This past weekend, my program took sixty-odd students on a whirlwind (3 night) trip to Rome. It was a wonderful adventure and gave me a much yearned for taste of Italy. I most loved seeing the Vatican museums (including the Sistine Chapel!), visiting the Colosseum, the elegant Trevi Fountain, eating entirely too much pistachio gelato and walking in the city at night in the rain. There is just something so unforgettable about Rome, its long history, sunny air and time-worn color streets seem to cast the city in a sepia tone lens, which in the darkness of night becomes a hazy gold glow.
There was just so much to see and do. I know I could spend a lifetime here and not know the city well enough, but I left Rome with rubber legs (from walking all over kingdom come!) and a feeling of contentment, that I had in fact done everything I wanted to do.... well, for this trip at least.
I cannot reiterate this enough. My program, API has taken us around Spain (Madrid, Toledo, Cabo de Gata, Seville), on two international trips (Paris, Rome) and still offers us a generous variety of free services and programs. I have American friends in Granada whose programs take them Toledo, maybe Seville - you will thank yourself over and over again in the future if you do thorough research to find the best program for you!
Exploring the birthplace of Western civilization; ruins in the Roman Forum.
The Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace; the Papal conclave where the new Pope is selected, and the site of Michelangelo's most famous fresco (painted between 1508 and 1512). I had to catch myself several times to keep from falling over backwards while craning my neck to admire this beautiful work. You have to be kind of sneaky in here, but no amount of yelling from a few sedentary guards stopped hundreds of people from photographing this amazing place.
One coin to return to Rome, three for love. What I would like to know is how many thousands of euros are dredged from the bottom of this famous fountain every year?
The Trevi Fountain, a masterwork of Baroque design completed in 1762.
Despite a long wait, a free for all heathen line, and a fight with the audioguides, we fought off gladiators dressed in plastic breastplates and spandex to make it into the Colosseum!
The largest amphitheatre built during the Roman empire, construction began in 72 AD and was completed eight years later. The Roman Forum (a concentration of ruins adjacent to the Colosseum) was also really cool to wander through.
Originally intended as a mausoleum, the Castel Sant'Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel) isn't nearly as cool as the beautiful view it provides from the top. Also, the last delicious bite of marzipan says hello from over Hannah's shoulder.
Squinting to see in the sunshine, this is the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II. Nearby is the Doria Pamphilj, a wonderful palace and Renaissance art collection I highly recommend.
Flowers put to bed for the night; I love everything about this picture and this place.
Piazza Navona
View from the top of Castel Sant'Angelo; I love the way the rich yellow of the street lamps bathes this city in a golden glow at night.
My favorite thing I did in Rome: to visit the Vatican museums. It's tempting to blow straight through to the Sistine Chapel, but don't - the fine arts collection is astounding and well worth the time.
Giving a Roman emperor a kiss (well, Hannah didn't quite make it for this one,
as a result of the sacrifice made for that banging foot pop).
Julia observing a full moon of night sky (the oculus) in the Pantheon. Once a temple to the gods of Ancient Rome, it is now a Roman Catholic church.
In the Papal Basillica of Saint Peter, which is simply magnificent
and not to be missed if ever you are in Rome.
According to Roman Catholic tradition, the tomb of the apostle Saint Peter lies beneath this church, and many Popes have been interred here.
A member of the Papal Swiss Guard.
(And yes, apparently you really do have to be Swiss to wear the fancy pants.)
Turned to take a photograph of the mountain of artichokes, and realized that someone had left this little thumb sucker parked in her stroller. The spectrum of cultural trust all over the world still surprises me.
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