Rome Week 4

Melissa Tait checks in weekly from her study abroad semester in Rome; catch up with her every Wednesday on Trazee Travel.

It has been a month since I stepped off the plane to a new city, culture and soon-to-be friends. I have come a long way from ordering steamed milk instead of a latte and getting lost every time I exit the subway. The moments I have ordered meals in Italian and have gotten lost just to find my way again have given me confidence I just might fit into this beautiful city of Rome. This week also gave me new perspectives on Rome through my Vatican tour and an organized Wall Walk.

This week, I finally visited the Vatican museum and climbed to the top of the Dome. Luckily, I bought the skip-the-line ticket and was able to go right into the museum and start my tour. Like everything else in Rome, the Vatican is full of art. From the building itself to the frescos on the walls, I once again saw how important artistry was to the ancient city. Climbing to the top of the dome was also another breathtaking experience to look out on panoramic views of Vatican City.

© Melissa Tait

To continue my trek of Rome, I attended a Wall Walk, led by a Temple professor. It included an extensive hike following the ancient Roman wall lasting eight hours. We started in the south and followed the wall north by the Tiber River. Throughout the day, Professor Gadeyne rattled off facts about the wall at different time periods. He explained the original design was made of perfectly horizontal bricks and that any other material (i.e. stone) was used in restorations. Once he pointed this out, it was astonishing to see the few remains of the original wall.

I hope to continue to explore new areas of Rome and how they influenced the ancient city.

Ciao!