Connecting Italian Art, History & Culture

Stepping into the Roman Forum, you’re surrounded by towering columns and ancient stone pathways, each a testament to a bustling city center that once defined Rome. Guided by your professor, you explore ruins that bring centuries-old stories to life. With friends by your side, it’s easy to imagine yourselves as ancient Romans—a senator debating policy, a merchant selling goods, or a spectator awaiting games in the Colosseum. 

As you walk into the colossal amphitheater, the scale of the Colosseum leaves you speechless. Sitting where thousands once gathered, you see the brilliant engineering and understand the intensity of ancient entertainment. It’s an unforgettable moment that connects the dots from class, merging history with your own experience in Italy. 

Gathered afterward, you and your friends reflect on how entertainment has evolved. Comparing ancient spectacles with today’s stadiums, you realize how culture both changes and endures. This experience deepens your understanding of history and inspires you to appreciate cultural diversity and preservation.

You enter the studio, greeted by the faint scent of plaster and pigments, and gather with friends, ready to dive into fresco painting. Guided by a local artist, you mix lime plaster and spread a smooth layer onto a tile, feeling like a Renaissance apprentice. As the plaster sets, you trace your design and select colors, inspired by Rome’s famous frescos—from Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling to Raphael’s Stanza murals in the Vatican. 

For a history student like you, it’s a rare chance to learn by doing—not just studying the past, but actually working with techniques that brought it to life. Laughter fills the room as you and your fellow Global Navigators tackle the challenge, layer by layer, sharing tips and admiring each other’s designs. Applying paint to wet plaster, you gain hands-on appreciation for Italian masters. 

By the end, you hold a miniature fresco, a lasting reminder of your Roman summer and the joy of creating something beautiful. This workshop may even inspire future artistic pursuits, reminding you of Italian art’s timeless beauty.