R O M A

The Colosseum

This past weekend (just Saturday  & Sunday) I went to Rome with my school. There were about 25 students and a staff member from school, Monica, that went on the trip. We left early Saturday morning for Rome. We took a fast train to Rome. The train ride was about an hour and a half. We checked into our hotel which was literally across the street from the train station. The hotel was very nice! I roomed with Kelsey (my roommate) & Audrey.

DAY 1:

The School of Athens

The Pantheon

We met up with our tour guide & we took the metro to Vatican City! We went through the Vatican museum & Sistine Chapel! The frescos (murals) on the walls and ceiling were absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking. Each fresco on the wall told a story. The Sistine Chapel was a lot smaller than what I had pictured. There were guards all over the room telling people to be quiet and to stop taking pictures. Michelangelo's work was incredible! The last judgement fresco was really interesting. To see a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel click here. After the chapel we walked to St. Peter's Square (the main square in Vatican City). We got to see St. Peter's Basilica and the long line of people waiting to get in. The line looked like it was 4 hours long!

After Vatican City we went to see the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. The Pantheon had a church service going on when we stopped by so we weren't able to get in. So we walked to Trevi Fountain and it was so neat to see in person! I had seen so many pictures of it before. It was soooo crowded around the fountain. Everyone was trying to get a picture of it. The fountain is tucked in between several buildings so there is not much room for tourists. After the fountain we went back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. Went to a family run restaurant for some pizza & gelato. It was very tastey. After dinner a few of my classmates & I walked to the Spanish Steps!

Trevi Fountain

DAY 2:

Spanish Steps

Woke up and had the best breakfast buffet ever in the hotel! There was everything from eggs & bacon to croissants & cappuccinos. I got a little bit of everything and took some for later! ;) We met up with our tour guide again and walked to San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in chains), a Roman Catholic titular church and minor basilica. It is also known as Basilica Eudoxiana, it was first rebuilt on older foundations in 432-440 to house the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem. Then we continued on our way to the Colosseum! Went in and the tour guide talked about the Colosseum and how it was used for gladiatorial contests. It was so cool to be in the Colosseum and think about all the history that has taken place in it.

Afterwards we walked through the Roman Forum. We looked at the ruins of ancient government buildings. Romans referred to this marketplace as the Forum Magnum or Forum. It was the center of Roman public life. Triumphal processions and elections, public speeches and gladiatorial matches took place here. After our wonderful tour of the Forum we had free time. A couple of my roomies and some other girls decided to go back to the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. We stopped by the City Hall of Rome on our way. We actually got to go inside of the Pantheon this time. It was beautiful! There is a giant hole in the top of the dome and some say rain can't get in, but I reserached it and rain has gotten in before. Walked back to Trevi Fountain for one last look then headed back to the hotel. Took the fast train back to Florence. The trip was too short! I want to go back and do some more exploring!