This morning we returned to The Victor Emmanuel Monument. Built in 1911, the enormous white marble monument at the Piazza Venezia was built as a tribute to the first King of a united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II.  The Victor Emmanuel monument has been given nicknames such as the "typewriter" and "wedding cake."

Next we went to the Capitoline Museum, where we saw a collection of art and ancient sculpture. The creation of the Capitoline Museums has been traced back to 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV donated a group of bronze statues of great symbolic value to the People of Rome. The collections are closely linked to the city of Rome, and most of the exhibits come from the city itself. We got to see the statues of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Spinario, Hall of the Philosophers, St. John the Baptist, Esquilina Venus and the Mosaic of the Doves to name just a few. 

Most interesting though was the bronze statue of Capitoline Wolf.  The statue's subject is inspired by the legend of the founding of Rome. When Numitor, father of the the twins Romulus and Remus, was overthrown by his brother Amulius, the usurper ordered them to be cast into the Tiber. They were rescued by a she-wolf who cared for them until a herdsman, Faustulus, found and raised them. The story of Romulus, his twin brother Remus, and the founding of the city of Rome is one of the most familiar legends about ancient Rome.

Then we were off on a walking tour of Rome. Our first stop was Piazza Novona, known as the heart of Rome. The plaza contains Bernini’s beautiful "Fountains of the Four Rivers.”   This elliptical square was built by the Romans as a chariot-racing stadium. Site of the city market for centuries, it is decorated with three fountains. By far the most famous is the central fountain - Bernini's 17th-century Fountain of the Four Rivers, considered a baroque masterpiece. An allegory, the fountain represents the four great rivers of the four continents known at that time: the Danube in Europe, the Nile in Africa, the Rio de la Plata in South America, and the Ganges in Asia.  The fountain has great detail of animals and plants. The two flanking fountains were both created by 16th-century sculptor Giacomo della Porta, though one, the Fountain of the Moor, was modified by Bernini. He added the central figure, which is riding a porpoise. We took some time to people-watch and enjoy our last gelato while in the Square.

We passed the current government buildings on our way to the Pantheon. The present structure dates to A.D. 125, though it stands on the site of an earlier temple that was damaged by fire. Commissioned by the Emperor Hadrian and dedicated to the pantheon—Greek for all the gods—the temple remains the largest and best-preserved monument from Roman times.

An exceptionally accomplished piece of Roman engineering—attributed by some to Emperor Hadrian, by others to the master architect Apollodorus of Damascus—the Pantheon is essentially its dome, representing the heavens where the gods lived, on supporting walls. This was the largest concrete dome in the world until the 20th century. The miracle of the place is how the massive concrete dome is supported. To keep it from pushing the supporting walls out, the architects and builders devised ingenious solutions. They made the supporting walls 19 feet thick to create a solid base, and incorporated a series of arches inside the concrete to add structural strength. To reduce the weight of the dome, they mixed lighter materials—including hollow amphorae—into the dome's concrete. They also designed the dome's interior as a series of recessed panels, which lessened the amount of concrete needed. But the central innovation was the oculus, the 30-foot-wide hole in the top of the dome. Latin for "eye," the oculus eliminated the heavy stress of concrete at the dome's center. It also provided both a real and symbolic source of light (and yes, rain) into the Pantheon.  It was converted to a church during the 7th century.

Our walking tour continued to the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi fountain is at the end of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 B.C. It brings water all the way from the Salone Springs (approx 20km from Rome) and supplies the fountains in the historic center of Rome. The central figure of the fountain in front of a large niche is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea. On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance; the statue on the right represents Salubrity. Above the sculptures are bas-reliefs, one of them shows Agrippa, the general who built the aqueduct that carries water to the fountain. The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea. Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. As custom, we tossed our coins over our shoulder with our backs to the fountain to ensure our return.

Our final stop on our walk was the Spanish Steps.  With its characteristic butterfly plan, the Piazza di Spagna is one of the most famous images in the world, as well as one of the most majestic urban monuments of Roman Baroque style. In the Renaissance period, the square was the most popular tourist attraction in the city -- it attracted artists and writers alike and was full of elegant hotels, inns and residences.  At the end of the 17th century, it was called Trinità dei Monti, after the church that dominates the square from above, but it was later given the name we know today after the Spanish Ambassador who lived there.

Our sightseeing came to an end and we had several hours of free time to shop and relax.  Several had Tea at Babington’s Tea House.  We ended our day with dinner and a metro trip back to our hotel.   It was hard to accept that our trip was coming to an end.  While we looked forward to our return home we were sad to know that our sojourn was ending.  We had seen so much over the past 13 days and it was difficult to process all that we had been able to visit in such a short period of time.  -- Zoe Carrubba '11

We arrived in the Vatican City, the world’s smallest sovereign state, at 8:30am to enter the Basilica for the 9:30am Mass which was led by Pope Benedict XVI. The service was a special Mass where Pope Benedict XVI was performing the ordination of new priest, so it was a very colorful 2.5 hours service delivered in Latin.

