Ostia Antica by Isa

Ostia Antica

by Isa

Today we visited Ostia Antica which is another ancient roman city that has become ruins. It was another beautiful day and we did a big tour of the most of the city. Some things I learned was that the buildings were kind of apartment style, and so the first floor was always the best choice since youd have access to water. We visited another ancient bakery which was much bigger than the bakery we saw in Pompeii, and our tour guide explained that it was because donkeys would roll the barrells. In fact most of the city was much more spacious than Pompeii or Herculaneum. We saw a lot of little booths that used to be shops and there were some stalls for cows that would have bells so youd know animals were in there. 

Similar to almost all the ruins we went to there were also holes in the walls to hang up marble. Also I had been sick a missed the past day or so but it seemed that everyone was pretty tired so our tour guide agreed to cut the tour a bit shorter. After that we went to the nearby town to have lunch and gelato (and we had a shot of espresso) and met Stefanie’s daughter Beatrice. 

Then half the group split up, some went to the hotel and the rest of us went to piazza di Santa Maria in Travestere where we had some free time. This was our final night so we had a big great pizza dinner and had a really wholesome talk with all the group leaders and exchanged gifts. Jon grey had an especially kind speech to Stefania and on the way back we got more gelato and then stayed up all night before our flight at 3 am. 

Baths of Caracalla by Haytham

Baths of Caracalla

by Haytham

After seeing the Necropolis, we walked along the Via Appia Antica. Along the way, we stopped at the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, where we went inside; watched a short video explaining how the Romans used volcanic materials like basalt and ash to build the roads and the layers of the roads, which is why so much of them still stand today; and saw the inscription dedicated to Cecilia Metella carved into the structure, describing her as the wife of an important Roman figure. Walking along the street, you could see parts of the original stone road and the surrounding ruins, which made it easy to understand how important it was for connecting Rome to other parts of Italy and for moving armies and goods more effectively.

After that, we got to the Baths of Caracalla. As we walked in, we learned that these baths weren’t just for bathing; they were essentially a huge public complex for socializing with different-temperature rooms (hot, warm, and cold), workout areas, and places to relax, making it the Pro Club of the ancient world. Even though much of it is ruined now, the walls and open spaces are still massive, which makes it easier to imagine how big the baths truly were, and the intricate details we were able to see in the many frescoes we saw just at the beginning of the tour must have been when it was fully built.

Soon after we started walking around, we found the perfect spot, and after much planning and hard work, Matthew did his promposal to Claire after carrying his poster around all day to give it to her, which was a really cool moment and made the whole visit more memorable right away.

Then, out of nowhere, it started pouring rain. Everyone got under cover, and we ended up stranded there for at least 10 minutes, waiting for it to pass, but it didn’t. Eventually, the teachers made the executive decision that we had to just embrace the rain and make a run for it back to the bus. Everyone sprinted through the rain, getting completely soaked in the process. It was kind of annoying, but also kind of fun, and honestly, that whole situation is probably the most memorable part about visiting the baths.

Catacombs & Necropolis by Ender

Catacombs & Necropolis 

by Ender

During our trip to Rome, descending into the catacombs was truly one of the most surreal parts of the trip. Compared to the bustling, hot, city, stepping into the quiet and cold catacombs provided a stark contrast to the rest of the trip. Learning the facts about how they stretch 20 kilometers over 4 floors really helped to provide the scope of how big Rome was. The walls were lined with pockets ranging in sizes showing the unfortunate difference in ages, especially highlighting the high infant mortality rate. What stood out most were the faded paintings and symbols which demonstrated a lot of religious beliefs. Overall, the catacombs were quiet and almost hidden, like a place to be protected over the rest of the highly seen sights on the rest of the trip. 

However, continuing revealed the necropolis. Although used for the same purpose as the catacombs, the difference was striking. The catacombs were built to be simple, with the sole purpose of storing bodies, and the only designs being small religious sentiments. However, the necropolis truly reflected what a lot of Romans often wanted. A display of wealth. In the necropolis, bodies were stored in tombs, decorated like their own temples with bright paintings and beautifully carved sculptures. Overall, seeing the necropolis was a reminder that in every society, and even after death, people still try to show off. 

The Forum by Matthew

The Forum

by Matthew

Coming into the forum I felt like I sort of knew what to expect. From the Capitoline Museum, I had already seen a view from above of the forum. White marble columns and decimated reddish buildings stood surrounded by patches of grass. It’s sort of crazy looking at the places where people 2000 years ago would have gathered and heard speeches. I wonder if a millennia from now, Seattle will receive the treatment from humans of the future.

