#SatwikaTattari
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Sorrento Week 11: End of an Era
I can’t believe my study abroad experience has come to an end. These two months have been some of the most memorable in my life and although I am ready to go home, I will definitely miss all the fun times I had. I will also miss sharing my experiences with others through this blog. For this last post I want to give some final thoughts on my experience and advice for future study abroad students!
One of the main things I wanted to touch on in my final post was transportation in Sorrento. The buses and train systems may seem a bit daunting to navigate at first but they are truly helpful to travel around and relatively cheap. I remember in the first couple of weeks when I was in Sorrento I walked for 40 minutes to get somewhere when I could have just used a bus to get there in half the time. Also, most people are always willing to help so I would definitely recommend asking someone.
I also wanted to mention my experience with GeoBlue insurance since I did have to use it once. When I was in Milan for a weekend I got an infection in my ankle that needed immediate attention from a doctor. Emergency rooms in Italy are a mess with wait times over 4 hours often so I was unsure what to do but I was able to connect with an individual doctor through the GeoBlue app and he was able to give me an appointment for the next morning. In addition, the doctor happened to be an American living abroad which made my experience much smoother. After the appointment, the doctor’s office was able to file a claim for payment and I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket except for the antibiotics which were only 20 euros. The appointment itself turned out to be 300 euros but since I was covered by GeoBlue (as required by IPE) it was very convenient. As a study abroad student, if you ever need medical attention I would recommend using the features offered on the GeoBlue app to find providers.
I also want to share some of my favorites in Sorrento/Italy throughout the time I’ve been here (credit to Reganne for the idea)
Favorite Restaurant: Taverna Azzurra - the salmon pasta is to die for
Favorite Desserts: Coffee gelato at Raki’s and strawberry + nutella crepes - I think I had gelato almost every day whether it was at Raki’s or David’s Gelateria and sometimes if I was feeling even more hungry I would get a crepe from this one place near the dorms (I don’t remember what it’s called)
Best Drink: Aperol Spritz - you either like it or hate it
Favorite City in Italy: Rome - you have to see the Colosseum
Most Beautiful Place: Capri - I really wanted to visit again after I saw it the first time but I unfortunately did not have enough time to.
Most Underrated: Ieranto Bay and Herculaneum - Ieranto Bay is about an hour bus ride from Sorrento and it seems like a lot of people don’t know about it since it is a bit secluded and you need to hike to get there. I highly recommend visiting if you’re visiting the Campania region. Herculaneum is an ancient city similar to Pompeii in that it was buried under ash during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius but it was preserved much better than Pompeii. I didn’t even know about it until I was in Sorrento but it is definitely worth visiting.
Honestly, I don’t think one blog post is enough to talk about all the amazing experiences I’ve had since I have been in Sorrento. There was so much to do and I feel like there is still more I would like to explore in Italy. I will definitely be returning in the future to see everything I missed. Most importantly, the exposure to new culture and lifestyles was definitely enriching and interesting to be a part of. There’s just so much to learn when traveling to a new place and I could not have asked for a better summer. And lastly, I made so many new friends (both from UofM and other universities) that I will cherish forever. Alla prossima!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 10: Last week in Sorrento!
I honestly can’t believe that I have already reached my last week in Sorrento! I feel like I have been here for an era but at the same time it feels like I just arrived last week. For my last week, I shopped for family and friends back home. I bought my dad a wine cork and a small Sorrento bowl for my sister. I also bought a Sorrento magnet for my fridge back home since my family always collects magnets when we visit a new place.
On Tuesday, our physics professors invited everyone in our class for dinner so we went to a local place they recommended. I got to try Panzanella (left pic) which is a dish that has bread soaked in water and then mixed with other ingredients - we had beans, tomatoes, and some other vegetables. I was surprised I hadn’t already had it while I was in Italy but it was really good. They even got a dessert board with a bunch of different cakes and other sweet treats. Also, our physics professors put umich stickers on their Vespas which was really funny to see.
