Being able to visit Rome and all it had to offer was everything I hoped it would be and more. We saw so many sites, from the Roman Forum to the Sistine Chapel. We were able to interact with so many different people and try different foods.
One thing that surprised me about Rome was the infrastructure and how different it was from what we have in the US. We traveled almost everywhere on tram which is similar to our subways, but not as popular. Everyone drove tiny cars to accommodate the small and narrow streets that were made of stones and bricks rather than concrete. I was also surprised to see graffiti on so many of the buildings around Rome, one of my friends said “It seems like they take their city’s beauty for granted.” This is sad, but this city still preserves so much of its beauty for us to enjoy.
Speaking of Rome’s beauty, the first night I was speechless when I walked into Basilica di San Giovanni. To see the attention to detail and size of these buildings that showcased their rich culture and beliefs was my favorite part of the trip. To think how they created these years and years ago puts into perspective how far we have come with art and architecture. During the entire trip, I was most looking forward to Micheal Angelo’s Sistine Chapel, and it did not disappoint. I was surprised it was in the middle of the trail through the museum, but to see these paintings in person is a bucket list item for me.
The Roman Empire arguably left the biggest impact on our world today. This is where politics and religion began to flourish. Coming from Athens before, we know the Greeks started a lot of ideas of democracy and philosophy, but Greece walked so Rome could run. Things we might not notice such as roadways came from Rome. Also, the idea of the Bill of Rights came from Rome’s Twelve Tables. Another similar idea the US tries to mimic that of the Roman Empire is the sense of pride. We believe we are the best of the best, although they had faults that led to their downfall, the pride and love the people had of the Roman Empire is untouchable to us today.
One thing I have noticed from this trip is the amount of events that are mirrored over time again and again. Some compare the Roman Empire to America now, but I am curious, will we learn from their mistakes? Or will we inevitably make the same mistakes that will lead to our end?
