Comparative religion

Today was brutal. What started out with a class trip to a mosque turned into a goose chase on the metro station. We had a ton of trouble navigating the system, and ended up switching trains left and right. However, once we finally reached the mosque of Rome, we were all surprised at its enormous size and religious grandeur. We were all required to take our shoes off before entering the building (sounds familiar?), and had a discussion about the Islamic religion and its contemporary issues.

Inside the mosque: no shoes.

But our day did not end here. We had to visit two additional churches; this time they were both of the Catholic denomination. We compared the similarities and differences between S. Cristogono; S. Maria in Trastevere. They both had amazing ceilings of gold, as well as mosaic tiles that adorned the floor. These churches were byproducts of a rivalry between papal nephews of the seventeenth century who sought art, money, and power.

Works of art above the altar.

The final major event of the day was the class presentation in front of Acqua Paola. We had to walk up a massive hill underneath the beating rays of the sun; luckily we were treated to free gelato before our ascension. Once we reached the top, students gathered around the fountain and learned about the city's aqueducts. It was interesting to learn how the ancient Romans devised clever systems that gave the common people access to drinkable sources throughout various parts of the city. What I liked the most from this place was its altitude: the top of the hill provided a scenic view of Roman skyline.

Group photo.