Courtney's Section: 1

Piazza del Campidoglio- located in Rome, Italy, is a square largely laid out by Michelangelo and bounded by Rome's town hall, is next to the Palazzo Senatorio (to the rear), and the Musei Capitolini, or Capitonline Museum to either side. This is also where the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius (my piece of art I had to know for our class) is located. In person, it is very beautiful as the view from the Piazza is a wonderful panorama of the city. It also has many stairs that lead up to the Piazza and the Capitoline that make for a beautiful experience.

Foro Romano- Located in Rome, Italy, the Roman Forum was the heart of the Roman Empire for almost 1000 years. Today, its one beautiful ensemble of majestic buildings that have been reduced to nearly nothing, but that which stands the test of time, prove to be amazing. It was cool to see all of the history there, especially since you are basically walking in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, Nero, Claudius, Hadrian, etc. We came here and viewed this site at the perfect time of day. Here, you can see the sun was beginning to set and cast a luminous glow on the ruins that was absolutely breathtaking.

Spanish Steps- Located in Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Italy...this is a beautiful square that dominates the cities most elegant shopping district, and is perfect whether you choose to come visit day or night. The steps are the piazza's most celebrated sight. More properly known as the Scalinata della Trinita dei Monti, they have a beautiful double staircase that cascades down the slopes of the Pincian Hill from the Church of Trinita dei Monti. They were built between 1723 and 1726, and both the square and the steps take their name from the Palazzo di Spagna, built in the 17th century as the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. Thalee and I came to visit these beautiful steps at night and it was such a pretty place to be. We then enjoyed dinner in one of the nicer restaurants around the Piazza, it was a great night!

Acropolis Museum- Located in Athens, Greece... built at the southern foot of the Acropolis, it has a massive gallery filled with pieces from the Parthenon, as well as it houses the remains of the frieze that are not located in the British Museum. The building was designed by Bernard Tschumi who has nonetheless provided a beautiful showcase for the Acropolis Museum's collection and many other precious finds. Some wings, including the Parthenon gallery, opened in 2004. After viewing this Museum, I thought it was awesome the way that Tschumi designed it. I liked how it was built on a slant, as to mimic the design of the Acropolis. As well as, the see through floors so that the viewer was able to see some of the ancient ruins where they discovered various pieces in the museum at. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this museum, although I wish I would have been able to view the frieze in it's entirety.