ROME, Italy - The BYU women’s soccer team enjoyed a leisurely trek from the Florence area south to Rome on Friday, entering the Italian capital at the end of a day that featured some of the finest natural and man-made scenery this history-rich country has to offer.
Buses took the team and its traveling party from the overnight headquarters in Arezzo, southeast of Florence, on a journey that ended mid-morning at the picturesque medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano, to Florence’s southwest. The fortress-enhanced village was once home to more than 70 towers of varying heights; in the modern day, about a dozen of the towers remain, and they cast shadows over the narrow streets and broad squares on a brilliant, warm and sunny day.
Climbing to the top of the fortress walls offered stunning views of the surrounding Tuscan landscape--a brilliant, rolling, verdant patchwork of vineyards, olive groves and trees. Free time allowed for casual exploration of the town center, and eager consumption of arguably the best gelato in all of Italy—and best in the world, as recognitions were thusly displayed at the shopfront.
Self-guided walking tours of San Gimignano were followed by a short bus ride to Fattorio Poggio Alloro, a hillside farm and dairy that hosted the team for a sumptuous lunch consisting of food produced from products grown and raised at the compound. Our group of around 80 was served courses of bread, cheeses, salami, pasta, salad, meat, and a mousse with pastry for dessert—all enjoyed under shade, with a commanding view of the countryside, including San Gimignano in the distance. It was the perfect way to punctuate a postcard morning. As part of the lunchtime break, goalkeeper Rachel Boaz was serenaded on her birthday, while her father Norm, a talented singer and voice coach, presented a light-hearted song, entitled “Gelato,” that he wrote, then sang a capella, in honor of the trip to Italy.
After lunch, it was back on the bus to continue the southward drive to Rome, which included an unscheduled side-trip to the ancient plateau town of Orvieto, first settled by the Etruscans in the 9th century, B.C. upon a foundation of volcanic rock. Attacked and destroyed by the Romans in the 3rd century B.C., Orvieto had a rebirth in the Middle Ages, and today features a grand central-square Duomo (cathedral) with an exterior as beautiful as any such building in Italy’s larger and more famous cities. Players, coaches and their families summited Orvieto via funicular train and a brief municipal bus ride.
Once in town, free time was occupied by strolling, shopping and locating some light dinner (and for some, such as myself, more gelato). After congregating as dusk fell at the Duomo, most in the BYU group walked downhill, through ancient streets, to meet the funicular for the descent back to the tour buses. The Cougars were then transported the rest of the way to Rome, pulling into the hotel after nightfall to rest up for a busy Saturday of sightseeing at the Vatican, Colosseum and other Rome landmarks.
BYU will on Sunday depart Rome for Sorrento, in Southern Italy, as the team prepares for the final two games of its four-match tour, next Monday in Naples and Tuesday, back in Rome. The Cougars have won their first two games by a combined 11-0 scoreline. Elena Medeiros and Madie Lyons have potted three goals apiece, while Ashley Hatch has scored twice. Michele Vasconcelos, Avery Calton and Carla Swensen-Haslam have also recorded goals in Italy.
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PLAYERS’ PERSPECTIVES—
Senior defender Miranda Bailey-Topham:
Today we had an early start and headed to beautiful San Gimignano in Tuscany. San Gimignano is simply breathtaking. When you think about Tuscany and imagine what it would look like, San Gimignano is exactly that! I can't even put into the words how beautiful it was. There were vineyards and green mountains that looked like they went on forever. The majority of places we have been on our trip so far have been more touristy and it was nice to be somewhere that was more quiet and peaceful. We had some free time to look around to see the different views and enjoy the beauty of Italy.
In San Gimignano there was a gelato place that was voted best in the world. We have eaten a lot (and I mean A LOT) of gelato and none have compared to the gelato in San Gimignano. If I could I would eat one every day!
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Senior goalkeeper Rachel Boaz:
Today was quite eventful. This trip has been absolutely amazing and today we had the opportunity to see hills and fields of greenery, vineyards, and cobblestone housing. I love Tuscany because it wasn't crowded and super touristy like the other places we've been to, but I felt very relaxed and we had stunning views all around us. Italy never seems to give me a dull moment.
Earlier in the week I lost my passport and some money due to careless watch over my belongings, and had to make a trip to the consulate in Milan for few hours to receive another passport. Everyone was really nice but Italians are never in much of a rush, so it took some major patience as I was reaping the rewards of that mistake. However, during that time I enjoyed getting to know the others who had to get American passports, and hear stories of how theirs got lost. One lady is teaching study-abroad in Italy and her daughter was the goalkeeper for University of Michigan during her college career. The people in Italy have been very kind, and it was a great learning experience.
Today I got to be completely relaxed in Tuscany amid the scenery I detailed earlier, and it was my birthday. I would say it has been one of the best birthdays I've ever had--not many get the opportunity to spend their birthday in Italy. I loved being with my team and parents here to share. I was sung to on the bus, on the top of the castle we toured, and at dinner. Alice, one of our tour guides, asked my father to write a song about gelato so for my birthday he dedicated it to me and sang it for the whole team. It was definitely creative, fun, and embarrassing all at once.
Following dinner we saw large white cows, fed them straw, and got to pet them. They were sweet. I wanted to take one home, but he may weigh more than the 50-pounds limit for airplane luggage. Later, after we left Tuscany, the team walked around a small village of stores, a large cathedral, and got food. While I was trying to capture the beauty on my camera, a pigeon pooped on my face and jacket. I suppose he wanted to say ‘Happy Birthday,’ too. It, too, made the day memorable for me. The weather was perfect, and this trip is a dream. Every day is a stunning adventure.
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You can follow the Cougars’ tour of Italy at BYUCougars.com and through the team’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.