Archaeology conquers Rome
From the ancient, mysterious Etruscans to the less-ancient and mysterious Romans, Umbra Professor Giampiero Bevagna and his Archaeology class discovered centuries of these civilizations’ ruins in Rome last weekend.
The (pre-papal conclave) Vatican Museums were the first stop Friday morning. Led by Bevagna, the group spent hours wandering through the seemingly endless rooms of ancient artifacts. Along with providing a timeline for ancient civilization, the Vatican proves a valuable asset as a “museum of museums,” Bevagna explained. Walking room to room, visitors can admire the progression of exhibits; the Vatican Museums are more than 500 years old.
Hours later, the group hopped the metro to the Capitolini Museums, which house more artifacts pertinent to the class and one of the most comprehensive and beautiful views of Rome.
The Archaeology class reconvened Saturday morning to visit Villa Giulia, a beautiful old estate well worth the trek off the beaten path. Built in the mid-1500s by Pope Julius III, Villa Giulia hosts the National Etruscan Museum, full of artifacts that students will use for their final projects, which are to focus on a specific Etruscan item (e.g. mirrors, jewels, weapons).
Students were released in the early afternoon, free to continue to explore Rome or return to Perugia.