Day 1
Arrival
Rome has always been a dream destination for me. Italy’s rich history, art, food, and traditions have called me since I was young. Being able to visit Rome as a student rather than just a tourist was beyond my wildest dreams.
After months of preparation, the day finally arrived. Although I expected to be nervous, I felt more excited than anything else. However, I underestimated how exhausting the first day would be. It was challenging to adjust to the time difference, and navigating the logistics to get to our apartment was an easy but tiring task. Despite all of this, I was determined to enjoy my first hours in Rome.
Unfortunately, I have very few photos from our first day. Most of my pictures were taken through the plane window, and all I wanted to do was take a long nap after the 8-hour flight with no sleep. Despite feeling tired, I fell in love with Rome in just a few hours. The locals were friendly, the streets were unique, and the local businesses were impressively diverse. I had an overwhelming urge to explore and experience everything the city had to offer.
As it turned out, the first day in Rome did not prepare me for what was to come in the following weeks.
Look Up II
Basilica Saint Clement. January 25, 2024.
Day 2
Campo de’Fiori
I am finally well-rested but still feeling the effects of jet lag. It’s amazing to see how even “ordinary” buildings in Rome are steeped in history. The University of Washington is located in the Palazzo Pio, a 15th-century historic building situated on Piazza del Biscione, facing the famous Piazza Campo de’ Fiori. There is a rich history in every corner, with artwork on the ceilings and piazzas that have been around for centuries.
In the middle of the piazza, there is a statue of Giordano Bruno, a philosopher who was burnt alive for heresy. Surrounding the statue are dozens of white tents where vendors are desperately trying to attract tourists. It makes me wonder if these vendors ever consider the public executions that took place on this very piazza hundreds of years ago.
Day 3
Colosseum
“Quamdiu stabit Colyseus stabit et Roma
cum cadet Colyseus cadet et Roma
cum cadet Roma cadet et mundus.”
“As long as the Colossus stands, Rome will stand,
when the Colossus falls, Rome will also fall, when Rome falls, so falls the world.”
It’s easy to see why Italians, especially Romans since we are talking about experiencing Rome, are so passionate about their country and culture. They have made the Roman pride part of their culture for centuries.
This Italian pride is not only a feeling, it is also a statement we can see in the architecture. From churches to pantheons, the idea of displaying power is demonstrated in these structures.
The Queen of the Museum Museo del Palazzo dei Conservatori. January 26, 2024.
Day 4
Capitoline Museums
Is Rome a woman?
One interesting fact that has stuck in my mind is that the name Roma is feminine. I already knew this, but I was impressed to learn that for Roman men, Roma, a “woman,” was something to be proud of. In a world where men often take pride in their masculinity, it was refreshing to see how people relate Roma to love and femininity.
During a tour, the guide, Luca, referred to Venus as “the Queen of the museum.” She certainly looked majestic in her room.
The Pantheon and the Moon Piazza della Rotonda. January 29, 2024.
Day 5
Pantheon
Visit the Pantheon is a must once in Rome, but I never expected to feel so much.
Walking through a 2,000 years old door was an indescriptable experience and I couldn’t help but wonder “How many people have walked through these doors since they were built?” How many thoughts and historical moments have happened 2 milleniums ago in this place? Not everything was related to war or Popes, they were simple people living simple lives, walking like I was doing rpund and inside the Pantheon. What an incredible sensation.
Right Arm by Michelangelo Vatican Museum. January 30, 2024.
Day 6 Vatican City
I was born and raised in a Christian/Catholic household, but I never had any interest in visiting the Vatican City.
I was never a religious person, and all the stories about the Catholic Church didn’t convince me to visit this small country. However, I was required to go to the Vatican City for this class, and to my surprise, I want to go back.
The art in the Vatican is simply breathtaking. The architecture is insane, the sculptures, the paintings, the big rugs, and even the ceilings are all mesmerizing, like the famous Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The Vatican museum has everything you could ask for.
Regardless of religion, no one should miss the opportunity to visit a place like this. I am grateful for this experience and highly recommend it to anyone who has the chance to visit.
Day 7
MACRO Museum
While in Rome, it is a must to explore the city’s art and design scene, not only the culinary scene. We have been visiting museums every day, but the Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO) was a breath of fresh air. Even though the museum focuses on modern art, it still has pieces that draw inspiration from traditional art forms such as the Renaissance and Baroque. However, what impressed me the most was not a piece inside the museum but the view of the painting that you can see from the museum itself. A huge mural in one side of a building. After a quick research I discovered that this project was made by Ozmo, an Italian street artist. This piece was named “You Are Worth More Than Many Sparrows” and it’s a powerful criticism of modern society. We see a pyramid of power supported by the people and a written “In Art We Trust” in reference to the American one dollar bill.
