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.

Ciao!

My day started off with class at 8:45 am where we listened to a presentation from Courtney, Aveline & Josh. They presented on domes and one main takeaway I got from their presentation was always think outside the box. I really enjoyed learning about the egg story and how the dome in Florence came about.

After class we took the metro and made our way towards the Roman Forum. Just outside of the Roman Forum we took some amazing pictures in front of the colosseum and the arch of Constantine.

Shortly after we entered the Roman Forum and walked around learning the rich history of what remained of the Roman Forum and what history could be retold to bring this historical area back to life in front of our eyes. Seeing what remained of the structures and rendered images of what they would have looked like still blows my mind. Unfortunately not much remained of Circus Maximus or many structures throughout the site. We were told that some of the materials used to build the Vatican and St. Peter’s basilica were taken from this site.

The Roman Forum was amazing and I am so glad I got to experience it and walk around such a historic site. After that, our tours for the day were over so a group of us went to the Vittoriano for lunch. Here I ate the best sandwich I have had since arriving in Rome and some really great pizza as well. This location has such a nice view of the city.

After this, we were making our way back to the hotel when we stopped by a medieval store and we looked at all sorts of cool little objects that fascinated us. I was personally interested in the medieval chess set and the Harry Potter wands. There was a free museum of medieval armor and it was a super cool store that was very unexpected.

To end my night off strong I went to a Roma vs Torino soccer match where unfortunately Roma lost 3-2 by a last minute winner. Nonetheless, the atmosphere was amazing and it was an experience I will never forget. Forza Roma!

Sincerely,

– Eric Rico Fajardo

Salve Everyone!

Today, we started our day bright and early at 8:40 am with some class time, where classmates Ben, Bryce, and Taye presented on Trajan’s Column and the Arch of Constantine. Their presentation helped set the stage for the day by explaining the historical importance and engineering behind these structures.

After class, we used the metro transit system to travel to our first site visit, the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano. What stood out most was the layered history beneath the church. Multiple levels of older structures showed how engineering evolves over time. It was interesting to see how new buildings were constructed on top of older foundations, which reflects early adaptive reuse and long-term structural planning.

Next, we moved to the Arch of Constantine. Seeing it up close made the engineering principles clearer. The arch relies on compression, which we learned about in our class time, forces that keep it standing. It was also interesting to learn how parts of older monuments were reused, showing early recycling practices in construction. There was even locations where old inscriptions could be seen within the new mosaic floor.

Our final stop was the Colosseum. We were lucky enough to go underneath the structure and see the hypogeum, where animals, gladiators, and props were stored. The engineering of the structure was a feat to behold, we saw square arches, curved arches and other compression members. We were shown diagonal blocks that were to structurally support the wall from sagging. The arches above helped distribute weight and support massive crowds safely.

We ended the day by taking the metro back to our hotel, where we ended the night so everyone could get some much-needed shut-eye and get ready for the next day!

Buenanotte!

– Cullen White & Courtney Swenson

Caio everyone!

Today we were up with the sun for breakfast as we had an early departure to Pompeii. After a two and a half hour bus ride, we had finally made it to the ruins. Where we began our tour with Claudio and Michella by looking at the theater, the larger one where primarily comedy plays would occur.

We spent the majority of our time touring around regions I and IX, traveling the streets. Exploring Regions I and IX of Pompeii reveals two very different but deeply interconnected sides of ancient urban life. Region I, located along the southeastern edge of the city, feels more residential and intimate. Its narrow streets, modest homes, and small workshops show the rhythms of everyday Pompeian life, families cooking, artisans working, neighbors interacting in shared courtyards. Walking through this area, it becomes clear how densely populated Pompeii was and how closely daily routines were tied to the architecture. The preserved wall paintings and domestic layouts offer a glimpse into private life, reminding me that beneath the volcanic ash were ordinary people with ordinary routines.

In contrast, Region IX sits closer to the city center and reflects a more commercial and social character. Here, the remains of shops, taverns, and larger domus structures reveal a district shaped by movement, trade, and public interaction. The wider streets and more elaborate buildings suggest a wealthier population and a more outward-facing lifestyle. Region IX feels like the energetic heart of Pompeii, where business, politics, and social life intersected. We also got to see a new excavation site currently happening. We are not allowed to currently to post any pictures from the site but the vibrant frescoes were gorgeous and the mosaic works being dug up were amazing.

