The world is a big place, but that never stopped La Plata’s resident Story Time friend, Robbie the Raccoon, from exploring it!
A few weeks ago, he went on a trip overseas with one of our librarians. They had a great time exploring and an even greater time learning about a whole new country.
Luckily, our trashcan-dwelling friend made our librarian his personal photographer, so he brought back several travel photos with him for you all to see!
So where did Robbie go? He went to the boot-shaped country across the sea: Italy!
His first stop was the beautiful, historic city of Florence (or Firenze, to the locals). One of the major centers of the Italian Renaissance, Florence became a hotspot for writers, painters, sculptors, scientists, philosophers, and theologians. With its cobble-lined streets, unique architecture, and beautiful artwork, Florence is a must-see for travelers (or raccoons)!
In this photo, we find him at San Lorenzo, a basilica in the heart of Florence. Here you can see the crest of the Medici, an influential family of bankers who became the patrons of several famous scientists and artists, including Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Galileo. Their reach spread far and wide, with their crest placed on famous works of art and cathedrals in Florence. Though their initial wealth came from the textile industry, it was their banking system that they became famous for. The systems they made are still used today in modern banking!
A four-hour bus ride later and Robbie found himself at his next destination, Assisi. Found in the region of Umbria, this area is renowned for its mountainous landscape and fertile valleys. An agricultural center for vineyards, olives, and black truffles, this region has amazing natural beauty (and equally amazing food), with the city of Assisi seemingly untouched by time. Assisi is also famous for Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, simply known today as Francis of Assisi, who created the Franciscan Order. The Franciscan architecture of Assisi (such as the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi) has been labeled a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000.
After one final bus ride, Robbie found himself in the Eternal City: Rome. With ruins of the Roman Empire spread out all over the city, it’s hard not to stop and appreciate how people created these amazing structures thousands of years ago! From the Coliseum, which could hold 50,000 spectators, to the Roman Forum, which was used for public meetings, trade, ceremonial events, and court business, there’s always something to see. Today, many of the old buildings have been repurposed for modern use, such as the Pantheon (which you can see Robbie posing in front of). Originally a Roman temple, it is used as a church in modern times.
There’s more of Italy to talk about, but Robbie only took so many photos. He was too busy eating Caprese sandwiches and being sick on plane rides to show you more.
However, if you want to learn more about the country, why don’t you check out some books about it? Below you’ll find a list of just some of the great titles CCPL has to offer! We have informational books, travel guides, and online resources so you can learn more about Italy until you can see it for yourself.
Until then: Arrivederci!
