Author: Austin Morrow | Major: Political Science and Economics | Semester: Summer 2025

Viewing any Italian city from above is a treat

I studied abroad in Rome, Italy via the University of Arkansas Rome Center. The center itself is in the historic Palazzo Taverna, very close to equally historic locales like Castel San Angelo and Vatican City. The location seemed like a perfect fit for me since I’m very interested in European history and Rome itself is one of the oldest and by far most influential cities for much of European history. It has had an immeasurable impact on the cultures of Europe from language, customs, governance, and values. Despite the divisions among Europeans, they are united by some form of influence from the Romans. I only spent a semester here, meaning only about one month to familiarize myself with the city. There was a ton of stuff to do, eat, and see here. One month was the perfect amount of time to see it all. Many cities even in Italy do not have a fraction of the stuff Rome does, much less America. I’ve always read about Europe from a book, never actually going before this trip. I wanted my freshmen year to end on the highest note possible, so I went to the country that for years I knew I always wanted to go to. When I saw there was a history class taking place in Rome itself, I knew I had the perfect opportunity to go there.

The class of Self Fashioning and Renaissance in Italy gave very abstract concepts to explain the time period. The class keeps traveling throughout the centuries in which the late Middle Ages and Renaissance took place, showing how society changed over time. Social dynamics and gender dynamics shifted greatly. The relationship between people and their government/employers were reformed greatly. For this class, we talked a lot about how these changes impacted the way individuals thought of themselves and viewed their place within society. People got more bold in questioning authority like how Galileo vehemently defended his astronomical findings from Church threats. The moments which stand out to me the most were the museum visits. Seeing in real time how art changed throughout the centuries put into perspective the way people changed at the same time. In particular, seeing the Ulfizi Gallery was life changing. Many pieces there like Venus of Urbino show the height of these concepts of rebellion against authority and social norms. Others reflected concepts we learned about power like the allusion in sculptures of wealthy noblemen to Ancient Rome to show they were the successors to Rome. To say the least a lot of topics were covered related to Renaissance Italy. We have to write a final paper, 8 to 9 pages, on a specific topic during this trip. I decided, since I’m a political science major, to discuss the implications of art on perception and how it helped renaissance rulers to keep a hold on power. The trip was far more than just the class, and I wanted to experience all that Italy had to offer. Me and a friend went to a small town called Viterbo for a day. It was originally a Roman town built on a hill and the Roman walls still stand to this day. I wanted to go there because of all the ancient and medieval sights which are still very well preserved. It was also on my list of things to do here to see a small Italian village. There are tons of beautiful churches and vistas over the landscape of Italy to see. We went to an Etruscan Museum, one of the tribes on the peninsula before the Roman Empire conquered and wiped them out. They’re a culture we don’t know much about which made me interested to see a museum all about them. There was tons of information on their culture, practices, and architecture. Even if there was no museum or churches, walking around such an amazing small town was a treat in and of itself. I love the narrow streets here and the town had the narrowest I’ve ever walked along. So narrow in fact I could extend my arms out to touch the buildings on either side at the same time. Anotheramazing trip I did was going to the Cincecitta museum. Unlike a museum which you might have in mind of ancient sculptures or Renaissance art, this was a museum dedicated to the film history of Italy. It is at Cinecitta since the museum is on the site of the biggest film studio in Europe. Since I’m a massive film buff and love Italian cinema, I needed to see it. Inside was a lot of the history of westerns, the Italian neo-realism genre, and the directors and stars which made it all work. There are many beautiful costumes the stars wore. It put into perspective one of the biggest hobbies I’ve held since I was 14, truly making me realize the magic of film. I love this place and hope one day to return to see all the stuff I was unable to see. Still, this might be the best way to experience Italy. There are many friends I have made here and so many opportunities to do and see things I wouldn’t have with my family. I think this is the perfect way for you to go to Italy.