rome 07.03.09

We took the subway to the Borghese Museum today. Unfortunately we didn’t have permission to take photographs in there, so I hope I won’t forget what I saw. I don’t think I will, it was very elaborate and had so much art work. The building itself was a piece of art. The walls were painted and frescoed. The ceilings looked as if they were coffered but they were really painted to make an illusion of coffered ceilings. The baroque details were very dramatic and were everywhere you looked. The emotions you can get from seeing ancient paintings like these are so great, you feel so connected with the artist. One of my favorite statues in the whole museum was the one where a man is holding a woman that turns into a tree, it is so beautiful, and it makes you want to study it for hours.
Later that day we got a tour from Antonella, who had a great personality and made it really fun. We saw a number of churches throughout Rome. I don’t think I have a favorite one from all the ones I saw today. They were all so great to look at and all looked a little different. The alters in them were the focal point and artists were very good at making them it. The details around them and all the different colors of marble were remarkable. While on the walking tour we passed the palace and we were lucky enough to see the changing of guards. They take their jobs so seriously and are very loyal to Rome. They played beautiful music and sang. I loved watching that! After the tour I was beat. The humidity combined with the heat is very hard on you, but is worth coping with when I am looking forward to see all these great things.