Travel

Today, our class started our day by leaving Rome. We hopped on a high-speed train at 8:25am and got to Florence by 10! We enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery and were served delicious drinks and snacks. When we got to Florence, we dropped off our bags at the hotel and went straight to the Galleria Dell ’Accademia Di Firenze. Next, we enjoyed lunch at the Florence market and then climbed the steps of the famous Duomo!

Florence

The class took the Florence bus system into the city center with our tour guide Leonardo. We saw the famous statue of David along with many other sculptures, paintings, and pieces of art. One of the many highlights was a demonstration of how replicas of statues were cast. Afterwards we explored the main shopping district and enjoyed a wide variety of foods from the central market. There was an astounding variety of foods, pastries, and beverages to choose from. After lunch, it was time to regroup at the Duomo for the great climb to the top!

Duomo

The Duomo is a cathedral that is known for its fascinating design and architecture. Construction for it began in 1296 by architect Arnolfo di Cambio and was completed in 1436 when Filippo Brunelleschi designed and constructed its famous dome. It is known for its impressive design and is the largest brick dome ever constructed. Today, our class got to climb 463 steps all the way up to the top of the dome. At the top, we were rewarded with stunning views over the entire city of Florence. One of the interesting features of the Duomo was the herringbone pattern of the brick work. This brickwork was a fascinating way to further reinforce the magnificent dome.

Church

The first place that our group viewed was the Basilica of Saint Sebastian. Upon entering the Basilica, we were able to witness that beautiful ceiling that displayed the story of Saint Sebastian martyrdom, and symbols that emulate strength and courage. The materials of the ceiling were entire configured of wood, which was impressive because the ceiling was made in the 17^th century and showcase how well preserved the components of the architecture were kept.

Additionally, some important statue are stored and preserved in the basilica such as the Bust of Saint Sebatian and the Statue of Saint Sebatian. The Bust of Saint Sebatian had an incredibly interesting history due to a huge debate that occurred between the original and a replica of the statue. Through analyzing the material used and the techniques that were implemented to carve the details the statue, people were able to differentiate the original from the decoy. This is how the original Bust of Sain Sebatian is not located and one display in the basilica to this day through analyzing the material and carving techniques.

Appian Way

After our stop at the Basilica of Saint Sebastian, the class began our walk down the Appian Way, which is one of the earliest Roman roads. It was the first road built for transporting troops outside of Rome and it is named after Appius Claudius Caecus. This road perfectly exemplifies the expression, “All roads lead to Rome”. The class was also able to take a look at the Circus of Maxentius, which hosted various ancient Roman games, typically in honor of Maxentius’ son Valerius Romulus, who died at a young age. Nearby is the tomb of Romulus, which is thought to hold his remains. As we continued down the Appian Way, we were able to witness the divots made by Roman chariots in the ancient stones. There were a number of ruins we passed by, as well as some wildlife! A little black cat and a herd of sheep said hello to the Tommies as we made our way down the road.

Aquaducts

For our final tour today, we went to aquaduct park where the remnants of two remarkable Roman aquaducts, namely Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus, are preserved. As we strolled through the park, we focused on examining the structural elements of these historical marvels. Unfortunately, it was raining outside but the temperature was very pleasant, so we weren’t affected much!

There are 11 total aquaducts in Rome, and they were designed to move water from distant sources to the heart of Rome. It took very skilled and detailed surveying and engineering for the Romans to construct these great structures! The aquaducts relied totally on gravity to move the water from source to source, so the engineers had to be very precise in the slope and inclination of the duct so it could span great lengths. These aquaducts stand as a testament to the brilliance of ancient engineering.