Night and Day

This week we began to skim the surface of the Rome experience, venturing into the city on our own and as a class.

One destination of our first class fieldtrip was Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio. The ceiling is unique in that it is designed as an optical illusion. There is a plate in the floor, and if you stand on it, you are supposed to have the best view. The ceiling is painted with pillars stretching into the heavens, while angels and Catholics push out the evil Protestants from heaven. Some of the figures even have 3D additions to make them even more real.

There is a "dome" in the middle of the ceiling, which is actually a flat surface. I actually heard some UK tourists next to me say, "Oh, I guess they decided not to paint that part." Here is a comparison of the view under the "dome" and from the entryway of the church, so you can see the change in vantage point.

The streets are always covered in performers and venders. Often, they are refugees that live in tent cities outside of Rome. This is something to keep in mind when they flock you and bully you into buying their product.

 

During the day, they want to sell you selfie sticks or, in the case of the gladiators around the Colosseum, want you to pay for a picture with them. At night, the scene changes. Scarves are for sale, and the hawkers will actually try to shove roses in your hand.

 

I made the mistake of inquiring the price of a scarf. When I refused to pay the outrageous price, I was then actually chased around the Colosseum until I bought it...for 3 euros instead of the 10 he wanted. (Afghani refugee, Afghani refugee, Afghani refugee.) 

 

But the city at night is a beautiful place. The tourists go back to their hotels and you can actually hear a person's footsteps on the cobbled streets.

 

Today, we tried to venture out of the tourist zone by visiting The Keyhole. The door of the Malta embassy is built so that when you look through the keyhole, you look through three different countries: Malta, Italy, and the Vatican.

(Not my picture, but I wanted you to see how beautiful it is.)



It shows that some of the best things about Rome are found in unexpected places. I'll try to keep you updated as they find me.