My friend Marisa and I went to Ieranto bay for the last time where we went kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming again. This time I took a water-proof disposable camera so we got to take pictures underwater. There were so many fish in the water and the water was crystal clear. However, the current was much stronger this time so I was much more exhausted than when I snorkeled last time. I got to swim in the blue cave (first pic below) like last time and was able to show Marisa since she hadn’t been before. We also cleaned up the beach again since there was a lot of new trash washed up.
We had a farewell pool party held by CIS (study abroad third party program) which was also really fun. It was held at a beach club and we got to swim and have really good pizza. I will definitely miss the CIS on-site coordinator, Frankie, who was always a great help throughout the 10 weeks any time I needed something.
For our last night in Sorrento, we had a farewell event held by Sant’Anna Institute at a restaurant in Marina Grande that had a pretty view of the water and Mount Vesuvius. I took a lot of pictures with my friends and said bye to some of the staff who worked in Sant’Anna. I am definitely looking forward to going home but I will also miss all the fun times I had here.
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 9: Work Experience in Punta Campanella
Hey everyone!
Since the second session for the 10 week study abroad started at the beginning of July, I have been participating in a practical work experience at the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area. When I applied to study abroad in Sorrento I had the option to either take 11 credits or take 8 credits and participate in a work experience. I thought doing a work experience would be fun since I would get to work with people from different cultures and work styles.
Once I got into the Sorrento study abroad program I was contacted by the Sant’Anna Institute Internship coordinator who asked me about my interests and eventually matched me with the Punta Campanella MPA organization. It was only a 5 week program so I started during the second session (July). The work experience was twice a week for 5 hours but occasionally I worked extra hours if I had to miss a day.
The project I worked on had the goal of bridging the knowledge gap on fishing between the scientific community and locals in the Campania region in Italy. Since this region of Italy is on the coast, a lot of families depend on fishing for money but there are a lot of protected areas and endangered species that people aren’t aware of. To help this issue, two of the other interns and I worked on a template for a powerpoint that could be turned into a pamphlet to distribute to locals to inform them on local fish populations and types of fishing in relation to these fishes. There were other volunteers that worked with local fisherman to get data on their daily fishing which will eventually be used in the pamphlet. The project is still ongoing but I am glad I could contribute to the beginning of it.
The other part of my work experience was actually going to the Bay of Ieranto which is part of the marine protected area. The bay is an hour bus ride away from Sorrento but is definitely worth the journey. The bus takes you to Ieranto and then you have to hike for about 30-40 minutes to actually get to the bay. It is a protected area so most boats aren’t allowed and fishing is illegal. However, this does not stop a lot of people from still bringing their boats to fish for sea urchins and other species to sell for a huge profit. Because of this, there are always volunteers in kayaks monitoring to make sure boats don’t enter the bay unless authorized.
While I was there I got to explore the bay in a kayak, clean up the beaches which were unfortunately filled with washed up trash, go swimming, and even snorkel for some time! I got to see an underwater blue light cave which was definitely memorable. There was only some sunlight able to enter the cave which caused the water to look super blue/turquoise. I was definitely a bit scared to swim into the cave but it was worth it. I am so happy about my work experience and for anyone wanting to study abroad in Sorrento I recommend requesting to work here!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 8: Rome Once Again
Hey everyone! I went back to Rome again last weekend since my mom was visiting. Last time I went I didn’t get a chance to visit Vatican City (the smallest country in the world) and I also didn’t get to go inside the Colosseum which requires booking ahead of time or standing in a very long line. However, this time I booked a tour with my mom for the Colosseum and I also found a tour that took us through the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel.
To get to Rome, I first got on a train from Sorrento train station to Napoli Garibaldi station. These trains run very often so you don’t need to buy a ticket ahead of time (they will never be sold out). Once dropped off at the Garibaldi station, I just walked upstairs to Napoli Centrale (the main train station for traveling to different parts of Italy) to get on my train to Rome. The ticket from Centrale to Rome does need to be bought ahead of time as they can be sold out. The tickets aren’t too expensive usually ranging from 19-30 euros depending on what time you are traveling.
