Rome: The City of Marble

 By Luis Leon

Surrounded by  marble structures both ancient and Neo-classical, Rome was a breath-taking city. In the nighttime, when the flooded streets calmed down, you could truly appreciate its quiet parts. Marble stone reflected the street lamps and night sky to make the cobble sidewalks glimmer while you walk by. Looking like your average city, there were ancient sites like training fields or fountains found at any corner with excavation. These sights block off public grounds, but they welcomed any wandering eye to admire its history. Integrated naturally with modern architecture, these sites push the reverence for Roman history. 

My favorite area to catch a glimpse of the beautiful city’s energy is down the Via del Corso, the longest shopping street in the city. When approaching, my group was expecting the regular tourist trap or mom-and-pop shops to cover every corner. But to our surprise, the street was illuminated with lamps and windows that almost looked like daylight when walking up. It had luxurious, high end clothing stores, restaurants, and bars. 

At the end of the path were the Spanish Steps, which connects the Spanish Embassy to the rest of the area. At the top we caught a fascinating sight of the entire street, going down a long incline.   

It was other worldly to see the bright glow and dense history the city had to offer. Visually, it was stunning and told you everything you needed to know that this was a place where empires thrived.