By Saraniya Raveendra May 2019
After an incredible performance in a church and a short adventure for some lunch in Siena, the Woodlands Senior Concert Band went on a three and a half hour bus ride to our next major destination; the one we had been looking forward to for days: Rome. During the bus ride, it was impossible to miss the beautiful landscapes of mountains and rolling hills, peppered with buildings from old fortresses to new developments of stores or houses. It seemed insignificant when compared to the other incredible things that we got to see in Italy, but the picturesque scenery of central Italy was something that would be impossible to forget. The bus ride ended at the Holiday Inn, which was situated in the outskirts of Rome. This hotel was considered to be the best out of all three hotels, likely because of its similarities to hotels back home, and the size of the rooms. After a quick trip to our rooms and a dinner which was provided by the hotel, we made our way to the buses for a nighttime tour of Rome. After a drive of about 40 minutes, we met our guides for a walking tour of some of Rome’s finest sites, including the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and many more. Along with the incredible Trevi Fountain, the large number of Bernini statues that we saw were an obvious highlight. Day 7 in Italy ended at around 11:15 when we got back to the hotel to rest up for what would be a busy day on Thursday.
On April 12, after breakfast, we got on the coaches to go to Vatican City, or more specifically, St. Peter’s Square. This incredible location is a large Piazza surrounded by incredible columns and architecture, and even more importantly, the wondrous St. Peter’s Basilica. Once inside the basilica, a person can witness a sight unlike any other; a large hall of gold covered in incredible mosaics, tombs and statues. It was incredible to see the tombs of former popes, as well as the innate artistry and decoration, found throughout the Basilica. After some time to tour the Basilica, the group met up once again to head to the buses for a short drive to the ancient part of Rome.
We were granted some free time to get lunch before our tour in the Colosseum (El Colosseo). Our tour guide explained to us how the Colosseum operated back in the day. She told us about the animal fights that preceded the gladiators, then the fights between animals and gladiators (often slaves or prisoners) and then finally the gladiator battles for the most prestigious of rewards. We got some great pictures as we learned about this incredible, icon of Rome.
After the Colosseum, we moved on to see the Roman Forum. The ruins of the ancient city were mesmerizing, as many of these had been so well preserved. We were given the option to do the tour or go off on our own around the Forum and the surrounding area. Those that decided to stay for the tour got to learn a bit about the history of the ruins and how every temple and building meant something to the people of Ancient Rome. It was incredible to see that so much history and culture could be represented in such architecture. While some people went up on the terrace at the Forum to get some great pictures of the view of the city, others were able to get souvenirs, do some mindless adventuring with their friends, and of course, purchase some gelato. After a couple of hours, everyone met up and walked to get dinner at a rather cool, fancy restaurant near the Colosseum called Le Terme del Colosseo, where there was entertainment in the form of singers and musicians, and a whopping 4 courses of food! With our stomachs filled and our minds running on fumes from the incredible day, we headed back to the hotel for a bit of sleep in preparation for our very early morning.
Our time in Rome was short, but it is without question that it was something we will never, ever, forget. From the Trevi Fountain to St. Peter’s Basilica, to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, we got to witness a part of Italy that not only represents the past, but changes lives forever.
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