Day 8
Baths of Caracalla
Whoever came up with the idea of VR experience for the baths of Caracalla, was a genius. Seeing a digital recreation of how the place looked centuries ago was mind-blowing. I wish I could physically be there to admire this public “spa” for the Romans, but the thought of poor sanitary conditions and contagious diseases made me shiver.
The place was quite extensive, and unfortunately, only a few original pieces survived. However, the VR lenses helped me envision where those remaining pieces belonged. I hope that with new technologies, they can create an experience where you can walk around with glasses or watch a video of the activities that happened at the baths.
Day 9
The Traditional Artisans of Rome
Learning about local artisans in Rome gives you a different perspective on how important it is to buy local in any city you visit.
In the narrow streets of Rome, you can find a brand of handmade leather bags, a family of sculptures and mosaic artists, and a jewelry store that uses ancient coins. These different types of businesses are the real meaning of “Made In Italy”.
The passion I saw in the artisans we visited is what keeps this country special. These people are continuing decades of family tradition or starting new businesses with local products.
Vista Verso la Piazza Piazza del Popolo. February 5, 2024.
Day 10
Piazza del Popolo
The ancient Romans were really onto something with their love for stairs.
When we climbed up to the top of the hill, I was blown away by the stunning view of the piazza and the city below. It was a bit of a climb, but totally worth it.
From up there, we could see the twin churches standing proudly in front of the majestic obelisk that traveled all the way from Egypt. And to make the experience even more magical, a young and talented pianist was playing music in the center of the piazza.
It was like a scene from a dream, and I felt so grateful to be there in that moment.
Day 11
Palazzo Farnese
When you talk about the Renaissance, one cannot ignore the influence of France. During my visit to Palazzo Farnese, I noticed lots of French references in the building’s design, such as the lily flowers. These were included to commemorate the French monarchy of that time.
One of the most impressive works I saw was the sculpture of Hercules. Compared to other Hercules sculptures where he is fighting some animal, his nostalgic expression and pose immediately captivated my attention.
Although the palace, which currently serves as the French embassy, is rich in art and history, I felt that the tour could have been more complete. Of course, the tour was understandably strict, but I wish we could’ve seen more. I’m still glad that we got the chance to appreciate it.
Day 12
Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica
We traveled back in time during our trip to Rome. To do so, we took the train, which reminded me of the train in Peru where I’m from, as well as the Path train from Newark to Downtown Manhattan.
Leaving the chaos of the center felt good.
When we arrived at the archaeological park, I was astounded. It was unlike anything I had seen before. While the stone streets of Rome were a bit painful to walk on for miles, walking in Ostia Antica made me realize that the pain could be worse.
However, the experience of being transported to the past was worth it. We learned about how the Romans lived in that city even before Christianity and during the Christian era. There were tombs, houses, apartments, a huge amphitheater, and more. It was once a thriving community. There were many untold stories that I wish I had the chance to hear.
From the Latin Word: Trivium Fontana di Trevi. February 12, 2024.
Day 13
Trevi Fountain
Is it possible for me to make a wish on behalf of someone else?
My mother requested me to video call her so she could make a wish while I threw the coin into the fountain, however the fountain was so crowded that I barely got the chance to make my own wish or take a few pictures.
So. Many. People. Just as I had expected. That fountain is probably one of the busiest -if not the most- touristic places in Rome. I even witnessed a proposal there.
The fountain was bigger than I had imagined and I appreciated it for a few minutes in silence. For another class, we will have to present our final projects from the museum behind the fountain, and I know for a fact it will be an amazing experience.
I am certain that I will come back to the fountain and throw all the coins my mom wants me to.
The Garden Palazzo Bernini. February 13, 2024.
Day 14
Palazzo Barberini
I thought that Palazzo Barberini would be similar to Palazzo Farnese, but I was wrong. This stunning building is a work of art in and of itself, and houses decades worth of Italian paintings, sculptures, and other art pieces. The architecture is breathtaking, and I was fascinated to learn about the rivalry between two artists, Matteo Barberini and Francesco Borromini, who are both immortalized in the two magnificent staircases.
The garden was simply breathtaking, and it felt like I had stepped into a movie. We were the only ones there, so it felt incredibly peaceful. I am definetly going back.
Day 15
American Academy in Rome
Out of all the places on the list, I was most curious about this academy. I made an effort not to spoil the surprise by researching it on Wikipedia, and I’m glad I didn’t. Walking to get there was a challenge due to all the stairs and uphill walking, but once I arrived at the Academy, I felt proud of myself.
Our tour guide, Gaelle, had a wealth of knowledge about the Academy and was kind enough to answer all of our questions. I was amazed to learn that Galileo Galilei himself had visited this same place centuries ago. As someone who loves astronomy, this fact almost blew my mind. There is so much art and history to take in, and so many people to be inspired by at this place. Every artist should experience it at least once in their life.