After we finished up Pompeii by seeing the secondary, smaller theater in the city center, we reboarded our bus to travel to downtown Naples. We had a group lunch of crocches and margarita pizzas at Lombardi 1892 with their specialty buffalo mozzarella. After we finished lunch, we took a bus tour around Naples noting historical sites such as the castles, towers, and palaces before returning to the hotel for the night.

Buonanotte!

-Brynn Leary

Today we finally got to Rome! We started the day on the plane, where many of us students tried to sleep with varying levels of success. We landed around 10:00 a.m. Rome time this morning, and we definitely felt the fact that it was 3:00 a.m. Minnesota time. Customs was smooth, and we all got on the bus for our 25 minute ride to the hotel, where we were given our bus passes for the trip. Upon arrival at the hotel, we thought we would be waiting a while for rooms, but all the doubles were ready immediately. Most students, besides the two groups in triples who went off to do an extra expedition because they didn’t get their rooms and things until right before 1:30, went up to their rooms and had time to shower and take a break. Then many of us met up at 1:30 p.m. to go explore.

At 1:30, we gathered a group of around 24 students eager to explore, and we all went to the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, pictured below. We then broke off to grab quick snacks, such as pizza, a sandwich, or gelato, and met back up at the Church of Saint Louis at 2:30, when it opened. This church was stunning inside and gave us some great motivation for our next endeavor, going to the Vatican. By the time we got in line at the Vatican, we were down a few people who wanted to head back to the hotel to rest after a rough night of sleep. A group of us got through security and bought tickets to go to the top of the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica. It was stairs after stairs, and then more stairs. We also got to walk between the inner and outer domes, where the walls were slanted at a very odd angle. The view from the top was stunning, as shown below, and the stairs were cramped but interesting.

After seeing all of that (more of the Vatican will be discussed later in the trip), everyone was ready to head back to the hotel and rest up before our debrief at 6:00. After that, many of us went out to different places to grab a final meal for the day, and some went out to explore more. We all completed our homework for the day and then climbed into bed to get a much-needed full night of sleep.

Buona notte, and we will update tomorrow.

-Blake

Ciao everyone!

Our adventure is finally about to begin, and who isn’t excited to be traveling to Italy?? After countless hours of preparation throughout the summer and fall, the St. Thomas engineering students are eager to dive into an unforgettable experience abroad. Even before we take off, we’ve gained valuable insight into the ancient engineering practices through readings, curiosity projects, and group research. Still, there is nothing quite like standing in front of real-world structures and seeing firsthand how engineering principles have shaped the world.

Our first stop is Rome, where we will encounter landmarks such as the Pantheon, Colosseum, and Vatican. These sights offer powerful lessons in structural design, materials, and the historical context that led to their construction while also showing how engineering continues to influence society today. Later in Florence, we will shift our focus to more modern engineering through visits to Milan, studies of skyscrapers, and even tours of the Ducati and Pagani Supercar factory. Experiencing both ancient and modern systems will help us better understand the engineering principles we’ve learned about in the classroom. 

Beyond the technical learning, this journey is also about shared experiences. Students from all backgrounds will explore Italian culture through food, traditions, architecture, and everyday life! Even in our pre-departure conversations, it is clear that everyone brings something unique to the group. Some are excited to study historical structures while others are eager to experience a new country for the first time. 

As we get ready to depart, we are filled with curiosity, excitement, and anticipation for everything we are about to learn. Italy here we come!

– Avery and Aveline 

1/26/23

Today marks the last day of our stay in Italy. It started with class, this time being a little different than it usually was throughout the 20 days we were here. At the end of class yesterday, we were told to prepare 1-minute elevator speeches about our trip, including how it impacted us and what we got from it. Everybody gave their speech to the class, and then we had the rest of the day to explore Florence on our last day.

