In July, I was able to return to Rome for the second time in my life. The entirety of the city and its history is inexplainable and, often, leaves people at a lack of words. The most impressive and, in my opinion, arguably most beautiful building in the area is Saint Peter’s Basilica, located in Vatican City. At first impressions, the sheer size of the building is the most noticeable aspect. Pictures really cannot convey the mammoth proportions of the Square and the Basilica. The Basilica itself is impressive both inside and out. The interior and exterior simply make me stand in awe of its beauty and try to understand how human hands could create what is being seen. The building is important because of what it symbolizes to the world, particularly Roman Catholics. The Basilica is one my favorite places I have had the opportunity to travel to. Visiting the Basilica and the Scavi beneath the Square give a whole new level of understanding to the history of the Catholic church and Rome. Seeing the places so renowned for their history and meaning is a unique experience because it helps convert the history into a tangible reality.

Built in 1845, University College Cork in Ireland was a branch of the Queen’s College. The campus itself spans a great deal of land, but the “Upper Grounds” were built in the university’s early years. The building symbolizes the longevity of education because it is remained so untouched, inside and out, since its building. I chose this building because this is the place where my study abroad courses held class four days a week. When we first saw the campus, I was astounded by the size of the buildings as well as their details. Almost every building on campus was based off the same style of architecture (Gothic-style), which was a big difference from OU’s campus where the buildings can walk you through the school’s past. This building was transitive in the sense that much of its original construction and style was the same–even classroom size. The building also carries the happy memories of my classmates and study abroad courses so the building itself just embodies the experiences and people I was with in Ireland.

(Great Hall and Aula Maxima pictured below, both located in Main Quadrangle)