When in Rome…

By: Izabela Cabrera

Photos: Izabela Cabrera

Rome is not only full of culture, but it is full of life and beauty. My class, Theology 272, went on a journey to explore the mystery of the church. We explored Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint Paul’s Basilica, Santa Marie Maggiore, and many more. The colosseum and the catacombs were also some of the places we visited, and they will surely bring imagination and plenty of questions to your mind. Dr. Flanagan is the leading professor of TRS 272 and has the skill to answer almost every question thrown his way.

Rome is not only full of culture, but it is full of life and beauty. My class, Theology 272, went on a journey to explore the mystery of the church. 

We explored Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint Paul’s Basilica, Santa Marie Maggiore, and many more. The colosseum and the catacombs were also some of the places we visited, and they will surely bring imagination and plenty of questions to your mind. Dr. Flanagan is the leading professor of TRS 272 and has the skill to answer almost every question thrown his way. I believe it’s a superpower. His knowledge continues to enlighten others.

Over the span of a week, my class and I ate and enjoyed ourselves, but we also learned. Italian is a common one out of all the languages you’ll hear in Rome. However, English, Dutch, French, and Arabic are some of the ones you’ll definitely hear.  I interviewed plenty of the students in my class, one of them being my friend Emily. She said that this trip would definitely change her most positively. It’ll enlighten her about the culture and possible language barriers. My classmate Doug said the same. He said that he now understands the language barrier that non-English speakers deal with daily. 

The beauty of the churches that we visited is unimaginable. I don’t think I’ll be able to put it into words, but I’m sure you’ll have the same reaction—the ceilings were probably my favorite. The intricate designs on the ceiling were something I’ll never forget. 

My favorite had to be Saint Paul’s basilica. Everything was made of gold and could probably pay the entirety of my college tuition. While the churches were beautiful, so were the areas we visited. The Ghetto was definitely one I’ll remember. The location was adorable and very homey. The Ghetto used to be a highly Jewish populated area when Christianity was becoming prominent in Italy. I don’t want to give too much away because I know Dr. Flanagan will explain it in class, and I don’t want to steal his thunder. However, the village is something I would recommend visiting if you have the opportunity to. 

And finally, the one thing I’m sure you all want to know is “How’s the food?”. Well, to say it’s impressive is an understatement. The food is always fresh, and the pasta is fantastic. While I’m not a big pizza person, I did have it a few times, and it was pretty good! My favorite dish was pesto pasta with black truffle. I had never had truffle before, and I absolutely loved it. I could taste the love and care behind it. A truffle is a type of mushroom that’s found underground. It can be found here in America, but it is super expensive; it’s about $800 a pound. 

The truffle elevated the flavor and added a wonderful texture to the dish. The truffle oil that accompanied it added a wonderful earthy flavor with the lemony and thyme flavor of the pesto. The coffee was strong and sweet. The mocha-chino was my favorite. The homemade whipped cream really made me drool and helped with the strong espresso coffee.

Let’s not forget about the gelato. The sweet and creamy goodness will always be something you will crave once you have it. Italian gelato makes ice cream look lame. 

Unfortunately, an Italian man didn’t steal my heart, but pasta and the wine did. This trip is something I’ll never forget, and while I may not be a theology major, I am an English major; I think what I learned would make a good book.