University of Wisconsin–Madison

Italy: Kaitlyn Cardona (Cultural Connections & Observations)

The Five Senses in Rome 

A stone ruin, with a few pillars and other parts of a building still standing.

See: I see history around me when I look at Rome. Through classes, I’ve learned so much. Often, I find myself looking at a monument and imagining it in its original form, as they have taught us in class.

Two bowls of soup on a wooden table.

Taste: I’ve tasted many, many different types of pasta here in Rome. However, my favorite food to try is dessert! In my picture, my friends and I tried crème brulee and tiramisu at a close-by restaurant. We often order more than one dessert, and all try a piece in order to expand our experience with desserts.

An old turquoise car without a roof parked on a cobblestone street.

Smell:  The smell of Rome is definitely an interesting one. There are lots of cars within the busy city so the first thing that comes to mind is the smell of those cars. I’ve seen many different types of cars and have made a point to show every interesting car on my social media! Here is one of my favorite cars I’ve found.

Three people play instruments (one on saxophone, one on drums, and one on keys) on a bridge.

Hear: Often when walking around, you can hear Roman locals singing! It is a great way to immerse yourself in the music culture. This photo was taken when walking around the neighborhood, Trastevere, but music can also be heard around the Roman Forums as well.

Three stone buildings with arched doorways surround a cobblestone courtyard.

Feel: I’ve included a general picture of Rome that shows the feel of Rome. The city has many elements of stone like the roads. There is also lots of greenery, not on the floors but up on the wall of buildings!

“We’re not in Madison Anymore” moment

A tall, stone obelisk with a cross on top sits next to a building with a triangular roof with pillars.

I captured the first moment that I got to see the Pantheon, very early in the morning. It was such a shock that such an iconic piece of architecture was located in the middle of residential buildings. Luckily for me, I pass by the Pantheon almost every day to go to class. Before approaching it, you go through regular Roman streets and pass by casual daily life things such as restaurants and shops. Then all of the sudden, you enter a plaza with the Pantheon and an Egyptian obelisk. The same applies to the Trevi Fountain!

Food in Rome 

A bowl with long pasta noodles, and a line of crushed pepper along the center.

I’ve been able to taste so many different types of pasta since all the restaurants here offer a large variety. I don’t think I’ve ever tried a new pasta and didn’t like it! They have mostly all been homemade and don’t cost much. The grocery stores also help immerse you into pasta making as they all carry so many ingredients to help you make it. For the first time, I tried (and loved) Cacio e Pepe pasta, in Rome.  As you can see in the picture, it was served in a pan and was made “al dente,” which is the Italian way to cook pasta.

 

Kaitlyn stands in front of a stone wall with painted purple flowers and yellow suns.

Kaitlyn Cardona

Major: Communication Arts – Film, TV, and Radio

Hometown: Pingree Grove, Illinois

Program: CIEE Rome Open Campus, Italy