I reached Rome around 5:30 pm and met up with my mom which was nice since I felt homesick. We decided to visit the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain since we didn’t have anything previously planned. It was definitely a lot more crowded than last time since it was July and also we didn’t go early in the morning like I had before.
On Saturday, we woke up at 5:30 am so that we could go to Vatican City and get in line to see St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. We had a skip-the-line tour for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel but not St. Peter’s Basilica so we would have to wait in line to get in. These lines can get really long later in the day so my mom and I decided to go right when it opens at 7 am. We got to the basilica around 6:30 am and thankfully there was barely anyone there. Inside there was so much to see with different paintings hanging on some walls and the ceilings were also covered in art. There were also some cool sculptures and overall the basilica was huge. We also were able to buy a ticket for 8 euros to walk up to the top of the dome (entrance to the basilica was free). From the top of the dome we could see Rome in the distance with the Colosseum and Vittoriano which was amazing. After visiting the basilica, we decided to go back to Rome before our tour of the Vatican since we had a lot of time. My mom and I decided to go to the Pantheon and stood in line for a ticket. The wait wasn’t too long and the ticket to get in was only 5 euros.
Soon it was time for our tour of the Vatican Museums. I booked this tour through a third party website - GetYourGuide. I would recommend booking tours early since almost everything gets sold out in the summer. We met up with our tour group and walked to the Vatican together. We didn’t need to wait in a line but did have to go through security which didn’t take long. For the tour, we were given an audio device to hear the tour guide better. There was so much to see inside the Vatican but I don’t want to spoil everything so I’ll just say that my favorite parts were the School of Athens fresco and the ceiling in the Gallery of Maps.
On Sunday, my mom and I had our Colosseum tour at 9:30 am (booked on Trip Advisor). This was also skip-the-line so it was fairly easy to get in and then our tour guide told us about the history of the Colosseum which was built around 70-72 AD. It was cool to learn that the inside used to be all white marble until it was all taken out to be used for other buildings in later centuries.
After the tour we also had tickets to see the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill so we headed there to see more ruins from around the 8th century BCE. I still can’t believe I was able to see something so old. After this, we walked to Vittoriano which is a monument built to honor Victor Emmanuel ll. From the top of the monument you can see a nice view of Rome and there is also a cool museum inside. My second trip to Rome was amazing and I was glad to meet my mom. I think this is probably my favorite city in Italy and highly recommend anyone to visit if you are studying abroad in Italy!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 7: Weekend in Milan
Ciao :)
Unfortunately, this marks the last weekend trip I will be going on with my friends while studying abroad. We decided to go to Milan for the weekend and booked plane tickets since a train ride would be around over 8 hours. Similar to when I traveled to Barcelona, we took a shuttle from Sorrento train station to the Naples airport and from there flew to Milan Malpensa airport. Our airbnb was an hour away so we took an uber which wasn’t too expensive.
On Saturday, I first visited the Duomo di Milano with one of my friends. We didn’t go inside or to the rooftop since our tickets were for Sunday; however, we did take a lot of pictures and saw so many pigeons (idk why there were so many). It was a majestic building with so many carvings and windows. After that, we walked to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which is an extravagant shopping mall with many designer stores including the original Prada. It didn’t take long since the mall is right next to the Duomo. My favorite part was the center of the mall which had a huge dome and paintings on the sides. It was an amazing sight that I could not imagine seeing anywhere else.
Near the mall was a Starbucks roastery so we decided to stop by and I am glad we did. Inside we could see how coffee beans are roasted and different steps in making coffee. Moreover, the roastery had many unique Starbucks drinks you couldn’t get anywhere else. I decided to get a caffe gelato shake and my friend, Josie, got a drink with double espresso and hazelnut milk. The drinks were amazing and I wish they were available at other Starbucks. In addition, a nice girl sitting next to me decided to share her coffee plate with me since she got too much. I was really happy with the whole experience and suggest anyone visiting Milan to definitely go to the roastery.
We had to walk a bit further to get to our next destination - San Bernardino Alle Ossa. This is a church that is known for its ossuary which stores hundreds of human skulls placed behind a transparent frame. The chamber also has beautiful art on the ceilings but I didn’t stay for too long since the skulls were a bit scary.
