Rome Trip
Coláiste Bríde religion and art tour to Rome took place in October 2013.
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Rome Trip by Róisin Kehoe, Cáit Sinnott, Kate Foley and Fiona Breen, 5th YearTuesday
On the morning of Tuesday 22nd of October we arrived in Rome, where we checked in at ‘Hotel Noto’ and started a 3 hour guided walking tour of the city. It was a tiring start to the trip but well worth it because we got to visit the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, The Pantheon, The Pope’s Church and Piazza Navona. At each place we got to stop and take pictures, while a tour guide told us everything there was to know. The weather was beautiful and although we were wrecked after missing a night’s sleep nothing could dampen our spirits! That evening we got a delicious dinner at a restaurant near the hotel and by 9 o’clock we were back to the hotel and ready for bed! Wednesday At 8 o’clock on Wednesday morning we got breakfast in the hotel and at 8.30 we left for St. Peter’s Square for the audience with Pope Francis. For many of us this was the day we were most looking forward to, as it is not everyday you get to go to mass said by the Pope. We stopped in small shops on the way to buy rosary beads, and holy medals to get blessed by Pope Francis. The mass began at 11 and we got a shock to find out it was the biggest audience in history, with a crowd of 300,000 people. We could see the Pope as a tiny little dot far away but there were big screens and the atmosphere was incredible. At half one, we all split up for an hour to get lunch and after lunch we had a 2 hour guided tour of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. This was one of the highlights of the trip and it was amazing to be inside such historical buildings. We had a brilliant tour guide and we all learned a lot from the tour. The Sistine Chapel was amazing to see and everyone was in awe of the artwork. After visiting St. Peters Basilica we went to the ‘Time Elevator Experience’ which gave us an account on the History of Rome in 5D. We got our dinner at 8.30 that night in the same restaurant. Thursday At 9.30 on Thursday, we left the hotel for the Colosseum. We had a long and hectic walk there but we finally found it, where we got a guided tour and we were also shown the Roman Forum. It was incredible to be there and think what went on thousands of years ago right where we stood. In the Roman Forum we saw the place where Julius Caesar was cremated and the houses of the Vestal Virgins. After the guided tour we got our lunch and then went to the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The atmosphere here was amazing and it is where the tomb of St. John is held. We also went to the Church of La Scala Santa where we did a pilgrimage on the Holy Stairs. It is believed two drops of Jesus’ blood are on these steps and we knelt on the stairs and said a prayer on each step. It was amazing to see so many people crying whilst climbing the steps and we also found it was a very religious experience. That night we got dinner in the restaurant and got ourselves ready for the guided bus tour of Rome. It started at 7.30 and ended at 10.30 and it was beautiful to see the city still bustling by night. We made several stops at the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Colosseum. |
Friday
On Friday we reluctantly loaded our bags onto the bus and said goodbye to our hotel. We had a guided tour of the Catacombs, which was extremely interesting and historic. We departed the catacombs and got out lunch at Parco Leonardo the largest shopping centre in Rome, where we then shopped for several hours. The centre was massive and it was impossible to cover all floors!
After an exciting week we thought would never end we checked in at the airport and at 8.40 left the city for Dublin.
Food:
Everyone will agree that the food in Rome was to die for and a million miles away from what we’re used to at home. Every morning we got breakfast in the hotel, which was lovely. There was bread, toast, ham, fruit, yogurt, you name it and it was there. For drinks it ranged from orange juices to hot chocolate. Again, it was very different to our full Irish fry-ups from home. Lunch was when we really got a chance to explore Italian cuisine. We were allowed to split up and eat anywhere we liked. Although a few stuck to the reliable McDonalds, many opted for their delicious pizza and pasta that were on offer in every restaurant within metres of each other. Every evening we went to a restaurant just ten minutes from our hotel. The food was lovely every evening, we couldn’t complain. It ranged from Bolognese to lamb and of course pasta. Our favourite part of the Italian cuisine was most certainly the ice-cream, we became addicted to it! There were stalls on every street and for reasonable prices also. There were hundreds of different flavours and by the end of the trip everyone had a favourite.
Churches we visited on our trip:
Basilica of St. John Lateran and La Scala Santa:
Basilica of St. John Lateran was built between 313 and 318. Until 1870 Popes were crowned here. Today the Pope celebrates mass here on Maundy Thursday. Everyone enjoyed visiting the basilica because all the mosaics on the walls were so colourful and attractive looking. Also it was great to learn some history about the Basilica.
The Scala Santa staircase is situated on the east side of the square. It consists of 28 steps which Saint Helen brought from Jerusalem. They are said to be from the staircase which Jesus descended when leaving the palace of Pontius Pilate after his condemnation. For centuries, The Scala Santa has attracted Christian pilgrims who wished to honour the Passion of Jesus by climbing up the stairs on their knees. Many of the girls and teachers decided to do the pilgrimage while we were there
Saint Peter’s Basilica:
Saint Peter’s Basilica was a jaw dropping sight. Everyone was in awe when they saw it. This was one of the highlights of the trip along with many more. Here are some facts about Saint Peter’s Basilica:
* St Peter's Cathedral is the greatest of all churches of Christendom and is one of the holiest sites in the world.
