Explore Theology On a University Trip

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Many theology students will study the history of religion in Rome, and while there is much that can be learned from the wealth of scholarship on the subject, a university trip to the city itself can greatly enhance that learning. For anyone contemplating organising such a trip, Rome and the Vatican offer a myriad of fascinating religious monuments and sites, each opening a window on the city's rich and complex religious history - here are some starting points.
Vatican City: Sistine Chapel and More
A sovereign city-state measuring 44 hectares and with a population of just over 800, Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state, and yet - as the seat of power of the Catholic Church - one of its most influential. The value of visiting it while on a theology-related university trip is many-fold, as it allows students to see some of the world's grandest religious buildings, and to explore a uniquely religious state. While in the Vatican, students can also see some of Europe's finest art and architecture, including the frescoes and famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the Renaissance glory of St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museums and Vatican Library contain many fascinating treasures for students of theology and lovers of art and culture alike.
Basilica of St John Lantern
While the Vatican City is where many of Rome's most important religious happenings take place, Rome's own cathedral is also of great spiritual and cultural significance. The Basilica of St John Lantern is the see of the Pope, who is Bishop of Rome, and the head of all the world's Catholic churches. Its first incarnation was built in the 4th century and although it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over, it still carries a timeless atmosphere remarked on by many who visit. Those on a university trip who are interested in the church's previous incarnations can find traces of them in the mosaics, cloisters, and 13th century tomb reliefs.
Before the Church: Roman Pantheon
Although Rome has long been synonymous with the Catholic Church, the city also gives its name to the ancient religion that preceded Christianity in Italy. And while the star attraction of many a theology-focused university trip to Rome may be the Vatican, remnants of the older religion are also well worth exploring - for the insights they offer into ancient religious practice as well as into the transition between one powerful religion and another. For the best-preserved of Rome's ancient monuments, head to the Pantheon, or Temple of All the Gods. Built by Hadrian and standing on this site for almost two thousand years, it offers a glimpse of the solemnity and grandeur afforded to the Roman gods in ages gone by.