For the rest of the day I walked around and saw other monuments such as the Arco della Pace and the Sforzesco Castle. Both were really cool and the day went by really fast from all the walking. Josie and I had a late lunch at Terrazza Aperol, a restaurant overlooking the Duomo. Of course, I got an Aperol Spritz and a salmon sandwich. The food and the view were great and I didn’t want to leave at all but we had one more place to visit. We wanted to go to the Navigli District where there was a nice canal. Since it was a bit farther to walk, we used the metro which got us there much faster. After walking by the canal and taking pictures, we came back to the airbnb before going out to dinner at Osteria da Fortunata where I got amazing spicy pasta!
On Sunday, we didn’t have much time since we had to catch a flight back to Naples but we were able to go inside the Duomo since we previously purchased tickets. I also got to walk up a long spiral of stairs to get the rooftop where I could see a mesmerizing view of the city. We then headed to the airport for our flight. It was a great last trip with my friends and I am glad I got to visit Milan before leaving Italy. Until next time!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 6: International Travel From Sorrento
Last weekend I went on my first international trip since studying abroad in Italy! I flew to Barcelona with a couple friends and stayed there from Friday night to Monday evening. This was the first time I was flying somewhere while studying abroad (all the other times I took trains). The airport we flew out of was Naples-Capodichino International Airport which is roughly 1.5 hours from Sorrento. The cheapest way to get to the airport is by catching a shuttle from the train station which is a 15-min walk from the Sant’Anna dorms. It cost me about 10 euros for the trip which is much cheaper than trying to take a taxi (below is a pic of the view on the way to Naples airport). We got to the airport around 3 hours before the flight so we had plenty of time to get through security and find our gate. Also, we all had to carry our passports which they only checked when we were scanning our boarding passes to get on the plane. The flight to Barcelona was only around 2 hours long and we landed in Barcelona around 11 pm. Luckily, transportation to our airbnb was provided by the company we booked with so we had no issues getting to our apartment.
While in Barcelona, we walked around to a lot of places and went sightseeing, but I think the highlight of the trip was seeing the Sagrada Familia. This is a Catholic church that is still being built after 140 years! It’s huge with 18 towers (once construction is finished) and lots of carvings depicting different parts of the Bible. We got tickets to go inside and I am really happy we did because the architecture inside was so beautiful. There were a lot of stained glass windows that shined in the sunlight. It was a great experience and I would highly recommend buying tickets to go inside if you’re visiting.
I also got to visit Park Güell which also has a lot of cool architecture by Antoni Gaudi. He also designed the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló, a famous house in Barcelona. I got to visit all these and my appreciation for Gaudi grew a lot since everything he designed looks so unique compared to what I usually see.
Of course, I can’t end this blog post without talking about food. I honestly had some of the best food while in Barcelona. It was nice to have a break from pasta :) On Saturday, I got some smoked salmon toast that has avocado, mango, and arugula. It was probably the best toast I’ve ever had. I also had paella since it is a classic Spanish dish. Essentially, it’s rice with saffron and meat/seafood served in a large pan. I got seafood paella and split it with one of my friends since the serving was too big for one person. Every meal I had in Barcelona is one I will never forget because they were all that good! I hope I can go back soon to experience everything again. Bye!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 5: So Many Bridges in Venice
Hey everyone! I can’t believe I am already halfway through my study abroad program. Last weekend, some of my friends left since they were in a 5 week program but hopefully I’ll see them again in the future. Over the weekend, I went to Venice which was really nice. It was around a 5 hour train ride (maybe a little more with delays) from Naples to Venice. We left Friday around 2 pm and the train was super comfortable and honestly it didn’t even feel like 5 hours. When we reached Venice, it was pretty late and pouring outside but we had to walk 40 minutes to get to our Airbnb (we couldn't get a taxi since Venice has so many canals and only walking bridges). I think we walked over at least 6 bridges on the way since there are so many canals. By the time we made it, my friends and I were soaking wet which is an experience I will never forget. We stayed on the island and not the mainland since we found an Airbnb for a good price and it was super convenient to travel around from where we stayed.
