Rome, Italy – In May and early June of 2024, I was nearing the end of my study abroad term in Cyprus, with all but one of my finals behind me. Before me, I had the chance to see Rome and Florence, and I could not wait to take it.
When I arrived at the airport outside of Rome, the sun was setting on the horizon. As a student who adores the train system, I opted to take the trains around Rome, allowing me to view the sites and watch the beautiful sunset before heading to my hotel.
Legends say the city was founded by the demigod Romulus, a descendant of the Latins and the Trojans. Ruling as king, he was followed by a succession of good kings, before the Roman monarchy gave way to the Roman Republic.
According to archeological evidence, Rome began as a Latin village on the Palatine Hill and slowly expanded to neighboring hills and villages. A nearby culture, the Etruscans, began to influence the Latins as well as the Greeks.
By the morning, my friends and I took the intercity train to Florence to see the sites.
Our first stop was the Duomo di Firenze, the gothic cathedral of Florence. Though the catacombs and the dome itself were closed off to specialized tours, the main part of the cathedral was open to the public. Its floors were marble and allowed the acoustics to vibrate throughout the cathedral.
In 1296, construction began on the site of the former cathedral Santa Reparata for the new cathedral, Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, but construction was not completed until 1436 due to technical issues. At the time of its completion, it was the largest cathedral on the peninsula, and in recent years, it became one of the largest in the world.
We explored the rest of the city after finding impressive architecture dating thousands of years and the Piazzale Michelangelo, which showcased impressive architecture ranging from fountains and staircases from the Roman times to the outdoor replica of Michelangelo’s “David.”
We later visited the Giunti Odeon Bookshop, which featured a renovated movie theatre. Reopened in 2023, the old Odeon Theatre became a cultural project with Giunti’s publisher, and now hosts a movie theatre, bookshop and workshop. It features thousands of Italian books and features a section for books in French, English and Spanish.
On the second day of my arrival in Rome, it was pouring as I visited Vatican City for a Sunday church service. Surrounding St. Peter’s Square, the Swiss Guard held the country in security. Within was a beautiful square leading up to the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Though I was unable to see the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica was stunning, and allowed for hundreds of people from over 100 different cultures to gather for Catholic Mass. That Sunday, I sat in a Mass set in Italian and Latin with an exceptional choir. Pope Francis, however, was not in attendance.
Shortly after, I met up with my friends for brunch and we walked to the Roman city center. It was there that we walked the Roman Forum and saw the Colosseum. Though we were able to make it to the ancient site on the free Sunday, the line was massive, so we opted to gaze down upon it from afar.
The next day, we explored the San Sebastiano catacombs and Church. The catacombs had been in use since the Roman Republic, predating the Christian occupation of the catacombs by centuries. The catacombs were once accessible from Via Appia, but now part of the road has become a part of the ancient tombs.
Though I returned to Cyprus briefly, I returned to the United States, with a cancellation of my second flight in London. The wonderful experience of Italy and Cyprus has left a deep impression on me. Now, I will wait until I can return.
