Day 2 in Italy: June 12, 2025
Dr. Cook - Reflection on the day:
Today was both amazing and hard. We visited more sites than we likely will any other day, we walked 12 miles, and it was 1,000 degrees Farenheit. Ok, that last one is an exaggeration but the others are all true.
The students were tired, hot, and their feet were surely aching, but I couldn’t be more proud of them. No matter the conditions, every single one of them stayed engaged, kept a positive attitude, and, perhaps most importantly, watched out for each other. It was an exhausting, beautiful, amazing day and our tour guide can’t say enough about how impressed she is with our students. Read on for their reactions to some of the most famous sites we saw today.
Marin McNamee – Villa Farnesina:
Villa Farnesina was definitely fancy, but not in an overwhelming way. Every room was covered in detailed frescoes that wanted to be admired. It didn’t really feel like a home, more like a space built to make a statement and art. Walking through it, you can’t help but slow down and take it all in. The garden outside was gorgeous, peaceful and perfectly kept, designed to be an extension of everything inside. It leaves you thinking about how much effort went into creating beauty just for the sake of being looked at. We all had a very fun and fulfilling time at the villa.
Laura Burkan – Roman Forum:
The Roman Forum was beautiful! We all walked around various Roman ruins, the Forum was the center of town in Roman times. There stood shops, homes, and offices. When we would look at ruins we weren’t always exactly sure what was what, but we were still astonished. KiranAdele and I walked all the way to the top of the Palatine Hill and got an amazing view. Here we painted watercolor images of views of the ruins we found most beautiful, then later shared them with the rest of the group. I had an amazing time and can’t wait for the rest of the trip.
Layla Livingston – Colosseum:
Today we were surrounded by the rich history and beautiful scenery of the Colosseum. We took many photos and heard about the various events that took place at this historic site. We learned about the gladiator fights, executions of prisoners, and the different ways in which the Colosseum has decomposed or was taken apart to be used at other locations. The most positive aspect of this experience was seeing the intricate designs such as the trap doors in the arena and arches that used to be filled with statues on each floor. Overall, it was a very memorable experience that we were all grateful to share together.
