Saturday, April 30, 2016

My life in Modena (IV)

In the fourth weekend, I went to Bologna for one day trip. I marked some touring sites on my google map so that the trip would be efficient. The most impressive site was the Anatomic Theatre of the Archiginnasio, built in 1636 and once destroyed by bombing during the World War II. When I sat on the seats that once have been sitten by medical students hundreds of years ago, it only reminded me the amphitheater in my medical school, which was similar to this anatomic theatre. The modern western medicine in fact started during that period from anatomy, and Bologna was one of the centers for medical education in Europe. Then I found Lugi Gavani's tomb and birthplace to pay my tribute. And I also saw an Italian giving speech on a box in Piazza Maggiore, just like what people do in the Hyde park in London, though there were very few audience. The other famous people need to be mentioned are Laura Bassi, the first woman professor in the world, Giosue Carducci, the Italian poet and 1906 Nobel laureate on literature, Farinelli, the Italian castrato singer, and Ottorino Respighi, the Italian composer, who also lived and were buried in Bologna.  


















































Monday, April 25, 2016

My life in Modena (III)

Now three weeks have passed, sono qui da 3 settimane, e lavorato tutta la settimana scorsa. Today is Italian's liberation day, I biked to the town, and walked into the parade and piazza concert by locals. I walked behind the orchestra group, feeling myself one of the Italians, with proudness and happiness. People loitered on the streets and piazzas, having chats, drinking espresso, or eating gelati. It was a relaxed sunny afternoon. I stared at the gargoyles on the wall of the cathedral, which was built 1000 years ago, and saw the happiness and cuteness in their face. I passed several statues, but all looked like Dante to me.