When in Rome- Day 3

On our third day in Rome, we got up and went off to go sightseeing at the Coliseum and Ancient Forum.  They were closed the previous days due to all the flooding, but we finally got to see them on our last day in Rome. 

Unlike the United States, where you have to drive through a state park or something and then get to see whatever you’re planning on looking at, in Italy you’re just walking through the streets and then random famous buildings and structures appear.  That’s what happened with the Coliseum. We were just walking along and bam, there’s one of the most famous and ancient buildings in the world. 

We go inside, our amazing professor gets us audio-guides, and we break off and start going around the Coliseum at our own pace.  Basically I just marveled at how ancient this building was the entire time and listened to how gladiators would fight to death in the arena (which is the Italian word for sand, by the way. Since the bottom of the Coliseum was filled with sand, it was referred to as an arena. Cool right?)  

Because you have to take selfies in the Coliseum

Arch of Constantine

After the Coliseum, we waked through the Ancient Forum.  There's not really much I can tell you about it, since I currently don't know much about it and we rushed through it in order to make it back to the hotel on time....but here are some pictures!

Our other excitement for the day was waiting for the bus to take us back to the hotel. We waited over half an hour on one side of the street for a particular bus and we were exhausted by this point. We even started playing charades because we were so bored. Since we weren't having any luck on that side of the street, we switched sides. Literally five minutes after we switched, our bus came. And we ended waiting another twenty minutes on the other side of the road until we finally gave in and decided to take the metro.  On our walk to the metro, our professor told us she would buy us a taxi because she was over it. We said no. For some absurd reason we were bound and determined to make our way back by ourselves on public transportation.  Why we decided to take a metro instead of a taxi that we didn't have to pay for, I'll never know...

And here are a few more random pictures of Rome....

Saint Peter's Basilica

The Spanish Steps, which, of course, were also under renovation

Selfies on the Spanish Steps

Taken while we were waiting on the bus...

Within The Vatican

The next morning was the morning we were going to the Vatican.  This is the moment I was most excited about during the entire Italy trip, and it did not disappoint.  We met our guide and he first led us throughout the museums and the galleries.  To be honest, I wasn’t really paying attention while we were going through the museums.  I knew that soon we would be inside the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica, so I didn’t really care so much for the ancient statues in the museums.  I was too built up with emotions to think about anything but those two places.

Before I knew it, I was standing inside the Sistine Chapel.  In the same place were the Cardinals have conclave to elect a new Pope, with one of the most famous pieces of artwork on the ceiling above me.  As cheesy as it sounds, I was instantly overwhelmed with emotions.  The Chapel was full of people, but that didn’t take away anything from my experience.  Standing right under Michelangelo’s Creation and right beside the last Judgment, there wasn’t really anything I could do but try to take it all in. The beauty in the paintings is indescribable; the little details, the gentleness in the figures, and the stories that are being portrayed all combined to create this beautiful piece of art.  Also, while we were there, a priest of the Vatican lead a prayer inside the Sistine Chapel, so that was also an incredible experience. For the first time in a while, I felt the power of religion and the belief that there is a force out there that is more powerful than us, and that I should trust it.  Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures from the Sistine. As the chapel is a place of such significance, beauty and Holiness, not only is it completely disrespectful to take pictures, it was also forbidden. But here are a few off of Google so you have some idea of where I was.

This is the famous Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo

After the Sistine Chapel, we went inside Saint Peter’s Basilica.  If you remember, I mentioned how we all had to give presentations on a different church in Italy; mine was Saint Peter’s Basilica.  St. Peter’s is one of the largest churches in the world, full of countless artwork and beauty.  Also, the dome of St. Peter’s was designed by Michelangelo and is the tallest dome in the world.  I could give you so much information on this amazing structure, but won’t bore you with the little details, but if you want to know, ask me and I'll gladly give you a history lesson.

When I first stepped foot inside, I won’t lie, I cried.  It was overwhelming.  You can’t help but first marvel at the size and then just take in what’s around you.  The golden radiance, the little details that create this huge wonder and the prominent pieces of artwork that are housed inside.  The first thing that eyes are automatically drawn to is the Bernini’s Baldacchino, the bronze, pavilion-like structure above the alter and under the dome.  Not only is this the largest bronze structure in the world, but also marks the spot where the crypt of Peter the Apostle lies beneath. 

Directly behind the Baldacchino is Bernini’s other work, the Throne of Saint Peter.  The Throne of Saint Peter is literally a chair that is believed that Saint Peter sat in himself (but actually dates back to the 12th century), that Bernini enshrined to prevent deterioration.  The Throne is being held up by four large, bronze statues that represent Doctors of the Church.  Above the throne, is a window of yellow alabaster.  When the light shines through the window, it illuminates the center, a dove that represents the Dove of the Holy Spirit.   

Also within St. Peter's is another famous sculpture by Michelangelo, The Pieta.  It's a marble sculpture of Mary holding Christ after his crucifixion.  Seeing works by Michelangelo will never cease to amaze me. Fun fact: the sculpture is now behind glass due to a mentally-ill man coming in the church and taking a hammer to the work. 