* The dome of St. Peter's Cathedral was designed by Michelangelo and is the largest dome in the world, measuring 42m in diameter and reaching a height of about 138 meters.
*St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world. It has a 218 meter long nave.
* St. Peter's Basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter.
* According to the Catholic tradition, Saint Peter's tomb is below the altar of the basilica.
*The Basilica of St. Peter is regarded as the greatest work of architecture of its time.
* Some of the most important works in the basilica are the Pietà - by Michelangelo, the Papal Altar - by Bernini, the Throne of St. Peter - also by Bernini, and the Monument to the Stuarts - by Canova.
The Pope’s Audience:
Day in the Vatican City; On the Wednesday of our trip to Rome, we visited Vatican City and were fortunate enough to also have been in the audience of the Popes weekly mass. On this particular day, 300,000 people were in attendance. St. Peters Square was packed to the brim, its capacity full and the sun was shining down on us with temperatures of over 20°C. The mass was said by Pope Francis and he had others priests translating into various languages. Each country was spoken to in their own native language. There was then a blessing for everybody in attendance. We were all blessed, as was our holy water and rosary beads that we had with us. The atmosphere in the square was unforgettable. People waved flags from their native countries, with a sense of pride. The mass lasted for two hours and everybody felt spiritual after it. When the mass ended, we all had some time to get lunch for ourselves. After this, we were brought on a remarkable tour of the Vatican building. We had a very knowledgeable tour guide, who gave us a brilliant tour. At the start of this tour we were informed of the Vatican Cities history. Then, we were brought on a guided tour around the building of the Vatican, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Square and Basilica. These buildings were all beautiful, with exquisite paintings, structures and architecture. The tomb of St. John Paul was a focal point for a lot of us. Michelangelo’s Pietá was also an amazing statue to have seen. This particular day was an unforgettable experience for both teachers and students on the trip.
The Highlight:
I think the highlight for everyone was on the last night when we went on a night time bus tour of Rome. We all got done up, went for dinner and then got picked up by the bus. The views were spectacular. We stopped off at the Trevi fountain where we posed for pictures and made our wishes as we threw our coins over our shoulders to return to Rome someday. We also stopped off at the Colosseum where, again, we took more pictures. It was lit up beautifully and with few people around we really took advantage of the gorgeous view. What was meant to be a five minute walk around Piaza Navona ended up taking much longer. It was completely different to what we had experienced on our first day visiting it. There was a bustling atmosphere yet very peaceful. There were couples out for dinner and you could hear the gushing water from the beautiful Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) so clearly. There were hundreds of scarves and paintings for sale on the street and our haggling skills certainly were put into practice. We couldn’t leave Piazza Navona without one last ice-cream and I think it’s safe to say everyone returned to the bus with a different flavoured ice-cream in their hand. Our last stop was St. Peter’s Basilica which was simply breath taking. Again, it was completely different to what we had seen the previous day at the Pope’s audience when there were around 300,000 people there. That night there was only a handful of people and us. We got to go right up to the Basilica and take in the detail of the surrounding square. It was truly beautiful and it was one of our fondest memories of the trip by far.
Conclusion
The trip to Rome was a once in a lifetime experience that none of us will ever forget. We are so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to represent our school on a trip to one of the most historical cities in the world. We learnt so much about the city and its history, and we are so lucky to say at the ages of 16 and 17 that we have had an audience with the Pope and seen so many amazing sights. Thanks to our teachers Mrs. O’Connor, Mrs. Whelan, Ms. Nolan, Mrs. Breen and Mrs. Furlong for putting up with us for 4 days and not losing any of us. The memories will last us a lifetime and we would go back in the morning if we could! We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the trip and made the most of our time there. It truly is such a beautiful city and we would highly recommend it to everyone.
On Friday we reluctantly loaded our bags onto the bus and said goodbye to our hotel. We had a guided tour of the Catacombs, which was extremely interesting and historic. We departed the catacombs and got out lunch at Parco Leonardo the largest shopping centre in Rome, where we then shopped for several hours. The centre was massive and it was impossible to cover all floors!
After an exciting week we thought would never end we checked in at the airport and at 8.40 left the city for Dublin.
Food:
Everyone will agree that the food in Rome was to die for and a million miles away from what we’re used to at home. Every morning we got breakfast in the hotel, which was lovely. There was bread, toast, ham, fruit, yogurt, you name it and it was there. For drinks it ranged from orange juices to hot chocolate. Again, it was very different to our full Irish fry-ups from home. Lunch was when we really got a chance to explore Italian cuisine. We were allowed to split up and eat anywhere we liked. Although a few stuck to the reliable McDonalds, many opted for their delicious pizza and pasta that were on offer in every restaurant within metres of each other. Every evening we went to a restaurant just ten minutes from our hotel. The food was lovely every evening, we couldn’t complain. It ranged from Bolognese to lamb and of course pasta. Our favourite part of the Italian cuisine was most certainly the ice-cream, we became addicted to it! There were stalls on every street and for reasonable prices also. There were hundreds of different flavours and by the end of the trip everyone had a favourite.
