Last Stop on Trip Two... Basel, Switzerland

Basel was the last stop on our trip. We took a day trip here from Zurich. We got to see parts of the old city, including the original town hall. We stopped in front of the Bank for International Settlements by the architect Mario Botta, and we also saw two buildings by the architect Renzo Piano: Universitatsspital Basel and Fondation Beyeler. Fondation Beyeler is a museum exhibiting the collection of the Beyeler family. This is possibly one of the most amazing museums I have been in. I had no idea that this museum housed some of the great works of art by many famous artists. I have never seen so many Picasso's. Artists include: Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Seurat, Paul Cezanne, Fernand Leger, Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Miro, Mark Rothko, Piet Mondrian, Paul Klee, Henri Rousseau, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and many more. Later in the day we stopped into the Architecture Museum and we also stumbled upon a Richard Serra sculpture. This day was certainly a good way to end our second trip. The next day we spent eight and a half hours on the train back to Rome.

Original city hall of Basel

Bank for International Settlements by Mario Botta

Fondation Beyeler by Renzo Piano

Universitatsspital Basel by Renzo Piano

sculpture by Richard Serra

Zurich

We spent the last three nights in Zurich, Switzerland. Day one here took us to Stadelhofen Railway Station by the architect Santiago Calatrava. This was so awesome to see because of its engineering. We spent some time sketching here. We also saw the Heidi Weber Pavillion by Le Corbusier. Despite the rain, it was still great to see a building by such an influential modern architect. Day two took us to see the Reitberg Museum by Alfred Grazioli and Adolf Krischanitz. The best part about this museum was the pattern design of the glass. The entry looked like a jewel box coming out of the landscape. After this Anna, Mary, Christina, our two professors, Vyt and Marina, and I went to the Kunsthalle Museum, a modern art museum. After this we wandered around the old city of Zurich and stopped into a few shops... one of the best things about Zurich, the chocolate!

Stadelhofen Station by Santiago Calatrava

the underground of Stadelhofen Station by Santiago Calatrava

Heidi Weber Pavillion by Le Corbusier

the glass pattern at the Reitberg Museum

Swiss chocolate shop

Vals, Switzerland and Peter Zumthor's Thermal Baths

We took a private bus ride from Como in Italy to Vals in Switzerland. Vals is a small town at the end of a valley in the Alps. The bus ride alone was amazing because of the views. We drove through the mountains for the entire journey. We reached the snow about half way there, and it was incredible. Some parts were scary because we were on narrow roads hugging the mountainsides and looking down was a bit nerve-racking. We reached Vals and went strait to Peter Zumthor's Thermal Baths for the day. You enter through an underground tunnel, and reach the baths, which consist of baths for the five senses, a humid bath, a cold bath, hot bath, and a few lukewarm baths, as well as an outdoor bath. The outdoor bath was incredible because there was snow falling on us. Some of us tried to get massages, but unfortunately they were all booked on that day, yet this was still the most relaxing (and much needed) day of this trip, let alone this whole semester. We had a group dinner that night (delicious!) and the next day we headed off the Zurich.

on the drive to Vals

inside the Thermal Baths

Peter Zumthor's Thermal Baths


Peter Zumthor's Thermal Baths, the Alps in the background

Vals, Switzerland

Lago di Como... my future home...

So I have decided that I am going to move to Lake Como when I am older. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. This was the third city on trip two. We saw two buildings by Giuseppe Terragni: Palazzo Novocomum and Casa del Fascio. We also saw the Monumento ai Caduti. At sunset, Anna, Mary, Dean, and I took the tram to the top of one of the mountains looking over the lake. It was an incredible view! You could see the snow capped Swiss Alps in the distance and the town of Como below. It was so nice to be able to realx and watch the sunset in such a stunning place. This was definitely a highlight of this trip.

