Italy Section Event - Rome, May 16-17, 2025
Our Italian Section, led by section director Ms. Morgan Danner and host Antonino Battaglia, had the pleasure of hosting a small event in Rome May 16th to 17th.
We started the event with a meet and greet at a bistro in the Monti neighbourhood of Rome where we reviewed our agenda and looked at the urban planning of the city and maps of where we would explore. Next, we set off for our Baroque architecture tour highlighting the two unique churches of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale by Bernini and San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane by Borromini. Discussing how the baroque themes have survived in modernity and the legacy of the two architects and their rivalry still lives on to tell a great tale! We ended the first day with a lovely dinner by the Trevi fountain.
The second day of the event was a special private tour of the Vatican Gardens by our host, Antonino. Antonino is an architectural engineer for the Vatican State’s “Project Design Support Department” providing designs and contract oversight for renovations, new construction, and maintenance efforts of the Vatican Museums and the Holy See Event Planning sections. With his leadership and insight we were able to see the hidden gem of the Vatican country grounds, the backside of the basilica, the gardens filled with historic fountains and monuments, and a view of Antonino’s office! We had numerous discussions of the architectural features of the gardens and various eras of Pope inaugurated projects, as well as renovation and maintenance projects that have been done in recent times both successful and not. We finished with a walk through the main basilica and then ended the event with a lovely lunch in an osteria thanking our sponsors and hosts!