On Saturday, I visited a cute bookstore - Libreria Acqua Alta. Here, we could look at books stored in gondolas, cool posters, and postcards of Venice. They also had some books stacked outside as makeshift stairs where a lot of people take photos. It was something unique to Venice so I was glad to visit. After we visited the bookstore, we went to see St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. Although I didn’t get a chance to go inside, the view from outside was amazing. Both structures had beautiful architecture and the basilica had colorful art on the outside.
My favorite part of the day was the gondola tour. We booked a tour ahead of time on Tripadvisor for around $38 and met our tour guide at a predetermined location. After a 15-min walking tour, we got on a gondola that took us around the canals. It was so exciting to finally go on a gondola since I had been seeing them online for years. It also felt calming to be sitting in the gondola and just appreciating all the views. I would highly recommend anyone who is visiting Venice to definitely go on a gondola!
Some of the other things I did in Venice were visit the Bridge of Sighs, Scala Contarini del Bovolo (a spiral tower/building), and Rialto Bridge. All of these were tourist spots but it was definitely worth it to see them.
I also had really good pasta in Venice. Unfortunately, I don’t remember what the places were called since we usually just walked around and found somewhere to eat. I really liked two meals which were the shrimp and zucchini pasta and the salmon pasta. It was a great trip, and I hope I can visit again sometime in the future before the city submerges. Until next week!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 4: Roaming in Rome
Hi everyone - this past weekend I visited Rome and it was definitely the most I ever walked in two days. We booked an airbnb to stay in ahead of time and then went on a train Friday afternoon to get to Rome. My friends and I first had to get on a train from Sorrento to Naples and then switch to another train to get to Rome. The total travel time should have been around 2.5 hours but due to delays it took us around 1-2 hours extra.
I woke up around 5:30 am Saturday morning and got ready quickly so that we could get a head start on seeing everything around the city. Later in the day the crowds would be far too big which is why we decided to start the day early. We first went to the Spanish Steps which was around a 20 min walk and took a lot of pictures. We then quickly headed to the Trevi Fountain which was already starting to get crowded even though it was only around 7:30 am. The fountain was mesmerizing with its detailed sculpture of Oceanus in the center. After that, we walked to the Pantheon which was about 10 minutes away. Here, we went to a small cafe that had the best chocolate croissants. I also got an iced coffee which felt amazing considering it was super hot outside.
After eating breakfast, we waited in line to get into the Pantheon. Inside we could see a lot of art and sculptures that were hundreds of years old. I also loved the domed ceiling inside which had a circle window in the middle that let in sunlight. We also saw a couple of birds fly into the Pantheon which was really interesting to see.
Throughout the day, we kept walking around and seeing different churches and ruins around the city. My legs were so sore when we were done around 3 pm but it was worth it. For lunch we got pasta near the Spanish Steps where they had a deal for 1 lb pasta for $4.50. I recommend anyone who visits Rome to go here since you get so much pasta for a very cheap price.
On Sunday, we went to a huge flea market where they were selling numerous things from clothes to jewelry to souvenirs, and more. I ended up buying a dress and a Rome magnet. We also visited the Colosseum which might’ve been my favorite site in Rome. After visiting the Colosseum we headed to the train station to come back to Sorrento. I was sad to leave the city but I was glad I was even able to visit and see all these old monuments. See you next week!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 3: Pompeii and Bagni Regina Giovanna
Hey everyone! Sorry I missed posting last week; I was very busy and having a lot of fun :) I finally visited Pompeii and was blown away by the ruins from 79 AD!
