Ciao from Rome! Today our class spent the day at the Vatican, starting with the Papal Audience, then visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, stopping outside with the Swiss Guard, and finishing the day in the Vatican Museums with a walk through to the Sistine Chapel. It was a full day, but one that really stood out because of how much we experienced together.

The Papal Audience was the first event of the day and set the tone for everything that followed. Being there with classmates, surrounded by people from all over the world, made the experience feel especially meaningful. It was one of those moments where simply being present mattered, and sharing it as a group made it even more memorable.

This photo was taken after visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, outside near the Swiss Guard. After spending time inside, stopping for a group photo felt like a natural pause in the day. Seeing the Swiss Guard up close was a reminder that these spaces are not just historic sites, but places that are still actively used and carefully managed.

These two photos were taken later in the day while our class was moving through the Vatican Museums on the way to the Sistine Chapel. A lot of the experience looked like this, walking together, listening, and trying to take everything in. Being there in person felt very different from learning about these places in a classroom or seeing them online.

From an engineering perspective, the Sistine Chapel stood out the most. Even with huge crowds, the space is carefully controlled to protect the paintings. Temperature, humidity, and airflow all have to be managed so the artwork is preserved while still allowing people to visit. You barely notice any of it while you are there, but without those systems, the paintings would not survive the amount of traffic they see.

Taking photos together helped capture more than just where we went. They captured a shared day of learning, reflection, and community, which is a big part of what makes studying abroad in Rome so meaningful.