Rome in 6 days or less

Article and photos by Dr. Edna Rehbein, Ph.D., Texas State RRC Director

Dr. Rehbein's niece, Vickie, at John Cabot University

Over Spring Break, I traveled to Rome to visit my niece who is studying there at John Cabot University. JCU is a liberal arts university in Rome with students from various countries. My niece, Vickie, is perfecting her Italian and studying Communications there and has had an incredible semester.   The weather was perfect – a brisk 50 degrees most of the time. I made a point of actually sitting and observing the crowds, the local artists and musicians, and the incredible fountains and artwork that are found in every direction throughout the city.  Piazza Navona is my favorite.  It has three incredible fountains.

You cannot help but wonder what life must have been like there in the 1500 and 1600s when the majority of the statues and artwork were created.  The statues, fountains, and churches are massive and ornate with incredible attention to every tiny detail carved into the marble.

Bernini's St. Teresa in Ecstacy

My favorite statue is Bernini’s St. Teresa in Ecstasy.  If you have seen the movie, “Angels and Demons”, you will recognize the statue from the movie.

Umbrella Trees in Rome

And just when you finally come to grasps with the contributions and history of that period, it hits you that Rome’s history actually goes back many more centuries  and that the Roman Forum and the Coliseum represent another highly advanced era that dates back even earlier in time.  There are some gorgeous trees called the “umbrella pines” that grow on the Palatine Hill. They look like they have been pruned so they only have branches at the top, but that is actually how they grow and they tower over all the ruins.

I was especially fortunate to be in Rome at a time when 100 documents from the Pope’s Secret Archives are on exhibit in the Lux in Arcana Exhibit at the Capitolini Museum.  The exhibit includes documents from kings, czars, sultans, and other world leaders from several centuries.  Included are, the original depositions of over 200 Knights Templar in the 1200s; King Henry VIII of England’s letter requesting the Pope to grant him a divorce;  Martin Luther’s excommunication document; letters from Galileo, Bonaparte, St. Bernadette, St. Theresa, and even the Pope’s appeal for the release of prisoners from the concentration camps of WWII.  This exhibit was truly incredible.  It will be on display through September of this year.  No photographs allowed indoors, of course.

St. Peter's Square after mass

Going to Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, hearing the Pope bless the masses in various languages, watching the fervor of the crowds in St. Peter’s Square, seeing the massive Castel Sant’Angelo, and celebrating the “festa della donna” – International Women’s Day – a day when all women are treated special – were all pretty nice as well.   But while these sites were incredible, you cannot visit Rome without enjoying its culinary delights and the warm hospitality.  We had gracious service wherever we went. The food and gelato were awesome.

gelato

Jill Seidenberger’s adventure in Italy

Article and Photos By Jill Seidenberger, Student Development Specialist

Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Assisi, Italy

If you have graced my office with your presence, you may have noticed three pictures of what I thought Italy would like look – tall cypress trees lining the long and winding driveways, scenic views from a hilltop, and vineyard upon vineyard.  I suppose the movie Under the Tuscan Sun was on my mind and much more of what I expected than I realized.  Don’t get me wrong, Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome each have their highlights, but it was the scenery that drew me to Italy.

Montalcino, Italy

Finally, six days into the trip, I experienced what I fondly refer to as my Italy, on a half-day tour from Siena into the countryside of Montalcino.

Yes, tall cypress trees lining the long driveways, scenic views, villas, and vineyards!  The city of Siena was quaint and cobblestoned.  The hotel had one of the most beautiful views overlooking a valley.  Ah, Siena…

Overlooking Assisi, Italy

Though I fell in love with Siena and the surrounding countryside landscape and thought that it would be my number one Italian city, it was Assisi that made it to the top of my list.  Assisi is even more quaint as it is nestled on the side of a hill.  It is one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever experienced.  And, it has a restaurant that served the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted!  Speaking of food… oh, the food, fantastically fresh!  Everywhere!  In exchange for my money, I brought back a few unwanted souvenirs – a few extra pounds to prove just how good the food was!

We finished the trip in Rome and visited many of the historical highlights that the ancient city is known for – the Vatican, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, Fountain of Trevi (assuring a return trip to Italy completed by tossing coins into the fountain – legend has it), just to name a few.  With a city so rich in history, it was simply amazing to walk the streets that were created so long ago.  It was also in Rome that I was able to fuse my love of potatoes (yes, it’s the German coming out in me) with my love of Italian food – pizza topped with potatoes!!

It truly was a vacation of a lifetime that excited all of the senses.  A few special thank you’s to: the One Stop Center staff for covering for me, Travel Guidebooks by Rick Steves, the incredibly knowledgeable tour guide in Rome, Claire with Devine Tours, and to her husband, Charlie, who set up a special Vatican Radio tour for us.  Grazie! Grazie! Grazie!

Jill Seidenberger visited Italy during Spring Break. Stay tuned to the blog for another story of a fascinating Spring Break trip to Italy by Dr. Edna Rehbein, Director of the Texas State University Round Rock Campus.