A group of us went to the piazza by Il Duomo and looked at shops around the area. At 7:30 we reconvened for dinner at a restaurant by our hotel as a class. Claudio picked a meal for this dinner, including fried bread, pasta, pork with potatoes, and Tiramisu. Everyone had a great time, and we enjoyed the live music and painting in the restaurant. Happy to be having a meal together but sad to leave, we toasted the trip and planned to reconvene at 4am tomorrow morning to get on the bus to the airport.

Ciao,

Today the engineers started the day with a lesson on sustainability and comparative systems. They learned about the ways that Italy stays sustainable. Some examples were the card activated lights, where they need to put their room key into a slot to activate the lights in the room. Additionally, many of Italy’s buildings including the Bosco Verticale have live vegetation creating a carbon zero environment. From there, the engineers compared the sustainability of Italy to that in the United States.

After class, the engineers had the day to explore the city and take part in various activities. Many of them went to Museo Pietre in Florence, purchased last minute souvenirs in the main city, and some even several individuals even went to a Toscano Vineyard for a wine tasting. Overall, the engineers are taking these last few days in Italy to enjoy the city and prepare for the journey back to the states.

Several of us went to a vineyard on a wine tour at Fattoria Lavacchil which is in the region of Tuscany made with chianti grapes. The views from this vineyard were beautiful as seen in the picture with the St. Thomas flag. The tour consisted of the long process of growing the grapes tending to them and fermentation as well as the aging process. One of the coolest things about this vineyard is that they don’t use any pesticides on their grapes and there are no spices, sugars, or sulfides added to the wine, so the taste comes solely from the process from the grape to the bottle. We learned about the proper way to taste wine and how to tell the differences between colors flavors and alcohol content. It was an informal tour, and we felt quite welcome.

To wind the night down we all watched a movie in the hotel lounge enjoying one of our last nights in Italy.

Blog post Wednesday, January 24

Traveling by high-speed train

Today the class woke up early to board the high-speed train at 7:30 traveling from Florence to Milan. The train traveled at an astonishing 230 km/hour! The rail consists of 50 miles of underground tunnels. Deb and the civil engineering students were amazed at this infrastructure. The United States simply doesn’t have anything like that. One notable station that the train went through was Mediopadana Station, a futuristic building that is made to look like a sail waving in the wind. The most famous train station in Italy is the station in Milan. The train enters the station and the first thing the passenger sees is the gigantic steel arches spanning the entire track. The passenger gets off and enters a beautiful 20th-century entrance of the station. Made of marble and with sky-high ceilings, we got an immediate taste of what Milan is like.

The Bosco Verticale

The first place we visited in Milan was the Bosco Verticale. It is two structures designed to be “vertical gardens.” They are great examples of combining sustainability and architecture. The buildings have staggered balconies, each containing a small tree. The building owners manage these trees, and as they grow they appear to take over more and more of the building. The structure is LEAD-certified but does not align with any local European Standards. It is not just the structure though that is built sustainably. There is an entire complex underneath, almost like a miniature city. There are grocery stores, shops, parking garages, and other amenities below the structures’ first visible level. This system promotes less motor vehicle traffic because of the fewer commuters and encourages people to stay around in and invest in their home area.

The Milan Cathedral

The Second Place We visited was the Milan Cathedral. This was one of the most impressive structures were have seen on the trip. The exterior was completely covered in human sculptures of different religious figures. It is a Gothic style with pinnacles at the top. Candoglia marble from Lake Maggiore quarry primarily makes up the outside of the off-white building. Inside, black, white, and red marble decorated the floors in beautiful designs. The interior also has tall stained-glass windows that let in beautiful colored lights. At the back of the cathedral, there is a sundial that is included in the floor. A gold line traces the sun pattern throughout the day and at certain times, the light perfectly shines through a hole in the ceiling and nightlights a plaque on the floor. This is a great example of engineering integrated into architecture!

It was really interesting to see Milan after exploring Rome, Naples, and Florence among other places. While still containing notes of historical architecture, after most of the city was flattened by bombs in WWII it was given a chance to rebuild and modernize. Out of all the Cities in Italy, this one seemed the most similar to the United States. It was a cool experience, and also the last major location of our trip. We are all looking forward to a couple of lighter days in Florence before packing up and heading home on Saturday morning.