Last week, the artists returned from their final field trip- Naples! Naples, where drying clothes adorn the balconies of the inner streets and Christmas lights illuminate the evening sky, is perhaps one of the more beautiful cities that we have been to.
Leaving early on a Saturday morning, we took a short train ride from Termini Station to Naples so that we could have a full day to explore the city. Upon arriving at the hotel, we hastily left our belongings and went back into the city to enjoy an authentic Neapolitan meal- fried pizza! After satisfying our hunger with a delicious meal, we continued our journey to see the more historical parts of the city, including the Chapel of San Gennaro and the Monte della Misericordia, a small church which displays a Caravaggio painting. As we were discussing the various elements of the painting, we ran into a contemporary artist who was teaching young children about Caravaggio as a means of helping those who are less fortunate with art. He later invited us to his work space, where we could see numerous drawings adorning the walls, with the little artists who made them quietly working on new projects under the illumination of candlelight. The purpose of this project, according to the artist, is to create a sense of peace in a city which is infiltrated by political corruption and poverty, an aspect of his work which has helped many underprivileged children find happiness and solace in something they can call their own.
We waved goodbye and headed to our next destination, one which differed completely from the scene we had just witnessed. In fact, we were headed to Castel Sant’Elmo, an ancient castle built as fortification against enemies during times of war. Although it was dark, we were able to see a fantastic view of the city. As we headed to our final destination, we stopped in a nearby bakery to sample some traditional Neapolitan sweets, including bread drizzled in a sweet rum sauce (baba). Reversing the sequence of events, we then went to have a group dinner at a popular pizza restaurant with Professor Luana Perilli and Professor Shara Wasserman. Finishing our delicious pizzas at 10pm, we went home, exhausted yet excited for the next day.