Churches we visited on our trip:
Basilica of St. John Lateran and La Scala Santa:
Basilica of St. John Lateran was built between 313 and 318. Until 1870 Popes were crowned here. Today the Pope celebrates mass here on Maundy Thursday. Everyone enjoyed visiting the basilica because all the mosaics on the walls were so colourful and attractive looking. Also it was great to learn some history about the Basilica.
The Scala Santa staircase is situated on the east side of the square. It consists of 28 steps which Saint Helen brought from Jerusalem. They are said to be from the staircase which Jesus descended when leaving the palace of Pontius Pilate after his condemnation. For centuries, The Scala Santa has attracted Christian pilgrims who wished to honour the Passion of Jesus by climbing up the stairs on their knees. Many of the girls and teachers decided to do the pilgrimage while we were there
Saint Peter’s Basilica:
Saint Peter’s Basilica was a jaw dropping sight. Everyone was in awe when they saw it. This was one of the highlights of the trip along with many more. Here are some facts about Saint Peter’s Basilica:
* St Peter's Cathedral is the greatest of all churches of Christendom and is one of the holiest sites in the world.
* The dome of St. Peter's Cathedral was designed by Michelangelo and is the largest dome in the world, measuring 42m in diameter and reaching a height of about 138 meters.
*St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world. It has a 218 meter long nave.
* St. Peter's Basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter.
* According to the Catholic tradition, Saint Peter's tomb is below the altar of the basilica.
*The Basilica of St. Peter is regarded as the greatest work of architecture of its time.
* Some of the most important works in the basilica are the Pietà - by Michelangelo, the Papal Altar - by Bernini, the Throne of St. Peter - also by Bernini, and the Monument to the Stuarts - by Canova.
The Pope’s Audience:
Day in the Vatican City; On the Wednesday of our trip to Rome, we visited Vatican City and were fortunate enough to also have been in the audience of the Popes weekly mass. On this particular day, 300,000 people were in attendance. St. Peters Square was packed to the brim, its capacity full and the sun was shining down on us with temperatures of over 20°C. The mass was said by Pope Francis and he had others priests translating into various languages. Each country was spoken to in their own native language. There was then a blessing for everybody in attendance. We were all blessed, as was our holy water and rosary beads that we had with us. The atmosphere in the square was unforgettable. People waved flags from their native countries, with a sense of pride. The mass lasted for two hours and everybody felt spiritual after it. When the mass ended, we all had some time to get lunch for ourselves. After this, we were brought on a remarkable tour of the Vatican building. We had a very knowledgeable tour guide, who gave us a brilliant tour. At the start of this tour we were informed of the Vatican Cities history. Then, we were brought on a guided tour around the building of the Vatican, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Square and Basilica. These buildings were all beautiful, with exquisite paintings, structures and architecture. The tomb of St. John Paul was a focal point for a lot of us. Michelangelo’s Pietá was also an amazing statue to have seen. This particular day was an unforgettable experience for both teachers and students on the trip.
The Highlight:
I think the highlight for everyone was on the last night when we went on a night time bus tour of Rome. We all got done up, went for dinner and then got picked up by the bus. The views were spectacular. We stopped off at the Trevi fountain where we posed for pictures and made our wishes as we threw our coins over our shoulders to return to Rome someday. We also stopped off at the Colosseum where, again, we took more pictures. It was lit up beautifully and with few people around we really took advantage of the gorgeous view. What was meant to be a five minute walk around Piaza Navona ended up taking much longer. It was completely different to what we had experienced on our first day visiting it. There was a bustling atmosphere yet very peaceful. There were couples out for dinner and you could hear the gushing water from the beautiful Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) so clearly. There were hundreds of scarves and paintings for sale on the street and our haggling skills certainly were put into practice. We couldn’t leave Piazza Navona without one last ice-cream and I think it’s safe to say everyone returned to the bus with a different flavoured ice-cream in their hand. Our last stop was St. Peter’s Basilica which was simply breath taking. Again, it was completely different to what we had seen the previous day at the Pope’s audience when there were around 300,000 people there. That night there was only a handful of people and us. We got to go right up to the Basilica and take in the detail of the surrounding square. It was truly beautiful and it was one of our fondest memories of the trip by far.
Conclusion
The trip to Rome was a once in a lifetime experience that none of us will ever forget. We are so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to represent our school on a trip to one of the most historical cities in the world. We learnt so much about the city and its history, and we are so lucky to say at the ages of 16 and 17 that we have had an audience with the Pope and seen so many amazing sights. Thanks to our teachers Mrs. O’Connor, Mrs. Whelan, Ms. Nolan, Mrs. Breen and Mrs. Furlong for putting up with us for 4 days and not losing any of us. The memories will last us a lifetime and we would go back in the morning if we could! We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the trip and made the most of our time there. It truly is such a beautiful city and we would highly recommend it to everyone.