Immediately following the Mass we went into Piazza San Pietro to listen as Pope Benedict XVI delivered his noon blessing in 20 different languages.  St. Peter's Square was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 1600s to enable the greatest number of people to see the Pope when he gives his blessing from the Papal apartment. The Square features two semi-circular colonnades. The 284 columns and 88 pillars represent, according to Bernini, the "gathering of Christianity." At the conclusion of the blessing it began to rain. We quickly went to a street café for the most expensive lunch of the trip. We were all surprised to learn just how much a slice of pizza could cost.

Within an hour the rain had cleared and we were off for our Imperial Rome tour. We wandered through the Forum, the center of politics, religion and business in ancient Rome. We started our viewing by looking at the Basilica Aemilia which had served as a meeting hall. Next we visited the Ancient Roman Senate House.

Next we walked around the grounds of the Forum to see the remains of the: Arch of Septimius Severus, Temple of Saturn, The Rostra, Basilica Julia, Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Vesta and House of the Vestal Virgins. We then saw the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, the Temple of Romulus, the Basiliea of Constantine and Maxeritius. Finally we saw the Arch of Titus.

Then it was off to the Colosseum, Rome’s greatest amphitheater which was commissioned in 72 A.D. and opened in 80 A.D. Deadly gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights were staged by emperors and wealthy citizens. The Colosseum could hold up to 55,000 people, who were seated according to rank.

Finally, we visited the church of San Pietro, which houses the sculpture of Moses by Michelangelo, which was commissioned in 1505 by Pope Julius II for his tomb. This famous work of art depicts the biblical figure Moses with horns on his head, symbolic of wisdom and enlightenment. Also known as the Basilica Eudoxiana, the church also houses the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem, the episode called the Liberation of Saint Peter. According to legend, while Pope Leo was comparing the chains of St. Peter's final imprisonment in the Mamertine Prison in Rome with the chains from Jerusalem the two chains miraculously fused together. The chains are kept in a reliquary under the main altar in the Basilica.

We returned to our hotel to check in to our rooms, and then we walked to a nearby restaurant for dinner. -- Alex Price '11

Today we had a very early breakfast before departing by train to Florence. We took one train to the outside of the city before having to board a second train to get into the city. The train transfers were a bit stressful for the group because we had too much luggage. Upon arrival we checked into our hotel and followed our guide through the magnificent city.

After grabbing a delicious lunch at a café, we then went to the Galleria dell’ Academia, which includes paintings dating back to the 1400s.  Here we viewed Michelangelo’s famous David and some of his other artwork.  We sawThe Slaves, which were craved by Michelangelo for the tomb of Julius II. They are fascinating because they have not yet "freed" themselves from the marble in which the artist "found" them. We also saw the Palestrina Pietà by Michelangelo. We were awed by level of detail in the sculpture of David. The stone was cut so you could actually see the veins in his hands, stomach, chest, back, arms, legs and feet. Our docent compared the other sculpture done by Michelangelo with that of David. The docent discussed the significance of the sculpture David and the history behind its creation. She also pointed out that the hands of David are not proportionate to his body. This is because the statue was intended to be seen from a great distance and from below.

After leaving the Academia we went to visit two churches. The first church was the Duomo, also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The Duomo can accommodate 30,000 worshippers. It was the largest cathedral in Europe when it was built during the 13th through the 15th centuries. The architecture of the Cathedral was stunning.

Lastly, we visited the Church of Santa Croce, or Holy Cross. The church was built to represent a flower and at the end of the 100s, the Friars expanded the church. Some of the most important people in Italy are buried in the church. We visited the tombs of Michelangelo, Bruni, Machiavelli, and Galileo.

After leaving the church we went to get some gelato at a store called Vivolie. Our guide claimed that this was the best gelato in the world. We were skeptical at first but as we were eating the gelato sitting outside the store on the curb, Ines proclaimed "this is the best ice cream, it is better than my childhood favorite.” After eating the delicious gelato we went back to our hotel to freshen up. Once we had taken a quick nap we dined outside at a café in the square. Afterwards, we rode a carousel to end a glorious day in Florence. Goodbye, or "Ciao" as the Italians like to say. – Molly Denholm ’11.

This morning we work up from a fairly rough sleep on a night train. After an exhausting trip, we met our wonderful guide, Jane. It was raining when we arrived in Venice. After checking into our hotel, we immediately began our adventure to the City of the Canals. After a water bus (vaporetti) ride we arrived at St. Mark’s Square.

Our docent, Roberta, took us on a tour of the Doge’s Palace, which served as the seat of the main government offices and the residence of the Doge, who ruled the Venetian Republic. Our docent helped us appreciate Venetian history. We learned that Venice began as an "upside down city” for the buildings were architecturally different from any of the European empires. Against all odds, early Venetians built a city on a very unstable surface with scarce raw materials. From the 9th to the 12th century Venice developed into a city-state. Its strategic position at the head of the Adriatic made Venetian naval and commercial power almost invulnerable. By the late 13th century, Venice was the most prosperous city in all of Europe.

