On the morning of Sunday,  April 17, the ten of us eager Latin students arrived at Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. The bus ride from the airport to the humble monastery that we stayed in gave us a glimpse of the absolutely breathtaking landscapes and bustling city life that Rome had to offer.

When we arrived at the monastery, we were informed that we had a full day of walking ahead of us. During our first day, the immense beauty of the Pantheon struck us immediately, and we stopped in our tracks to admire the ancient structure, although  it seemed normal to the Italian passerby who strolled casually by us. On Monday, we visited the place where we practiced our Latin by translating readings about the battles between the Romans and the Gauls. The next day, we went on a three hour bus ride to Pompeii, Naples. Here, we witnessed a city preserved by volcanic ash, and we got to learn about the compelling history of its previous inhabitants. However, perhaps the most eventful day of the week was Wednesday, when we walked about the entire city of Rome and saw everything from the triumphal arch of Titus in the Roman Forum to the world renowned Colosseum. The rest of the week included trips to the Vatican Museums, where our group viewed a selection of some of the most pivotal pieces of artwork in the world, and wandered around the colossal St. Peter’s Basilica. We also spent a few hours exploring the port town of Ostia and eating a picnic lunch.   

By the end of the week, we had tasted Italy’s best dishes and tried  all of its famous gelato flavors. Our group was grateful for the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the multi-dimensional and welcoming Italian culture, which is so different from that of the United States. This trip was amazing because it not only enabled us to explore our Latin studies in ways we hadn’t before, but moreover, it left us all in awe of the beauty of Italy and its people.