This past weekend marked one month of my study abroad program in Rome. It seems that time has gone so fast and so slow all at the same time! I can't believe I'm almost halfway through my time here.
A midterm break- both physically and mentally- is exactly what I've been needing so I am ready to continue soaking up all that Rome has to offer. This post marks the beginning of my reflections.
So far, my stay here has been incredible. Everyone on my program keeps using the phrase "such an experience." From running around the gardens at Villa d'Este in Tivoli to the most amazing week-long visit from my boyfriend to going to Easter Mass at the Vatican to becoming a regular at a few places near my apartment, every minute has been filled with memorable cultural experiences, no matter how small.
A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Well here are some photos from the trip with captions:
Cappuccino
First things first: food. Specifically, coffee. Italian espresso is simply delicious. Whether you stop in at a famous coffee shop like Tazza D'Oro and Sant'Eustachio or any random cafe, you're hard pressed to find a bad cappuccino and coronetto (the smaller italian equivalent of a croissant). And the designs in the coffee are simply gorgeous! The cup above was the best-- and most beautiful-- coffee I tried during the trip.
Aperitivo
Next up are aperitivi or appetizers. Aperitivo is the italian practice of having drinks and snacks before dinner. I've gotten early into ordering meat and cheese platters as appetizers when I go out to dinner with friends. Again, the presentation is just as wonderful as the taste of the food!
Chocolate and Hazelnut Gelato
The gelato is simply heavenly! The best part is the panna or cream they put on top. It's nothing like sugary American whipped cream, but instead it is light and fluffy, enhancing the flavor of the rich gelato.
Spaghetti Pomodorini
And last, but certainly not least in the food category is pasta. The pasta in Italy is just slightly al dente (meaning firm) which really adds another dimension of texture to every dish. I'm loving trying fresh pesto and cacio e pepe during my travels!
Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
In terms of art, I am obsessed with baroque architecture, and there are few better places to study it than Italy. The gilded roof pictured above is in Bernini's Sant'Andrea al Quirinale. I love the sense of movement and grandeur that is baroque architecture.
The Boxer at the Palazzo Massimo
Visiting museums with my classmates and professor have provided me an unparalleled academic experience. There's nothing like learning from an expert and then discussing the pieces we study while they're physically in front of us. Previously, I had very much discounted the impact art and architecture can have on a viewer when the work is physically present, but now I really understand how striking a work really is in the flesh (cue my bizarrely emotional responses to seeing the Dying Gaul and Gardens of Villa d'Este).
Villa d'Este
When we first walked into the gardens, one of my classmates remarked that Villa d'Este was actually heaven on earth. I think he is right. I am rarely so overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur outdoors as I was upon visiting the gardens at the villa in Tivoli. The fountain-filled gardens at Villa d'Este show a controlled version of nature, striking a balance between the untamed earth and man's command over the natural world.
Il Papa
For Easter, many of the students on my program including myself were able to get tickets to Vatican Mass. It was an incredible and exhausting experience that I will certainly never forget.
Mosaics
Mosaics are seriously everywhere in Italy, and I think they are absolutely incredible. I am used to seeing mosaics with larger, more noticeable tesserae, however the ones I have been seeing in Rome look like actual pictures from far away. The pieces of glass and ceramic tile are so minuscule!
The Capitoline Museum
I visited the Capitoline with my classmates one of the first days of the program and absolutely loved it. The Greco-Roman art grows more impressive given its place on the piazza at the top of Capitoline Hill, designed by Michelangelo himself. Additionally, the museum opens up to the above view of the forum, giving the artwork proper historical context and transporting the viewer further back in time. In fact, I loved this museum so much I took il mio ragazzo back when he visited!
All Roads Lead to Rome
When the bf visited Roma, we made sure to stop by the Trevi fountain and toss in 3 gold coins so that we would return back to Rome. His visit was one of the best parts of the trip as I loved showing him all the restaurants, historical sites and other favorite places I've told him about in one of the most romantic cities in the world. Looks like our coin toss worked as I'm lucky enough to be seeing him again in 6 days! I can't believe it!
And here's the soundtrack that's been blasting all trip long:
Ciao!
xoxo