Eugenio in Rome!

Author: Eugenio Mendoza Jr. | Major: Interior Architecture and Design | Semester: Summer 2025
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy, for five short but unforgettable weeks. As an Interior Architecture and Design major, I couldn’t have imagined a better classroom than the streets and monuments of this city. I chose this program because of my passion for design and the unique chance to learn from one of the world’s greatest cities. The Rome Center of the University of Arkansas
offered not just lectures and assignments, but experiences; moments where history and design came alive right before me. Each day felt like stepping into a different chapter of architectural history, from ancient ruins to Renaissance churches and Baroque piazzas.
What made this experience so special was how immersive it was. Instead of just reading about monuments, I sketched, analyzed, and sat in their grandeur. Instead of scrolling past images of frescoes online, I stood beneath them, in awe. Rome taught me to slow down and to truly observe. Beyond Rome, I was fortunate to travel with my
classmates to Florence, Orvieto, and Milan. Each city offered something unique:
Florence dazzled with its Renaissance beauty, Orvieto with its quiet medieval charm,
and Milan with its energy and modern design scene. These trips showed me the
diversity of Italian culture and reminded me that design is never isolated, always
connected to the life and people around it.
One of my favorite memories, though, happened outside the program’s
curriculum. On a free weekend, I took a train to Sperlonga, a small seaside town about
two hours from Rome. The town was picture-perfect, with very narrow streets leading
down to golden sands and crystal-clear waters. I spent the day swimming, tanning, and
soaking in the slower pace of life. It was there that I felt most connected to Italy, not just
as a student observing its past, but as a person experiencing its present. To my
surprise, I left Sperlonga calling myself a “beach person,” something I never thought I’d
say!
As I look back, what I’ll carry with me is more than sketches, photographs, or
even lessons in design. I’ll remember the feeling of standing before buildings and
statues I had studied for years and finally witnessing them in person! Studying abroad in
Rome gave me perspective, not only as a designer, but also as someone learning to
appreciate beauty in both the monumental and the everyday. It’s an experience that I
know will stay with me forever, shaping the way I see the world and the way I design
within it. Rome was much more than a place I studied—it was my greatest teacher!