Re-learning wonder: arts column

BOLOGNA, Italy –\nWatching someone’s face while they witness something spectacular for the first time is almost as exciting as seeing it the first time yourself.\n I spent my holidays traveling through Italy with my boyfriend, Nick, who flew in from the U.S. to spend three weeks with me. I took him to see the mosaics in Ravenna, the view from the Piazza Michelangelo in Florence, and the gondolas in Venice. Though I had seen these places before, I discovered new experiences with each trip. In Florence, I finally made it to the Uffizi Gallery (though it was worth the two-hour wait in the cold, I would recommend a reservation to anyone who is considering a trip), and we even climbed the 460-something stairs to the top of Brunelleschi’s dome. The part I enjoyed the most during my second visit to these three influential cities, however, was watching Nick’s eyes light up when he saw the wonders of Italian art and architecture and watching him experience a foreign culture for the first time.\n The newness of Italy had begun to wear off for me. I still faced challenges every day and still, at times, marvelled at the raw beauty of this country. But I was becoming accustomed to the habits of the people and becoming numb to the art around me. Nothing could have prepared me for the shock of our trip to Rome.\n The sense of history and opulence the city contains hit me the moment we stepped off the train. Our hotel room was literally across the street from the Vatican museums – we could watch the entrance from our window. We spent an entire day touring the museums, which resemble warehouses of the world’s treasures. The Vatican City is, within itself, a sovereign state and it is protected by this status in times of war. It is a safe zone for the remains of Western civilization. We wandered through corridor upon corridor, piled high with classical statues, and gazed up at the famous Renaissance ceiling frescos of the Sistine Chapel.­\n We watched the sunset in St. Peter’s Square, where I felt about two inches tall. In one night, we walked around the center of the city and came upon the Ara Pacis (altar to peace) of Roman Emperor Augustus, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain,which you might recognize from a famous scene in Federico Fellini’s classic film “La Dolce Vita.” We spent yet another day strolling in the luxurious gardens of the Villa Borgese, taking in its extensive Renaissance painting and sculpture collection.\n We planned only for a three-day visit to Rome, which we expected would be an adequate amount of time to see the main attractions. We were severely mistaken. We barely had time to walk around the Colosseum and up the Via Sacra. The ruins close at sundown and we missed them by mere minutes. Allow yourself at least a week if you want to truly experience the wonders of Rome. My best friend and family will be coming to visit me in March. I can’t wait to bring them to Rome and watch them discover the fantastic city, which in only three days renewed my awe and enthusiasm for this gorgeous country.