Every week continues to get busier and busier and we haven't had a chance to sit down. Rome is so exciting and the city never stops moving!
We started out Monday morning by visiting the Vatican Museum and seeing the Sistine Chapel, which was incredible to see in person! That night we visited St. Paul Outside the Wall. The next morning we had our last art history class at the Borghese Gallery where we saw from beautiful Titian's and Caravaggio's. For our theology class we climbed the Holy Stairs (Scala Santa) on our knees that led to Pontius Pilate and that Jesus stood on during the Passion on the way to his trial. It was a very moving experience! From there we toured St. John Lateran and saw the obelisk. From there we saw a 5th century baptistry, and then toured Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. Santa Croce had many famous relics including pieces of the cross, nails, and thorns of the crown Jesus wore as he was crucified. I love how are classes take us to such important pieces of history!
After that, a small group of us decided to try and get to the Basilica of St. Peter for a free guided tour that is offered by American's in the seminary. It was pouring rain this past week and we ended up running in the rain, puddle jumping and all to get to the tour in time but we had just missed it:( We decided we deserved a treat after our little Roman adventure so we stopped for pizza and gelato by the Vatican. The pizza in italy is amazing and I tried potato pesto pizza which was delicious and then had cookies and caramel gelato. Yummy!
The next day we visited Santa Maria Maggiore thus hitting all four major basilica's in one week! This basilica had a relic of a piece of Jesus's crib. From there we tried one more time to hit the free tour of St. Peter's and we made it just in time, after running once more from the metro station to the basilica. I have run more times to the Vatican than I have walked. However, much of the basilica was blocked off for the Papal event so our tour was cut short, luckily, I have visited St. Peter's several times so this wasn't too disappointing.
Then Friday night we had a big potluck dinner at our apartment with the entire group of 30 plus our directors. Each apartment brought a different dish to share and we played games all night long. Since our time here is running short we are happy we can make time for these "family dinners". our group has gotten so close over the past 4 months and it will be strange not to see everyone every single day.
On Saturday we visited Subiaco. The drive there was one of the prettiest I have been on yet, through the hill towns of Italy. Subiaco is known for St. Benedict and without him we would not have the College of Saint Benedict and my life would be completely different. We started our day at the first monastery he ever built called St. Scholastica, which was named after his sister. There was a large bell tower and many old frescos. The church itself seemed relatively new and was all white with huge archways. From there we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the monastery restaurant and by doing so avoided the pouring rain that came through the mountains. After that we toured the Shrine in the cave where St. Benedict lived and wrote the rule of Saint Benedict for 3 years. It was beautiful full of frescos and an altar with marble from Nero's Villa who badly persecuted the Christians. We got to sit and pray in the cave of Saint Benedict and it was another amazing experience. The view from the monastery was beautiful and it made me never want to leave. The mountains overlooked a river and the towns in the valley and by the time our tour finished the clouds had moved so low some were floating in front of the mountains. It was so magical!
Yesterday we visited the Capuchin Crypt. It is where skeletons are artfully displayed. It is rather hard to explain so I will just attach a picture.
Overall this past week has been the week of Churches and I loved it! Only 2 weeks left abroad, time flies when you're having fun!
We started out Monday morning by visiting the Vatican Museum and seeing the Sistine Chapel, which was incredible to see in person! That night we visited St. Paul Outside the Wall. The next morning we had our last art history class at the Borghese Gallery where we saw from beautiful Titian's and Caravaggio's. For our theology class we climbed the Holy Stairs (Scala Santa) on our knees that led to Pontius Pilate and that Jesus stood on during the Passion on the way to his trial. It was a very moving experience! From there we toured St. John Lateran and saw the obelisk. From there we saw a 5th century baptistry, and then toured Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. Santa Croce had many famous relics including pieces of the cross, nails, and thorns of the crown Jesus wore as he was crucified. I love how are classes take us to such important pieces of history!
St. Paul Outside the Wall
After that, a small group of us decided to try and get to the Basilica of St. Peter for a free guided tour that is offered by American's in the seminary. It was pouring rain this past week and we ended up running in the rain, puddle jumping and all to get to the tour in time but we had just missed it:( We decided we deserved a treat after our little Roman adventure so we stopped for pizza and gelato by the Vatican. The pizza in italy is amazing and I tried potato pesto pizza which was delicious and then had cookies and caramel gelato. Yummy!
Potato Pesto Pizza and a rice croquette
The next day we visited Santa Maria Maggiore thus hitting all four major basilica's in one week! This basilica had a relic of a piece of Jesus's crib. From there we tried one more time to hit the free tour of St. Peter's and we made it just in time, after running once more from the metro station to the basilica. I have run more times to the Vatican than I have walked. However, much of the basilica was blocked off for the Papal event so our tour was cut short, luckily, I have visited St. Peter's several times so this wasn't too disappointing.
Then Friday night we had a big potluck dinner at our apartment with the entire group of 30 plus our directors. Each apartment brought a different dish to share and we played games all night long. Since our time here is running short we are happy we can make time for these "family dinners". our group has gotten so close over the past 4 months and it will be strange not to see everyone every single day.
hanging out at the potluck dinner
On Saturday we visited Subiaco. The drive there was one of the prettiest I have been on yet, through the hill towns of Italy. Subiaco is known for St. Benedict and without him we would not have the College of Saint Benedict and my life would be completely different. We started our day at the first monastery he ever built called St. Scholastica, which was named after his sister. There was a large bell tower and many old frescos. The church itself seemed relatively new and was all white with huge archways. From there we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the monastery restaurant and by doing so avoided the pouring rain that came through the mountains. After that we toured the Shrine in the cave where St. Benedict lived and wrote the rule of Saint Benedict for 3 years. It was beautiful full of frescos and an altar with marble from Nero's Villa who badly persecuted the Christians. We got to sit and pray in the cave of Saint Benedict and it was another amazing experience. The view from the monastery was beautiful and it made me never want to leave. The mountains overlooked a river and the towns in the valley and by the time our tour finished the clouds had moved so low some were floating in front of the mountains. It was so magical!
Subiaco
Yesterday we visited the Capuchin Crypt. It is where skeletons are artfully displayed. It is rather hard to explain so I will just attach a picture.
kindof creepy
Overall this past week has been the week of Churches and I loved it! Only 2 weeks left abroad, time flies when you're having fun!
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