The Classics and Religious Studies departments travelled to Rome over half- term and our first stop was to the Catacombs and Basilica of St. Agnes where we were given a guided tour and explanations of the martyr’s life and death by Fr David.
Day two started with a visit to the busy St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Museum including the Sistine Chapel. We then walked to Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, covering over ten miles.
On Day three, classical sites included the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Circus Maximus where Dr Stobart taught the group about the Romans’ passion for violent sports and their ambition to construct magnificent buildings as expressions of their power. We also visited the Basilica of Saint Clement, a building split into three levels from different periods of history, covering both Christian and Pagan worship.
Our last day consisted of visits to two churches including the beautiful gardens and surprisingly simple styled St. Sabina, and the Romanesque St. Mary in Cosmedin, where we saw the Mouth of Truth and skull of St. Valentine. Our last stops included the Temples of Hercules Victor and Portunus and finally the Capitoline Museum with the imposing statue of Marcus Aurelius.