Day 16
Flâneur
“You have to visit EUR”. I’ve never heard of EUR. To be honest, I wasn’t interested in visiting EUR. I was more drawn to places with classical architecture or museums of modern art.
“Architecture of the fascist era” wasn’t something that intrigued me. However, once again, I found myself amazed by the beauty of Italy.
My team and I decided to visit an important building in EUR: Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana. It currently serves as the headquarters of the fashion house, Fendi. We had basic information about the building, but we were fortunate to meet a local man who grew up in the area and works there. He gave us interesting facts about the palazzo.
After our visit, we decided to explore the park he recommended. We discovered a different side of Rome: big parks, less noise and traffic, and even animals in the artificial lake. It was very peaceful compared to the city center.
Hades and Persephone Galleria Borghese. March 7, 2024.
Day 17
Galleria Borghese
I wasn’t able to participate in the last excursion of the class, but that didn’t stop me from continuing to explore Rome.
We came across a gallery situated next to a large, beautiful park in the heart of the city. The pictures on Google showed an impressive building with an awe-inspiring facade, but when we arrived, it was unfortunately covered in scaffolding for renovation work.
Despite this, there was still plenty of art to be found within. I was amazed to witness some of the most beautiful sculptures, such as the Hades and Persephone’s one. There were also some pieces that moved me in ways I never would have expected.
The art on the ceilings was breathtaking, and I found myself spending minutes in silence staring up, trying to comprehend how such beauty could be created by humans.
It was a wonderful afternoon, and this experience only fueled my desire to continue exploring new places in Rome, learning and appreciating all that the city has to offer with my own eyes.
Rainbow in Paradise Villa D’Este. February 18, 2024.
Day 18
When it’s time to explore new places, I’m always up for it.
My friend invited me to visit Villa D’Este, and I didn’t think twice to accept the invitation. Unfortunately, I can’t go with my classmates due to scheduling conflicts, so this was my chance to visit.
The villa was stunningly beautiful and I intentionally refused to search about it beforehand, so every turn brought a pleasant surprise. The palace’s rooms were adorned with art and sculptures depicting the Roman gods and myths. Behind the building, there was a gorgeous garden that appeared to be the only green area at first, but it turned out to be just a small portion of what was to come.
There was a hidden fountain, a garden with colorful fishes, and even a balcony with a picturesque view of the magnificent town of Tivoli, bathed in sunlight.
It was the best Sunday I had in Rome.
Day 19
Course Review and Reflections
When I knew I was coming to Rome this semester, I never expected it would be so life enrichment. Visiting ancient ruins or modern museums, each place was a different classroom to understand something new about art, design or even human history. All the piazzas, basilicas and fountains were worlds with hundreds of details and stories.
Everyday I learned more than I expected. I feel like all the knowledge I gained changed my perspective as a designer and it will help me develope more skills and even habits to benefit my professional development. This class was a tourist dream. What every artist wishes. The best class for a graphic designer or architecture student.
Day 20 Assignments
During this class, we were assigned to learn the basics of the places we were visiting. However, I must admit that most of the time I only checked Google maps to figure out how to get there.
Fortunately, the tour guides were amazing and always available to answer any questions I had. We were also asked to write our initial thoughts about the places we visited. I tried to write down a few sentences that I later expanded into one or two paragraphs. For the main assignment, we had to select our best 20 pictures, which was probably the hardest task in this course, besides all the stairs we had to climb.
We had to use our creative eye and not just take pictures of the places and add captions. Instead, we had to tell a story, explain with a picture what captured our attention. I edited around 50 photos and made a selection of the ones that, in my opinion, best demonstrated what this course was about.
ANDREA RUIZ-JUSTINIANO Graphic Designer
“The only regret you might have in Rome is not getting enough tiramisu.”
Ciao! I’m a senior in Graphic Design and I’m on the lookout for more amazing experiences that can help me grow as a designer. I’m also taking a minor in Art History, which is why being in Rome feels like the perfect place for me.
My creativity has taken me to new and exciting places, like Argentina and Puerto Rico. I apply that creativity in my designs and artwork, and I believe that every decision we make can lead to unexpected and wonderful results.
When I first arrived in Rome, all I wanted was to learn more about the city and Italy in general.
But after just one month, I feel like I am a part of this city. This semester in Rome has become a crucial part of my education as a graphic designer. It’s been an incredible experience to learn and create in such a beautiful and historical place. I mean, who wouldn’t want to make art in Italy, right?
If you’re a student who’s passionate about art and design and looking to expand your knowledge and horizons, do not hesitate to study abroad. Trust me, any homesickness you may feel will be worth it for the amazing experiences you’ll have here.
More pics on Instagram: @ruizjustidesign