At the peak of its power and wealth, Venice had 36,000 sailors operating 3,300 ships, dominating Mediterranean commerce. During this time, Venice's leading families vied with each other to build the grandest palaces and support the work of the greatest and most talented artists. The city was governed by the Great Council, which was made up of members of the noble families of Venice. The Great Council appointed all public officials and elected a Senate of 200 to 300 individuals. Since this group was too large for efficient administration, a Council of Ten (also called the Ducal Council), controlled much of the administration of the city. One member of the great council was elected "Doge," or duke, the ceremonial head of the city, who normally held the title until his death.

The Venetian governmental structure was similar in some ways to the republican system of ancient Rome, with an elected chief executive (the Doge), a senate-like assembly of nobles, and a mass of citizens with limited political power, who originally had the power to grant or withhold their approval of each newly elected Doge.

The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which were imported from the mainland. (Under water, in the absence of oxygen, wood does not decay. It is petrified as a result of the constant flow of mineral-rich water around and through it, so that it becomes a stone-like structure.) The Palace has lavish frescoes, graceful staircases and gilded stucco work testifying to the glory and opulence of this period. After our tour of the Palace we visited St. Mark’s Basilica, once the Chapel of the Doge. We were able to appreciate the incredible art and wealth when we entered the Basilica, where we saw the beauty and value of St. Mark’s tomb.

We also saw firsthand the challenges of having a city built on canals. There was intense flooding outside of the Basilica which made access difficult. We then visited the Murano glass company where we observed the glass blowing process. Since Murano glass was traditionally created in Venice, on Murano Island, we got the chance to purchase some of their fine jewelry and glass products. We then had some free time to stroll around the Plaza of St. Mark’s and learning about Venetian culture and traditions, such as the masks from the Venetian carnival. Many of us were able to purchase gifts for those at home. Finally we got the opportunity to take a gondola ride through the canals of Venice. We got to relax and bask in the warm sun, while listening to our Gondoliers sing.

After a wonderful ride, we ate at the Hard Rock Café for dinner, where we watched the World Cup game between South Africa and Uruguay. We were very disappointed by South Africa's defeat. After tasting some of the famous gelatos of Italia, we took a vaporetti to catch the bus for our ride back to our hotel. Though we were very tired, we eagerly looked forward to another day in the city of Venice. – Ines Valenzuela ‘12 and Greta Finney ‘12

Last night we arrived in Pairs, the second stop on our journey. We started the day early, touring the city and getting to know the area and its history. The first stop was the Basilica. The Basilique Sacré-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) is a Roman Catholic church and a familiar landmark in Paris, located on the highest point of the city in Montmartre.  After France's 1870 defeat by the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian War and its aftermath, the Commune of 1871, the Basilica was planned as a guilt offering and a vote of confidence to cure France's misfortunes.

The church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a cult that gained popularity after 1873, when the first pilgrimage was organized to Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy. It was there that revelations encouraging prayer to Christ's sacred heart had been reported in the 17th century.  We got to know the area really well due to the long walk up and down the steps of the Basilica, which was about 300 steps.  Mrs. G-H had Dr. Marsha stop to take many photographs with her imaginary camera so that they could rest. I can say that we will be in really nice shape when we get back!

We toured the Basilica with our French guide Eric, who explained the history of the Basilica and then showed us around the town. From the top, you could see the whole city of Paris, which was beautiful! The town was very small, with cute townhouses and little shops. We then walked back down, and on the way down we saw the Eiffel Tower, which we visited later that day. Once we left the Basilica, we went and toured two cathedrals, showing some of the first Gothic style buildings. The first was quite dark on the outside, yet on the inside, had beautiful stain glass windows.

The next stop we visited was Notre Dame, which everyone recognized from the Disney movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Gothic loftiness of Notre Dame dominates the Seine and the Ile-de-la-Cité as well as the history of Paris. On the spot where this majestic cathedral now stands, the Romans had built a temple to Jupiter, which was followed by a Christian Basilica and then a Romanesque church (the Cathedral of St. Etienne, founded by Childebert in 528). Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris, decided to build a new cathedral for the expanding population, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Although construction started in 1163, it was not completed until roughly 180 years later in about 1345.  Built in an age of illiteracy, the cathedral retells the stories of the Bible in its portals, paintings, and stained glass. This was one of my favorite stops because it was a beautiful church on the inside with detailed structure and large stain glass windows. Next we made a quick stop to the Eiffel Tower where we jumped out of the bus and took a few pictures. I loved seeing this because it is one of my favorite landmarks in France. And even though it was raining, it was still beautiful.

We were able to see the Opera House, Pantheon and the Arch of Triumph before driving down the Champs Elysées for the opportunity to see all of the chic shops. Our final stop was the Louvre where we were able to see the Mona Lisa, Venus of Milo andThe Visitation.  I really loved seeing the Mona Lisa because it has so much history and it shocked me because I thought it would be much larger than it really was. I also like seeing the upside down triangle, and the regular triangle, which are a part of the design of the Louvre. Many remembered seeing this in the movie the Da Vinci Code, so it was very popular with our group. Overall it was one of my favorite days. We fit so much history into one day, but every stop was different and interesting. Though it was a long day, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every minute of our first day in Paris. - Gracie Beal ‘11