Column: Roman holiday

Fully immersing yourself into another language is exhausting. Between classes, conversations with roommates and interactions with store workers, you can begin to grow a bit nostalgic for the days when you were able to communicate effectively with those around you.

Because my weekend journeys had been filled with small towns where I was forced to use my newly honed language skills, I decided to explore a metropolitan area and visit what might be considered Italy’s most famous city: Rome.

The one-time political center of the world and claimed birthplace of democracy is a fantastic place to read about but an even better one to visit.

Like any major metropolitan area, the city greets you with sketchy individuals offering bus tours, discounted hostels and even an “American-style bar crawl.”

After paying to use the men’s restroom at the train station and being kicked out for having the wrong body parts, I was a bit upset with Rome. The charming city that offers true love in about a quarter of romantic comedies was failing me.

It took nothing more than a cold soda and a quick glance at my Rick Steves book to realize that the capital city of Italy had so much more to offer me.

Dating back more than 2,000 years (why yes, Rome is older than your calendar), the city has played capital to the Roman Kingdom, Republic and Empire.

During the Renaissance, artists like Michelangelo and Raphael worked on the now-legendary sites that call the city home.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the role of playing tourist, a monument or attraction is much easier to appreciate when you reflect upon its cultural and historical import. I was shocked to find Italian school children being guided around the Colosseum for a field trip.

The enormous Colosseum once hosted contests between man and animal. The
now-crumbling rocks on the grassy bottom were once buried under thousands of gallons of water to entertain citizens with ship battles.

While the Baroque-style Trevi Fountain was designed by the praised architect Battista, it’s more commonly known for being swum in by the fictional American actress Sylvia in Federico Fellini’s classic film “La Dolce Vita.”

Smaller than I originally pictured, the Sistine Chapel is every bit as breathtaking as it’s described. The most famous part of this host to the papal conclave is the ceiling, painted by Michelangelo .

While Rome has far too many tourist sites to individually list, the few I’ve mentioned set an accurate tone for visitors to the city.

An ancient city filled with splendor, wealth and foreigners, Rome is easily accessible to all, including those who don’t speak Italian.

­—johnsbrl@indiana.edu