection

The second day trip I took was the Circular Economy trip to Scandicci just outside of Florence. We started the day by visiting the Funghi Espresso Circular Farm where we learned how they grew mushrooms out of coffee waste. We then got to sample one of the mushrooms and walk through the hills to their beautiful orchard. During the second part of the day after lunch, we went to the ZeroLab and did a leather workshop. We got to make bags out of scrap leather while learning about how the lab finds uses for the waste from the fashion industry.

Walking Through Bologna

Piazza Maggiore, Bologna

Next, my friends and I went to Bologna where we started with a food tour and amazing gelato. My favorite part was the tortellini in broth we tried. For the second half of the day, we had free time and my friends and I visited Piazza Maggiore, the towers of Bologna, and the Salaborsa library. The weather was really nice that day so we spent a lot of time out in the sun admiring the city’s architecture.

Gondola Ride with Friends

Canal in Venice

Lastly, SAI offered a day trip to Venice! When we got there, we took a walking tour and our guide told us some of the city’s most fascinating historical tales. We then broke for lunch where I tried squid ink pasta with a friend. After lunch, we took a gondola ride through the canals which was absolutely gorgeous. I was glad we were able to see Venice from both its streets and its canals. The rest of our day, my friends and I spent our time shopping and hunting down the best sweet treats in the city.

I am so thankful I was able to participate in these day trips as they really helped me see other cities. Each one was an amazing opportunity and I would highly recommend them to anyone else who wants to travel during their semester with SAI programs.