I don’t have class on Wednesdays so I woke up early and got on a train with some friends to visit Pompeii. The train ride was less than an hour since Pompeii isn’t too far from Sorrento. We got there around 9:30 am (I think) and scanned our online tickets to enter the site. We decided to use a Rick Steves audio walking tour that was free through an app instead of paying for a tour. This way we could take our own time walking around to see everything. Inside the archaeological site, we were able to see ancient ruins from almost 2000 years ago. Even though Mt. Vesuvius erupted and destroyed a lot of the city, we were still able to catch a glimpse of how the Romans lived. It was so interesting to see how advanced their society was from their paintings to their architecture. They had public baths and even had fast food for the poor people who didn’t have a kitchen similar to what I saw in Herculaneum. I think my favorite part was the amphitheater. It was breathtaking to see how big the theater was and imagine what kinds of events were held there in ancient times.
Another highlight of my week was going to Bagni Regina Giovanna. This is a beach about a 40 minute walk from the dorms and is a popular tourist spot since it is secluded and there are some ruins nearby. The hike to this place was tiring since it was so hot outside but the view from the beach was completely worth it. My friends and I swam to some rocks in the distance and laid there for a while. I unfortunately cut my legs on the sharp rocks but it was worth it since I had so much fun. I also saw a crab which freaked me out but I was fine in the end. I will definitely be going back to swim there again and I highly recommend anyone visiting Sorrento to visit this place! If you don’t want to walk there are also buses that can drop you off near the beach.
I can’t believe my 3rd week in Sorrento went by so fast. It was so enjoyable and I can’t wait to visit more places in the coming weeks!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento, Italy
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Sorrento Week 2: Capri + Cooking in Italy
Ciao!
My second week in Sorrento was very eventful! On Monday, I went to a wine tasting event hosted by CIS (company that helped arrange study abroad). Here, we tried 3 different wines which all had distinct flavors. They also had several different meats + cheeses to eat with the wine which was interesting to try. I really enjoyed this experience since I got to also see where/how they make the wine.
Later in the week, I visited Capri, an island around 25 min away by ferry from Sorrento. The round trip for the ferry was around 40 euros. My friends and I left in the morning around 9 am to spend the whole day on the island. In Capri, we first visited Giardini di Augusto (Gardens of Augustus). There were amazing views of the ocean from here since we had to hike uphill for 20 minutes to actually reach the gardens. After that, we went to a perfumery nearby (pic below) and I bought a locally made perfume that has a lemon scent. I also got a pizza with sausage and broccoli leaves at a restaurant. Next, we walked to a beach that had really blue/turquoise water. The water was super cold but it felt good since it was so hot outside. We couldn’t spend too much time at the beach since we had to hike to the other side of the island to get back to the pier where we would board our ferry back to Sorrento. I don’t think I’ve ever walked as much as I did that day. There were so many stairs we had to climb to reach the gardens and also when we walked back from the beach. Still, it was an amazing experience and I will definitely be visiting Capri again before I leave Italy.
Since I have arrived in Italy, I have cooked most of my meals. It’s super cheap to buy groceries in Sorrento with me spending less than 30 euros for an amount that would generally be over $50 in the US. Also, it is relatively expensive to eat at restaurants since Sorrento is a touristy place so I have been cooking a lot more. Our dorm building has 6-7 kitchen stations and based on your room you have an assigned station. At each station there are stoves, utensils, pots, fridges, and more for people to use. I only need to buy my own food to cook and everything else is provided. Over the past two weeks, I have cooked an insane amount of pasta but I’ve also made pan seared chicken, pizza, and tacos. However, one thing I have realized is that a lot of produce spoils faster since there are less added preservatives. I go to the grocery store more than once a week because of this but the walk isn’t too bad. I have been to a couple of restaurants including one near the beach where I had fried calamari and shrimp. I also had ravioli twice which was amazing but I think the best food I’ve had is the local special - gnocchi alla sorrentina (first pic). All the meals I’ve had in Italy have been really enjoyable and I am super happy about that. I think my two weeks in Sorrento have been really successful! Be back next week :)
From left to right: gnocchi, lemon cake, fried calamari + shrimp, ravioli, homemade pizza.
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 1: Transportation in Sorrento/Amalfi Coast
Hey everyone! I had an amazing time during my first week in Sorrento. During this past week, I was able to not only explore Sorrento but also visit Herculaneum, Amalfi, and Positano. All three places were unique and so interesting to experience.
