Professor Constance Schulz shared her experiences in Genova, Italy, with the Explorer’s Club.

Professor Constance B. Schulz began her presentation to the Explorer’s Club with something of a confession: “I’m really more of a tourist than an explorer.” And though her disclaimer was understandable considering her audience’s experiences, (their recent exploits ranged from searching for an endangered bird to traveling through Italy to “accidentally” hiking the Appalachian Trail). It was hardly an accurate description of her four month stay in Italy.

Schulz, a professor of public history at USC, recently won a Fulbright Scholarship, which not only encourages professors to teach abroad but allows them to venture far beyond the typical tourist experience. Schulz’s four months in Genova, Italy, gave her an insider’s view of the country’s coastal towns and allowed her to play tour guide to the Explorer’s Club through her pictures and descriptions of what she called, “My Genova.”

The city, where Schulz spent her four months teaching a US history course at the University of Genova, is nestled at the peak of the Ligurian Sea in western Italy. It’s an ancient city with a rich historical background. Genova claims to be the hometown of Christopher Columbus and was a center for art during the Renaissance period. Her photographs showcased the richly decorated palazzos with their elegant frescoes, the brightly painted houses, and the gothic cathedrals.

Her tour of Genova also provided insight into the day–to–day life of coastal Italy. Schulz experienced Genova as native Genovians do through the daily commute by train to the center of the city, shopping in the fish and fruit markets, swimming near the rocky beaches by her apartment, and learning to make use of the laundry line that hung out of her sixth story window.

Schulz also spent time traveling throughout Italy. She hiked to Portofino, which she described as a tourist town of pastel painted houses. She preferred the town of Conolli, a nearby fishing village whose buildings made use of the “Trompe l'oeil” architecture, a method in which architectural details are painted on and are indistinguishable from the building’s actual features.

Schulz also traveled to the Umbria region of Italy, an area that, though often overlooked by tourists in favor of the more famous Tuscany region, is just as beautiful. The countryside housed 12th century homes, old stone barns, and rolling green hills. It is also home to the town of Assisi. There, Schulz visited the St. Francis Basilica, a massive cathedral made of pink and white marble. Its sanctuary is adorned with frescoes and gothic architecture.

Schulz’s trip also included a visit to Siracusa, where she gave a lecture on US history while experiencing a little history of her own. She was able to walk amongst the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater, sit in the stands of a Greek theater, and explore an archaeological park.

Schulz said her only regret was she couldn’t spend a longer time in Italy. And while she reiterated her belief that she was only a tourist, her four–month stay provided her and the members of the Explorer’s Club with a taste of the richness of Italian culture.