The Moody Traveler Returns to Florence 2019

Part III

An Exciting Side Trip to See an Opera!

One of my favorite parts of this trip was traveling by train to see an opera located in San Casciano, a small village in the commune of Casciano within the province of Pisa. I always wanted to see an opera performed in Italy and was lucky to find an online advertisement for Cavalleria Rusticana, performed by professional singers as a special benefit for the Parish Church of Saints Ippolito and Casciano and free to the public. When I researched my train tickets, I discovered it was about an hour and a half from Florence. However, when I arrived at the Santa Maria Novella train station, I found out I needed to purchase another ticket in order to take two trains! The taxi driver, Enzo, arrived in a small black town car and was very helpful and kind. He exclaimed to me that he did not know there was such a great show in his village and refused to charge me any money for the ride!

  • Hoping to make the show in time!
  • Beautiful scenery on the way to San Casciano
  • San Casciano Station
  • Waiting on what appeared to be a desolate street for Enzo the town car driver.
  • Enzo – a fabulous driver!
Waiting for a train and not sure if I would make it in time to see Cavelleria Rusticana was worth the stress after being picked up in a lovely town car by Enzo in San Casciano!

When I arrived at the front of the church there were at least two hundred people in the audience seated outside in white chairs. I had no trouble finding a seat. The beauty of the lit-up church was hypnotic. There was a full cast and musical accompaniment by a talented pianist and electronic organist. I was mesmerized by the spectacular voices of these singers! I felt like the luckiest person in the world and honored to attend a free show with such unbelievable talent.

Unknown's avatar

Author: vmcarson

Traveling has always been in my blood since I was very young. My family moved frequently to different locations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the United States due to my mother's teaching jobs. As a young girl, I would accompany my mother on bus trips to visit her relatives in different parts of the United States. Throughout my younger years, I could only dream of traveling to Italy and being fluent in the language. My father was Sicilian but rarely spoke in Italian. In 2013, my mother took me on my first international trip to Italy. I felt so fortunate to see Rome, Venice, Florence, and other regions of Tuscany. At that time, I became determined to return to Italy. I was obsessed with discovering the most economical way to solo travel. Eventually, I took a chance and learned along the way to solo travel. I was able to return to one of my favorite cities in Italy, Florence. In this area, I have enjoyed studying the Italian language and familiarizing myself with the art and culture. Furthermore, I have gained a new inner strength and the ability to expand my life. Every year, I try to explore and write about my travel experiences. I have made many wonderful friends and found endless new places to explore. It is my pleasure to inspire other travelers to unhook the inner fears of trying something that seems impossible. The results are incredible! You may contact me at vmcarson@aol.com with any solo traveling questions!

One thought on “The Moody Traveler Returns to Florence 2019”

Leave a comment