Italy is incredible. I could have spent twenty-six days backpacking through the country. There is still so much to see, I am already planning for my next trip :)
I started in Rome. Flew from Santorini back to Athens, then caught a flight to Rome from there. We were nervous at the Athens airport, as we heard nothing good about Alitalia Airlines. But all went well and the flight was uneventful, and we all landed safe in sound with our backpacks.
Our friend Rich from Quinnipiac was spending a semester in Rome. So after a night in a (pretty sketchy but cheap) hostel we met up with him. He was an amazing host, giving us tons of great tips on food, sights, and of course four spots to sleep in his apartment! He has a really nice large apartment and we met his seven (!) other roommates. At one point we were so loud in his apartment the Italian man upstairs started screaming "basta" out of his window. We got the hint and ironically went out to an Irish pub for the night.
Rome was beautiful. It was fantastic weather, in the 70's and sunny every day. Rome is a gigantic city and you can't walk anywhere without bumping into some sort of ancient ruins. Rich tells us that they have such terrible public transportation in Rome, and every time they try to build the subway they have to stop because they find more ruins!
I became a master of the map and knew Rome like the back of my hand by the time I left. The Trevi Fountain was one of my favorites. It is a beautiful fountain full of sculptures. It is said that you should throw two coins into the fountain; the first to ensure a return to Rome and a second for a wish. We headed to the Spanish Steps next, which you could barely see because they were covered in tourists. The Colosseum is another incredible sight. We were just walking down the street when bamn! there it is right on the side of the road. It is a massive amphitheater and when standing in it you feel as if you are right there with gladiators. Behind the Colosseum in the Roman Forum and Palatine hill which is an ancient Roman civilization. There a ruins everywhere. The four of us health science students went to the Crypt of the Capuchins next. It is a series of small chapels beneath a church. It is the resting ground of 4,000 friars who died in between the years 1528 to 1870. Their bones have been arranged in patterns, piles and sculptures along the walls, ceilings and floors. We were of course fascinated and after two semesters of Anatomy we couldn’t walk through without names of bones and millions of surface markings running through our heads.
Of course I was in Italy, so I ate lots of Italian food, my favorite. We went to quite a few great cheap restaurants thanks to tips from Rich's roommates. Lots of pasta, pizza and panini’s. Then of course gelato. Rich showed us a place that apparently has the best gelato in Rome called Gialettia. They had an endless amount of flavors. So many choices we would stand at the counter forever debating.
Wednesday in Rome we took the day and headed to the Vatican, the smallest country in the world. It was the perfect day to go we found out, as on Wednesdays the Pope gives a weekly address. We got there just in time to hear the end (in Latin of course). We went to the Vatican museum and beat the huge crowd from the address and got right in with no waiting. The museum is ENDLESS. We wondered for a good two hours following every "Sistine Chapel" sign as we looked at the art. It took us another hour or so as we speed walked through it just to get to the Sistine Chapel, but it was worth it. The chapel was packed and even with the "No camera" spiel on the speakers in five different languages flashes went off left and right. The ceiling was stunning. Seeing all the paintings in person after years of hearing and seeing them in textbooks was unbelievable. I was surprised at how the chapel was in the shape of a rectangle. In my mind I had always pictured it more circular. After, we wondered into St. Peters Basilica and up the 520 steps to the Coppola. It got a bit claustrophobic as the walls started turning in when you got up to the dome. The top was packed with people. There was an amazing view of the city below but I tried to get down as quick as possible to breath when I found there was another longer line to get down! Downstairs the church has the biggest interior of any Christian church in the world. I loved the beautiful stained glass windows. La Pieta, Michelangelo’s sculpture of Mary holding Jesus was in the church. It was behind glass, because apparently a few years back a crazy guy went after it with a bat (I love hearing all the fun facts from tour guides as you pass by). La Pieta is the only sculpture that Michelangelo signed and is most famous for that. I spent my day in Vatican city with three girls who have been to Catholic school most of their education. So I learned much more than I bargained for, and got all of my endless questions answered.
Rome was beautiful. Great weather, friends and food. I loved all the sights and the culture. I consider it one of my favorite cities and would fly back in a heart beat.