Palazzo Novocomum by Giuseppe Terragni

Casa del Fascio by Giuseppe Terragni

panoramic of Lake Como

Lake Como at sunset

Torino

Torino was the second city we went to visit. We took a day trip here from Milan. Stops included Piazza San Carlo, a modern building called the Palafuksas (which was unfortunately abandoned, and in a creepy part of town), the Duomo, Chiesa di San Lorenzo, and Mole Antonelliana (in which we went to the top). The Duomo holds the Shroud of Turin, which is believed to be the cloth that Jesus Christ was wrapped in after his crucifixion. The guide in the church gave a very detailed and interesting explanation on the shroud.

Piazza San Carlo

Mole Antonelliana

view from the top of Mole Antonelliana

a copy of the Shroud of Turin (you can see a faint image of a face)

the dome of Chiesa di San Lorenzo by Guarino Guarini

Trip Two... First Stop, Milano

Milano was the first place we went to on trip two. We had the perfect weather for the days we were there. Places we got to see included the Duomo and Piazza del Duomo, Galleria Vittoria Emmanuele II, Universita Bocconi, Price Waterhouse Cooper offices by Renzo Piano, and Alfa Romeo and Subsidized Housing al Portello by Cino Zucchi. Our group dinner here was called "appertivo." You have to buy one drink and then you get an unlimited supply of food, antipasto style. I got a cosmopolitan, had some delicious Italian food, and I was in heaven.

The Duomo

Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II

Universita Bocconi

Price Waterhouse Cooper Offices by Renzo Piano

Piazza del Duomo from the top of the cathedral

MACRo: Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Roma

We got the chance to go and visit the construction site to a new building in Rome, the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Roma. It used to be the Peroni factory. We had the head contractor show us around and show us the ins-and-outs of the building, its architecture and engineering. The main gallery will be the largest exhibition space in Europe when completed. No hard hats, unfortunately...

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's!

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While walking through St. Peter's Square and then through St. Peter's Basilica, it is safe to say that I have never felt so small in my life. Prior to this current basilica, the old Constantinian Basilica existed here. Pope Julius II decides to build a new St. Peter's in AD 1506. Bramante is the first architect. He designed the Tempietto in Rome and it is believed to have been the model of how he saw St. Peter's. His plan was that of a Greek cross. After his death, three others were signed on as architect's: Raphael, Baldasari Peruzzi, and San Gallo the Elder. The plan then changed to that of a Latin cross. All but Peruzzi died not long after their commission. After the Sack of Rome in 1527, San Gallo the Younger was commissioned to work on the basilica. Michelangelo is given the final commission and he designs the dome. He dies before its completion and it is ultimately built by Giacomo della Porta, who makes it an elliptical dome. Today, it is not believed to be the original design. Carlo Maderno ultimately extends the nave of St. Peter's to its current length and builds the new facade, as well as adding three chapels, including the one that holds Michelangelo's Pieta. St. Peter's is finally completed in 1606, 100 years after it was started. Internally, Bernini sculpted many of the church's embellishments, including the Baldacchino, the tomb of Pope Alexander VII, and two of the four sculptures in the four main piers: St. Andrew and Longinus. Bernini also designed the colonnades in St. Peter's Square. It is amazing to learn how so many architect's and sculptor's were a part of this cathedral's grandeur and beauty.

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Michelangelo's Pieta

Bernini's Baldacchino

Michelangelo's dome

the nave

Bernini's colonnade

Bernini & Borromini, Villa Borghese & Villa Giulia

The best thing about our history class is that it takes us on site. It is such a different way of learning because you actually get to see and experience what these buildings, sculptures, and paintings are actually like first-hand. Our history class one Monday was a tour to see works by both Gianlorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. We first went to Santa Maria della Vittoria and saw Bernini's St. Teresa in Ecstasy, then saw another one if his churches, S. Andrea al Quirinale. After this we visited my favorite and most beautiful church I've seen thus far in Rome, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, by Borromini. We concluded the class at Palazzo Barberini, where Borromini's famed staircase is.

