Welcoming Day in Accademia di Belle Arti Bologna ( specially for Erasmus Students)

Long avaited day when the study year in Accademia di Belle Arti Bologna officially begins. From 9 am in the morning the academia was crowded with international students, who came from different sides of the world. Me and others were waiting in the queue to register and receive a student ID card. Everyone was looking forward to enroll in this institution. The Erasmus coordinators were really friendly and helpful and in couple minutes I already had my student ID card.

Afterwards, we were invited to take a tour of Bologna center. The first destination and the meeting point was ' Santa Maria della Vita' close to Piazza Maggiore. It was a nice sanctuary house with amazing reliefic decorations and impressive sculptures. To my surprise, inside the chapel's oratory was Pierre Gonnord's ( WORKERS)- FOTO/INDUSTRIA'15 exhibition. The pictures were places on the walls inside the religious space. This room was flashing from luxurious, golded decorations and ornaments. Its ceiling was covered in frescoes related to the religious theme. In end of the praying room, in the center, I could observe Alfonso Lombardi ' Transito della Vergine'. Later on me and the group returned to the sanctuary where Nicolo from Apulias 'The Compianto su Cristo Morto' sculptures were exhibited.

Because our tourguide in Bologna was an Art History teacher, our Erasmus group was like having a history lectures on the way. Each detail of the city had its own historical heritage which was explained to us, with a deep relevance to art development in Bologna and the world. Each speach was presented to us in Italian language and then translated to English. That was a really welcoming gesture from the Accademia's di Belle Arti Bologna Erasmus coordinator. That allowed for students, who were not completely understanding Italian language, relax and enjoy the Welcoming day. In fact, at that time, I was hardly used to a fast Italian speach, so English translations helped me a lot to be aware of everything.

After ' Santa Maria della Vita', the next short stop was the Piazza Maggiore. It is the central square of Bologna, not far away are located the medieval structures - The Two Towers ( Due Torri). They are the landmark of the city. When I first saw them, the first feeling was, that I really want to clib to their top and see Bologna city from a high view. Probably the images taken there would be stunning. Unfortunately, that is not possible for me till I graduate from Coventry University - as there is a legend that if the student, who have not yet finished the university climbs these towers, he will never ever graduates. I think I can wait..... Also, these Two Towers became an introduction point to our Erasmus group. Only then I have realised how many creative people from different countries came on Erasmus period. There were students from Hong Kong, Canada, France, Turkey, England and more. That was an amazing feeling to be one of them.

The last Bologna tour stop was completely near the Accademia di Belle Arti Bologna. It was the other FOTO/INDUSTRIA'15 exhibition - David Lachapelle ( LAND SCAPE).

At 4 pm all Erasmus group returned to the main chapel of Accademia di Belle Arti Bologna (Aula Magna) . Which is now the presentations and lectures' theater. There we were welcomed by the academias leader. Afterwards, there was the presentation of next weeks study timetable and other important information. Then followed the tour around the academia and its classes. At the end all Erasmus student were invited together to have a welcome dinner. To tell the truth, I was not expecting it to be so nice: there was a table of Italian traditional cuisine and different drinks to choose from. All students and Erasmus coordinators could sit together, relax and enjoy pleasant conversations at the same time getting to know each other better. I had a great time and made a lot of new friends that day.