We had a tour guide that was guiding us all around all day, and honestly I did not listen to a word that he said while in St. Peter’s.  I wanted to create my own experience in Saint Peter’s rather than him creating it for me.

The dome of Saint Peter's, designed by Michelangelo

The facade (front) of Saint Peter's Basilica

Saint Peter's Square

The trip to the Vatican was probably the most moving trip I have had in Italy. Nothing will ever compare to the art, history, and religion that are within the walls of the Vatican.  

When In Rome: Day 1

Sorry I’m not keeping up with my blog as much!! It’s coming to end of the semester here, meaning juries, finals, and a huge history paper.  But anyways, here’s a little about my weekend in Rome!

Rome was absolutely fantastic! It’s somewhere I was really excited to visit before I came to Italy but that excitement continually decreased as people kept talking about how awful it was. However, I loved it, well besides all the floods. Seriously. I mean the Coliseum and the forum were closed when we first got there due to flooding.

So our first day, after dropping off our things at the hotel, we took a bus to the Pantheon.  This bus was so crowded. I’m the type of American who likes having their personal space, however, I don’t think the elderly man behind me understood that concept. He was definitely intruding my personal bubble.

The bus ride was worth it when we reached the Pantheon.  This building is so ancient and yet so beautiful.  It’s one of the oldest churches in Rome, otherwise known as “the big church with the hole in the ceiling.” Which is true, but is part of what makes it so special.  The dome of the Pantheon has a large, natural sunlight to bring in light, or that day, rain.  The Pantheon is also home to Raphael’s tomb, another special factor. And if you’ve seen or read Angels and Demons, it’s one of the places the main characters travel to in both the book and movie.  I could go off about the history of the Pantheon, but I won’t bore you.

The outside of the Pantheon

The natural skylight in the dome

Selfie just because

Raphael's Tomb

If you notice the little hole in the dome on the right, that is the hole that Brunelleschi cut when designing the Florence Duomo

After touring one of the other presented churches (in case I haven’t mentioned, each person had to give a presentation on a different church in Italy), we had a wonderful lunch. The best gnocchi con quarto formaggio (a cheese sauce) I have ever had.  We also had a glass of strawberry infused wine, which the Italians liked to call “sexy wine.” It was delicious and didn’t even taste like wine. So, if you’re not a big wine drinker, this is one to try.

After lunch, we had some experiences chasing after buses, almost dying in taxis and whatnot until we finally made it to the Borghese Gallery. Here we escaped the torrential downpour and saw many pieces of art by artists such as Raphael and Bernini.

Borghese Gallery

My favorite piece of art in the Borghese, Bernini's Apollo and Daphne

Later that evening, we made a trip to the Capuchin Crypts. Yay, another trip through a crypt and to a monastery, right? No. This was completely different than any experience I have had. These crypts are elaborately decorated with the bones of Friars from the monastery, dating back to the 1600s. That's right, human bones. Even the chandeliers were made from bones. It was just so eerie seeing real skeletons, actual bones that once was a real person. Also in the first crypt there was a sign that read "What you are now we used to be; what we are you will be." That was scarier than any movie or haunted house I have ever been it, yet it was so amazing. There is nothing else like that in the world. Also, I do not have pictures, because it's obviously forbidden for people to take pictures something so scared, but here are a few from Google I found

Everything you see in these pictures are made from human bones, to the obvious skeletons to the little decorations on the walls

 

The rest of the night consisted of dinner, gelato, and seeing the Trevi Foundation, which to our disappointment is under construction for a year.  One of the items on my bucket list has been to make a wish in Trevi Fountain, I guess I’ll just have to come back at some point to complete it!

More Pictures!

So here are just some more random pictures from this semester!

All of these pictures are from our girls weekend trip to Cinque Terre!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=984522818229705&set=vb.100000159894773&type=2&theater

And this is the link for the video of me cliff jumping!

Dr. Kennedy has finally joined us! Group picture at the Villa i Tatti in Florence!

Our little cruise family in Florence

Selfie with our student life coordinator, Genevieve! 

One of our favorite hang out places in Arezzo, Bloom

And this is what happens basically every weekend.  We travel constantly, typically early in the mornings, so there is a lot of sleeping on trains. 

Just an Overview and More Pictures from Fall Break

For the future Italy students, if you are ever debating about what to do for fall break, I highly recommend taking a cruise. It was the perfect combination of relaxation and sampling of cultures.  We didn't have to wait in airports, pay for dinner every night, or worry about any form of transportation. It's also the much safer option. 

You also meet so many people! We found another group of college students who are studying abroad in London, so if we ever want to go to London we now have connections.  We also got to know the couple that ate dinner with us, and they were possibly the sweetest couple ever.  This cruise was a wonderful way to get to know many people from many backgrounds and cultures, but still had a safe environment.  

Not to mention, I'll never forgot walking around the top deck of the ship late at night, being in the middle of the sea and just being able to look up and stare at the stars.  I wouldn't trade those moments of tranquility for anything...

But here are some more pictures from fall break that I either stole from my friends or forgot to include in the other posts!!!