In Sorrento, I spent a lot of time just walking around and exploring small shops and trying food at different restaurants. I’ve probably had pasta at least once every day since I’ve been here. Anyways, Sorrento is not too big of a town so most people just walk around to get places. For example, the nearest grocery store is about a 15 minute walk so I just go every couple of days and walk back to the dorms with my groceries in hand. There are still cars, mopeds, etc., but it seems most people walk around and I have found that to be most convenient as well. I also included a picture below of the local dish, gnocchi alla sorrentina, which you can get in almost any restuarant. I also had to add a picture of gelato since I've been eating some pretty much every day.
On Wednesday I didn’t have any classes so I visited Herculaneum, an ancient Roman town that was preserved by ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted. I went with Reaganne, another IPE student and we had a fun time! We took the train to get there and I believe it took about an hour or a bit less to arrive in the city of Ercolano where we walked for about ten minutes to reach Herculaneum. Overall, it was very easy to use the train since there is only one that goes out of Sorrento. Seeing all the ruins was so exciting since this town was from around 79 AD. I was mesmerized by the skill of the architects and artists that were a part of this town. It took about 2 hours to see the whole excavation site and then we got on a train back to Sorrento. This was a bit more difficult since there is more than one train leaving from Ercolano. However, we saw signs on the trains with their destinations so we were able to get on the right one. Essentially, using trains to travel from one city to another in this area seems easiest. Moreover, the train there and back only cost me a total of 6.20 euros.
On Saturday CIS hosted a boat tour for us and they first took us to Amalfi which was around a 2 hour boat ride. It seems that most people who want to visit towns on the Amalfi coast take ferries or boats since this is the easiest way. In Amalfi, some of my friends and I visited an old church - Duomo di Amalfi. It was extremely beautiful with intricate art on the ceilings and detailed sculptures. After Amalfi, we got back on the boat and visited another town - Positano. This town was also so pretty with so many shops and restaurants. I got really good gelato here and then spent some time on the beach. Overall, it was an amazing day. Below are pictures of the church we visited, the Amalfi coast, and also a random street in Amalfi.
Essentially, it seems that the main form of transportation in southern Italy is walking. I think it’s really fun walking everywhere since I am not really used to it back home. For traveling between cities, I think trains and boats are popular but I have also heard using buses is another option although I haven’t tried that yet. Hopefully this information was helpful for anyone wanting to visit!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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Sorrento Week 0: Moving Into Sant'Anna Dorms
Hey everyone! My name is Satwika and I am a rising sophomore majoring in Space Sciences and Engineering. For some background, I decided to study abroad at Sant'Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy after seeing amazing pictures online of Sorrento overlooking the Gulf of Naples. While I am in Sorrento, I will be taking two courses - Physics 2 and an elective on human rights. During the second half of my study abroad I will also be completing an internship with a local organization.
ARRIVAL
Once I landed in Naples International Airport, I took a bus with other students in the CIS study abroad program (people from all over the US) to Sorrento. On the way, I got an amazing view of Mount Vesuvius which is known for the demise of Pompeii. Also during the bus ride, I noticed that a lot of houses had clothes hanging to dry on balconies which was interesting since I never see that in the US.
After around 1.5 hours, we all got off the bus and went separate ways since some students opted to live in apartments in the city. I, however, wanted a view of the water so I chose to live in the dorms. Below is a view of the Gulf of Naples from my dorm window! I also really like the room in general. It's super cozy and we even get our own bathroom/shower for the room. In addition, our classes are held in the same building as the dorm so I just need to walk down a flight of stairs and I'll be in my classroom
Also, while exploring the Sant'Anna building today, I came across the student lounge which had flags from many different universities which participate in the Sant'Anna study abroad program. Unfortunately, there wasn't one for U of M since this is the first year of IPE Sorrento but hopefully there will be one before next year.
Overall, I am super excited for my next two months in Italy. I am hoping to meet a lot of new people and learn about Italian culture. I might also visit some other cities in Italy and will definitely share my experiences if I do!
Satwika Tattari
Space Sciences and Engineering
IPE: Engineering in Sorrento
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