We only had to classes today! Art & Architecture got cancelled, so everyone got to go into Rome earlier. It was heavenly. Haha. I sorta invited myself along with my suitemates as they met up with Colleen’s uncle Fr. Robert Tomas, a professor at the Pontifical University of Rome. We had lunch in the school’s cafeteria, and afterwards he gave us a tour of their lovely building. They are currently restoring the building, parts of which originate to the seventh century! It has amazing views of four nearby churches, but there are about ten within a two block radius. It was pretty neat. He showed us an example of one of the classrooms, a former chapel complete with nineteenth century oil paintings on the wall & ceiling, gorgeous windows, and elaborate molding. There were even putti on the ceiling! I don’t think I would ever hear anything that I was supposed to learn if I were in a room like that!
After our tour, he showed us the Pantheon. Although I have seen it before, it was amazing! It’s one thing to remember this fuzzy image or recognize a slide, but it was such an experience to look up and see it. The best part is that we were calmly walking down a tiny street, when we looked toward our right, AND IT WAS RIGHT THERE! I love this city! You really never know what you can stumble across! Following the Pantheon, we went to the nearby church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva. It’s deceptively plain on the outside, but it’s absolutely gorgeous on the inside. It also has the tombs of Fra Angelica & St. Catherine of Sienna. There’s also a lovely Michelangelo statue of Christ by the altar. We spent a lot of time there, before we walked to the Campo di Fiori for gelato. Peach, coffee & white chocolate was amazing! While we were there, we met up with a former UD grad who is now attending the Pontifical University, as well as her roommate & fellow classmate, Alethea! I’m not exactly sure how to spell her name, but she was a co-worker in Chicago a couple years back. It was fun to randomly meet up with people like that!
Following our gelato, we headed to another church, Santa Andrea de la Valle. It was beautiful too! I think it is one of my favorites so far! The paintings were ginormous, and there were some really neat ones about the altar depicted the death of St. Andrew. Way cool. We also walked past the Pantheon again (but this time after dusk), the parliament building (impression: big and LOTS of police loitering about in the square) and the Trevi Fountain. Of course, we couldn’t pass up that wonderful opportunity to throw a coin over our shoulders! It’s a crazy American tradition, but it’s fun. The square was packed with people all doing the same thing. Lol. We also had a crazy time getting back on the subway. Attempting to get on a packed subway anytime during rush hour means lots of sweaty, shoving people & lack of personal space. It’s always an adventure. We even managed to make it to dinner with less than a minute to spare. I’m sure we looked very interesting running from the bus stop back to campus. Lol. This has been the second time this week that this has happened to us. Just as long as it doesn’t because too much of a habit…
After our tour, he showed us the Pantheon. Although I have seen it before, it was amazing! It’s one thing to remember this fuzzy image or recognize a slide, but it was such an experience to look up and see it. The best part is that we were calmly walking down a tiny street, when we looked toward our right, AND IT WAS RIGHT THERE! I love this city! You really never know what you can stumble across! Following the Pantheon, we went to the nearby church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva. It’s deceptively plain on the outside, but it’s absolutely gorgeous on the inside. It also has the tombs of Fra Angelica & St. Catherine of Sienna. There’s also a lovely Michelangelo statue of Christ by the altar. We spent a lot of time there, before we walked to the Campo di Fiori for gelato. Peach, coffee & white chocolate was amazing! While we were there, we met up with a former UD grad who is now attending the Pontifical University, as well as her roommate & fellow classmate, Alethea! I’m not exactly sure how to spell her name, but she was a co-worker in Chicago a couple years back. It was fun to randomly meet up with people like that!
Following our gelato, we headed to another church, Santa Andrea de la Valle. It was beautiful too! I think it is one of my favorites so far! The paintings were ginormous, and there were some really neat ones about the altar depicted the death of St. Andrew. Way cool. We also walked past the Pantheon again (but this time after dusk), the parliament building (impression: big and LOTS of police loitering about in the square) and the Trevi Fountain. Of course, we couldn’t pass up that wonderful opportunity to throw a coin over our shoulders! It’s a crazy American tradition, but it’s fun. The square was packed with people all doing the same thing. Lol. We also had a crazy time getting back on the subway. Attempting to get on a packed subway anytime during rush hour means lots of sweaty, shoving people & lack of personal space. It’s always an adventure. We even managed to make it to dinner with less than a minute to spare. I’m sure we looked very interesting running from the bus stop back to campus. Lol. This has been the second time this week that this has happened to us. Just as long as it doesn’t because too much of a habit…
1 comment:
I can't wait for you to start posting some photos of all of the gorgeous sights you are seeing!!
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