A perfect Sunday for the Study Abroad Rome students including attending Mass at Santa Maria, shopping for unique treasures at Port Portese, and visiting the Basilica of Saint Paul's Behind the Walls in Via Ostiense.
We began by attending morning Mass at Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere which was commissioned in the third century- this makes it one of the oldest churches in Rome. The stunning gold mosaics were breathtaking! (Sorry, no photos allowed during the service-guess you will just have to take our word for it!)
After a lunch in Trastevere, students walked to a local market in Port Portese. Students were given the task to find a special object or keepsake at the market that cost less than 5 euro. They will then give these pieces over to a refugee who is gaining skills and experience to create new and unique souvenirs!
The students all found wonderful artifacts including a piece of marble, a box of charms, a tiny umbrella, and much more! We cannot wait to see the final outcome!
We then took a bus to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, the place where Saul of Tarsus (later named Paul) is buried. The sarcophagus of Saint Paul can still be seen in the interior of the Basilica. Among the beautiful artworks in this space is the collection of mosaics of the portraits of all of the Popes, from Saint Peter to Pope Francis.
We ended the day with a group dinner at Eataly before heading back to the hotel. Our last stop was a group hangout at the Colosseum. (We say that so casually now that we have spent a full week in Rome!)
Tomorrow we meet a new professor and a whole new day of immersive learning begins. Bring. It. On.
Ciao!
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