After three days of intensive sightseeing we finally departured from Pisa and headed on to Volterra, where we were about to have the most important part of our Italian experience - international design workshops with american architecture students.
Three schools participated in it: Warsaw University Of Technology, University of Illinois and University of Detroit Mercy. We were divided into four teams consisting of both American and Polish students and a eiter a Polish, American or Italian tutor. Our main goal was to adjust and design the space near the four historical gates of Volterra, each team worked on a different gate. We had our class-time divided into teamwork, lectures, sightseeing Volterra and occasional presentations of our work. There was a special guest invited, an American architect David Miller who helped each group to work on their assignments. The workshop lasted for nearly two weeks, and we managed to produce pretty cool projects that on the last day were displayed on an exhibition, so that the residents of Volterra could see the results of our work.
The pictures above show the view we had from our windows. We were accomodated in Volterra Residentional College, a historic building that was renovated recently to be suitable for educational purposes. Living on the third floor I had an excellent view on the city centre and I couldn't stop admiring it every time I walked to the window.
Volterra is an etruscan city built on the top of a high hill. With tall walls (current walls are Roman, but some parts of them are still the remains of etruscan original ones) the city was well defended and hard to conquer. Most houses are built in stone, not painted at all what gives them a raw but somehow charming character. Because of it's location most streets are steep and narrow. On the northern slope of the hill there are ruins of a roman amfitheatre, which you can see from above. Well, from basically every point of the city there is a breathtaking view on the surrounding tuscan landscape, when the conditions are good it is possible to see the mediterrenian sea peaking through the hills, as well as the glowing lights of Pisa. After a few days we knew the city by heart.
Volterra is known for centuries for it's alabaster workshops. Just look at these statues!
The fun part: oh the workshop wasn't all about the design and architecture. We also were living by italian lifestyle, as our tutors used to say. At certain hours we all were to abandon our work and head to a restaurant for a delicious italian meal. Dining all together, students and teachers and chatting at various subjects. At 6 pm we were gathering at a terrace with a stunning view and had apperitivo, small italian snacks and a few glasses of prossecco. What a brilliant time.
We had our evenings free after that, so Polish and American students partied together in italian style. We had lots of best gelatos in the galaxy, and lots of wine.
The stay at Volterra was a brilliant experience all in all!
0 komentarze