St. Teresa in Ecstasy, Bernini

the dome of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Borromini

Borromini's staircase

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Another history class took us to the Galleria Borghese, home to the three most magnificent sculptures by Bernini: Pluto and Persephone, Apollo and Daphne, and his David. Unfortunately, photography isn't allowed inside the gallery, otherwise I would share them with you here. We also got to see many beautiful paintings, including Titian's Sacred and Profane Love, Raphael's Disposition, Fra Angelico's Last Judgement, Corregio's Dance and Danae, Raphael's Baglioni, and a few of Caravaggio's paintings: Madonna of the Serpent, Self Portrait as the Sick Bacchus, and Boy with a Basket of Fruit. After this we walked through the Borghese gardens and then to Villa Giulia where we sketched.

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group picture in the Borghese gardens

Villa Giulia

Prague, Czech Republic

I have to admit that I was a bit nervous to go to Prague because of the language barrier, but it turns out more people speak English here than in Paris, and the signs had English on them as well. Phew! Prague was an incredible city. Although Anna, Mary, and I were only there for a few days, we got around to most of the major sites. We took a tour of the Staropramen Brewery, then walked along Vltava River and saw Frank Gehry's "Fred and Ginger", or "Dancing House," and the National Theater. We crossed over the Charles Bridge and visited the John Lennon wall.

Frank Gehry's "Fred and Ginger"

John Lennon Wall

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The next day we walked around the city, first stopping in the Old Town Square where we saw the Astronomical Clock and Tyn Church. We crossed the Vltava and walked up the Old Castle Stairs and went inside St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle. We meandered down the hill and went inside St. Nick's Church and the Infant of Prague Church and then continued to wander around the city that night. I would definitely go back to Prague. There is still much more to see here than we managed. It really is a beautiful and charming city.

Tyn Church

from Old Town Sqaure

view from Prague Castle

Paris, still my favorite city in the world

I went to Paris six years ago with my family when I was 15 years old. I was a freshman in high school, and even then I thought Paris was the most beautiful city I had ever been in. Of course, being with your parents and following their agenda is a bit different when you are 15 vs. when you are 21 and studying abroad in Europe. Spring break this year was my chance to go to Paris and again and see it from my own perspective at an older age (and more mature outlook). I can say that Paris is still my favorite city in the world. I traveled there with Anna and Mary, my two roommates from Rome, and we met up with three of our friends from CUA who are studying architecture in Barcelona (Mike Hoak, Alec Higinbotham, and Mike Iskandar). On day one we went to the Eiffel Tower and went to the top! We took the stairs to the second tier (680 steps!). To get to the top level we had to take the elevator (and pay more, but it was all worth it). Despite the haze that day, the view was still incredible.

The Eiffel Tower

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After the Eiffel Tower we walked along the streets of Paris and went up the Champs Elysees, one of the more famous streets in city, and went to the Arc de Triomphe. We made a stop in the Louis Vuitton store (way to expensive but still fun to browse) and bought Starbucks coffees (a treat! Starbucks does not exist anywhere in Italy).

underneath the Arc de Triomphe

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On day two we went to Notre Dame Cathedral. It is a Gothic cathedral and it was so beautiful inside and out. It amazes me how people built these churches without modern technology. We spent over an hour inside taking it all in. After this we went to the Louvre! We saw the sculptures Cupid and Psyche, Winged Victory, The Dying Slave by Michelangelo, Venus de Milo, and many others. Of course we saw Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and other paintings including the Raft of Medusa, the Wedding Feast at Cana, and Madonna of the Rocks by da Vinci. We also went to see the Pompidou Center, the building itself looks like a slap in the face to Paris because of its industrial design, yet it is the most visited museum in Paris today. We also stopped by the Moulin Rouge to see the windmill.

Notre Dame at night

the Louvre and the glass pyramid entry

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The last day in France we went to the Palace of Versailles, just outside of Paris and home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. We saw the dauphin's, king's, and queen's chambers, the chapel, as well as the famous hall of mirrors at the back of the palace. Unfortunately the gardens weren't as spectacular since it is not yet spring, but we did get a sense of how large the grounds actually are. On the way back to Paris from here we stopped to see one of the famous Art Nouveau metro stops by Hector Guimard.

the massive Palace of Versailles