Italy 2016: Day 5

Ciao Bella!
We awoke this morning to our first day in Rome. We hit the ground running, and after a delicious breakfast, we loaded the bus and headed for downtown. Right away, we broke off into groups, and the vast majority of us braved the Roman Catacombs, which was decidedly exhilarating despite the cold. These ancient burial grounds were the resting place for over 150,000 Christians. That having been an optional excursion, the other portion of the group had free time, got some shopping done, walked around the Campo di Fiori, and ate lunch. This group then headed for the Basilica of St. Paul. We learned about this Cathedral’s rich history and admired its beauty. Because this year is a holy year dedicated to St. Paul, there is a special door that was made specially for this beautiful building. After this, both groups reunited and headed toward The Vatican (which, as it happens, it its own independent country that functions with its own currency.) Once in The Vatican, we hopped in line to visit the museum that is inside, and saw some astounding exhibits. As part of this museum, we visited the Sistine Chapel, and admired the beauty of its ceiling, painted entirely by Michelangelo. Although we were unfortunately unable to take pictures to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I am sure that I do not speak only for myself when I say that it will be a memory to keep forever. After leaving the Sistine Chapel, we entered the Basilica of St. Peter, the largest Catholic Cathedral in the world. And magnificent it was. As we learned, the Cathedral is as long as two football fields placed end-to-end. We explored this beautiful record-breaker and admired the art that it housed. After perusing a Religious Relics shop, we ate dinner and headed for the hotel. Tomorrow we will explore some of the most well-known and most recognizable locations in the world, such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon.

Buona Notte!
– Jensen Lewis