Studying abroad means adapting to essentially what becomes a whole new life: new cultural norms, new food, and especially new sights. Sometimes, this means making peace with discomfort – navigating language barriers, respecting new customs, and missing home overall – but the newness is all part of the fun. These first few weeks exploring Rome, I’ve fallen particularly in love with the architecture – the faded ochre of apartment facades, the towering domes of churches older than I can comprehend, spotted sunlight through glistening windows. This is my love letter to Rome’s buildings, new and old.
While one can take in the beauty of Rome from anywhere in the city simply by taking a stroll, many of my favorite places to spot interesting architecture are museums. Many of the photos in this post were taken at or around the Mercati di Traiano, or Museo dei Fori Imperiali, an ex-market made Roman museum which Temple Rome students taking an art class can access for free with their MIC card! Alongside the Capitoline Museums, some of the most expansive in Rome, this is definitely one of my favorites.
The area in- and around the museum offers clear, mostly unobstructed views of sights like the Roman forum. While the Forum consists largely of ruins, the layout is still identifiable, and one can realize what each individual building was back in the (Roman) day.
Such feats of architecture were common in the ancient world, and it’s also interesting to see how modern Rome confronts, preserves, and conversely, separates itself from its past. As a city of museums, Rome has had lots of time to think about how to form its identity as both an ancient and modern city. After all, there’s a reason Rome is known as the eternal city.
Inside, the museum boasts beautiful arches and windows, allowing for natural light to accentuate the historical structure. I love when buildings incorporate natural light – my apartment, for example (part of Temple Rome’s student housing), has lots of windows which garner sun at almost any time of the day. I’ve loved cooking in the early morning, letting the sun stream in through my kitchen balcony.
Compared to where I live back in the States, often colder and cloudier in the fall, Rome’s weather is a welcome change. While the sun is now setting earlier as we move into the fall season, I’m soaking up the last rays of it through streets, balconies, and windows alike.
Rome’s skyline is noticeably dotted with domes, serving as the focal point for buildings from churches. Domes were particularly fascinating architectural feats during historical times, and from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Pantheon, Rome is known as the City of Domes for a reason. Compared to American cities, often filled with skyscrapers and sharp angles, Rome’s rounded, marble-esque approach to the frequent churches and holy spaces around the city is a refreshing change.
As a city, Rome is situated over several hilltops, and thus functions through several layers. Viewing Rome from places situated on the higher layers, such as museum terraces or parks like the Villa Borghese, allows one to easily see many of the city’s landmarks.
While Rome is well known for its churches, ruins and museums, too, its apartments are beautiful and varied. Many of Rome’s buildings take on an ochre or cream hue, especially closer to the historical city center, but can also be other colors – I’ve found Rome to be a generally colorful city. You’ll often see apartments covered in verdant plants, vines, and ivy, or in the evening, dotted with green rose-ringed parakeets flying about, one of my favorite (and unfortunately invasive!) parts of Rome’s skies.
Near Temple University Rome, situated near the Spanish Steps, there are many beautiful apartments, painted in tones of yellow, orange, and red. Especially as the sun has been setting earlier, I try to walk home from school most days, and I’m often greeted with a beautiful sunset, such as this one. Rome knows she is a beautiful city, and when she wants to show off, she does!
Being in Rome still amazes me every day. Even beyond its architecture, its food, its people, its customs and its energy are all fresh, interesting, and inviting. When entering a semester abroad, it’s important to keep an open mind, and immerse yourself in what’s around you. Temple University Rome’s classes often take students into the city and around the country for museums, lectures, and field trips. Even still, I believe it’s important to explore the city on your own and find the wonder that awaits you.
If you’re interested in studying abroad at Temple Rome just like me, visit the Temple Education Abroad website for more information!