First Steps: Rome Day 1

For our second class trip, we made our way to Rome! Or at least, that’s where the road took us.

Our group stayed at the Church of St. Gregory al Celio, located right next to the Circus Maximus. It was a charming spot with several exterior courtyards and was conveniently situated near train and bus stations, making public transportation easily accessible.

After arriving, we immediately set out to explore the city. Our first stop was Largo di Torre Argentina, an excavated site containing temples from the Roman Republic era. The site sits approximately 20 feet below modern street level, where we observed clear evidence of how the ground level has built up over time, partly due to efforts to mitigate past flooding.

Our next stop was the Pantheon, an engineering masterpiece. Known as the “Temple of All Gods,” it was built by Emperor Hadrian between 118–128 AD and was later converted into a Catholic church in 609 AD. The structure features a massive 43.3-meter diameter dome made of Roman concrete. To prevent collapse, the walls at the base are thick and constructed from heavier materials like travertine, while the upper portions gradually become thinner and incorporate lighter materials such as tufa and pumice. At the very top, where structural support would be weakest, there is no concrete at all resulting in the iconic central opening called an oculus.

We continued strolling through the city, stopping at notable sites we had studied in class. We visited the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in Piazza Navona, and the Galleria Alberto Sordi, two amazing sites to see. We also explored the Church of the Gesù, where we saw The Triumph of the Name of Jesus fresco by Giovanni Battista Gaulli. And of course, no trip to Rome would be complete without visiting the Trevi Fountain, a stunning example of Baroque sculpture.

Overall, our first day in Rome was an exciting introduction to the city and everything it has to offer. Even as we casually wandered between landmarks, we were constantly surrounded by history and culture, making every moment feel meaningful. This first day set the tone for the rest of the trip and left us eager to continue exploring and learning more about Rome in the days ahead.

Until next time,

The Volterra Group