May 5 - First day in Rome, we visited Castel Saint Angelo where we did some sketching and exploring. After that, we walked to Palazzo de Popolo to sketch and eat lunch. For the afternoon, we walked to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps to sketch. After visiting those places, we were free for the afternoon to explore the city.

May 6 - Second day in Rome, we visited Ara Pacis where we were able to explore the museum including the famous altar. The group sketched here as well and after were dismissed for the day to wander around the city.

May 7 - Day four in Italy was a free day for the group, so a small group of us went to Naples by train to explore the city. Walked 12 miles total and visited the Galleria Umberto I, Castel Nuovo, St. Francesco di Paola, Palazzo Reale, an Aquarium, and the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta. After spending the day there, we caught a train back to Rome.

May 8 - Day four in Rome, we took the Metro Train to the Markets of Trajan and Palazzo Senatorio where we explored and sketched the Campidoglio. For the afternoon, we visited Palazzo Spada and got to see the forced perspective of an architectural monument.

May 9 - Fifth day in Rome, we walked to two churches, the San Andrea Al Quirinale and the San Carlo Alle Quatro Fontane. Here we sketched and compared the two. Al Quirinale was vibrant and used all sorts of stone and color, while Quatro Fontane used plaster and neutral colors. Yet both created an amazing holy experience in detail and architectural design and proportions. They were comparative to the widow who gave all she had but was nothing while the pharisees gave a lot, but meant nothing to God (Mark 12:41-44). After visiting the two churches, we took the Metro to the Roman Forum where we got to see the Roman ruins of the old main city where we visited the Colosseum to take a tour and sketch after.

May 10 - Sixth day in Rome, we visited the Vatican Museum where we saw many wonderful pieces of art. The last stop of the museum was the Sistine Chapel which was an amazing interior full of frescos. In the afternoon we visited Saint Peter's Basilica where we explored and sketched the exterior and interior. This outstanding church is the main basilica of four in Rome.

May 11 - Day seven in Rome, we walked to the Pantheon where we explored the interior and its famous dome. We then sketched the exterior before leaving for Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola and St. Ivo della Sapienza to sketch the two churches.

May 12 - Day eight in Rome, we took a bus to visit San Paolo Basilica and see the second main basilica in Rome. After lunch, we took the bus again to the Basilica de San Clemente to explore and sketch as well.

May 13 - Ninth day in Rome, we took a bus again to see some of the most famous modern buildings in Rome. The first stop was the Auditrorium Parco della Musica. This theater was modern but uses materials of Roman architecture to relate and fit into the history of Rome. The second stop and last one with the group, was the MAXXI Museum by Zaha Hadid. The museum was very modern and created a sense of discovery while walking through it. That night a group of us went to the Campidoglio to attend the Night of Museums at the Capitoline Museum.

May 14 - The tenth day in Italy was another free day, so a small group of us went to the Amalfi Coast. We took a train and then a ferry to get to the coast. While being there we explored, went for a hike, and shopped in the little coastal town. After spending the day there, we took the ferry and train back to Rome.

May 15 - Eleventh day in Rome, we took a bus to visit three modern churches by Richard Meier, the Jubilee Church, the Parrocchia Sant' Francesco di Sales, and Chiesa Parrocchiale del Santo Volto di Gesu. Each was very unique and had a new way of displaying the holiness and majesty of God. In the afternoon we took the bus again to the EUR to visit the expansion of Rome in its modern form. We visited the Palazzo dell Civilta Italiana and the La Nuvola.

May 16 - Day twelve in Rome, we walked to the Santa Maria in Trastevere to sketch the interior of the church. After stopping at the church, we walked to the Tempietto to explore and sketch as well. Then to end the morning we walked to the Fontanone Acqua Paolo, which after visiting we were dismissed for the day to explore the city.

May 17 - Thirteenth day, and last day in Rome, we took a bus to Hadrian's Villa to explore the ruins and gardens of the ancient city during the morning. Then after lunch in Tivoli, we took the bus again to the Gardens of the Villa d'Este where we explored some more.