From the Museum View

I was wrong, however. When coming into the forum from the other direction, an entirely different feeling was brought upon me. I was first greeted by a massive dome that had been torn in half. It was a stark contrast to the engraved marble and dramatic architecture I was accustomed to like during the tours of Paestum or Hadrian’s Villa. It was mostly the size that struck me. Afterwards, I visited Caesar’s grave. When I imagine the grave of such an important figure, I would have imagined something like Napoleon’s grave: a massive complex with viewing ports from wherever. Instead, it was in the back of a wall, decorated with flowers and coins. I thought at that moment that it was so odd, that such a legendary person was buried so humbly.

Caesar’s Grave

Looking at the ruins

Apart from this, the ruins were truly beautiful. Being on a lower ground floor compared to modern Rome made imagining the Forum 2000 years ago all the more vivid as the dichotomy in leveling was obvious. When looking around. There was grand architecture everywhere, except the Curia which felt like an ordinary building.

Looking back, the forum is one of the places that I had the strongest memories about. Some parts felt much different than I had imagined, but not in the disappointing sense. Rather they were simply different creating surprise. Other parts, like the general look and aesthetic of the forum made me truly appreciate as both a Latin student and art enjoyer being able set foot on such legendary terrain. Thank you Magistra!

Colosseum by Jon Grey

Colosseum

by Jon Grey

Today we went out on a fascinating adventure to the colosseum to witness and see how ancient gladiators fought in the arena. We learned how gladiators trained underneath the surface to prepare for these tough battles. We made a fascinating realization when we discovered that animals were kept down there as well. The weather was very hot (according to our Seattle mindset) but despite the heat, we all learned so much about how the gladiators fought. We witnessed where the leader watched, how they determined if the audience should spare the loser, and how they hosted shows to gain social reputation in Ancient Rome. In conclusion, the colosseum is a ruined ancient structure showcasing the ancient talent that our civilizations have had for generations.

Circus Maximus by Anastasia

 Circus Maximus

by Anastasia

When we arrived at the Circus Maximus, we were greeted with a large open field of grass. It felt odd knowing we were walking in the footsteps of ancient Romans. What had once been an arena packed with spectators was now an open field with people casually walking around. We learned that it was the largest stadium in ancient Rome – bigger than the Colosseum - holding over 150,000 people. It was mainly used for chariot races, held by the emperor, which were one of the most popular forms of entertainment. We also learned that the chariot racers, unlike gladiators, were not enslaved people, but rather athletes and could become famous stars. After exploring, we ate lunch at a nearby cafe, before continuing with our day. Once we finished, we made our way to the Colosseum.

Vatican by Claire

 Vatican

by Claire

Today, we left the country! We left Italy and entered Vatican City. To get there, we had a scenic (and very windy) walk across Ponte Sant'Angelo, also known as the Bridge of Angels. The view from the bridge was amazing, as all the views in Rome are.

After lunch, we waited in a line to enter the St. Peters Basilica. Here, something happened that I know I'll remember for a long time. When a woman tried to cut the line, Cecelia, our amazing tour guide, blocked her by literally stepping in front of her, refusing to let her pass. I loved seeing her boldness and she was just so cool! Inside, the basilica was breathtaking. The architecture and art was astonishing, and observing the huge scale of everything around me, I let myself "shrink" into the moment. One of the most impressive facts that Cecelia shared with us is that there aren't any paintings -- only mosaics.

Afterward, we walked to the Vatican Museums. The museum is huge and it would have been impossible to see everything in one visit, but I loved everything from the Galleria degli Arazzi (Gallery of Tapestries) to the Galleria delle carte geografiche (Gallery of Maps) and finally into the Sistine Chapel.

Last year, when I came to Rome, one of my most vivid memories was staring at the famous The Creation of Adam for nearly 40 minutes until my family reminded me that we'd miss dinner if we didn't leave. Getting to see it again felt incredibly meaningful. As I stared up at the barely apart fingers of Adam and God, I felt a lot of emotions hit me. Their fingers are so close, almost touching, but they never actually will. In that moment, I felt like I was Adam and my past self was God: I have many vivid memories yet I'll never be able to relive or return to them -- the fingers will never touch.

Standing there, in the same spot, staring at the same painting, I felt so connected to my past self. The moment was truly special. I felt a sense of melancholy realizing how time passes, but also a deeper awareness of who I've become and how I've changed. 

This time, I also paid more attention to the rest of the ceiling and to the Last Judgement, which is an immense fresco featuring many figures in dynamic poses. I found Michelangelo's self-portrait quite intriguing as he portrays himself as empty and exhausted, adding a very vulnerable and human layer to the work that made him feel more relatable and not so distant.

When we left the Sistine Chapel, I felt quite sad because I knew it will probably be a long while until I see those fingers again. So of course, at the gift shop I bought a few souvenirs -- a magnet, pencil, and tote bag -- that all had the Creation of Adam on it. Now, I can carry this moment home with me. We ended the visit by walking down the beautiful spiral staircase and heading to dinner. It was such a wonderful day filled with unforgettable memories. I feel so lucky to have experienced it all.