Day Two - Subiaco

Today, the 10th April, we woke up early to eat breakfast as our day was jam packed with activities. We woke at around 6:45pm to eat breakfast, got our things sorted and climbed onto the bus for our one and a half hour drive East of Rome to the town of Subaico. The journey was quite long and our tour guide Stefano was not sure of the conditions of the traffic! It was fine though. On the way, he told us everything we wanted to know about buildings, and locations, and reasons why they were here and the purpose they served. 

Our first visit was to the mayors office in the centre of the town. Here we were seated in the board room, where images from our own Subaico were on the walls. We heard of the story of Subaico and then got to ask questions of the mayor and his small apprentice named Luigi. Luigi was a boy of ten who was elected by other young people as the first 'young mayor of the town'. He will hold the role for 3 years. Today, with us, was his first official appointment! Luigi, who talked on behalf of the youth, said "we can solve problems that the adults cannot" which I believe was a wonderful comment, as he was a voice for the sometimes disregarded youths.  

Following this, we went to an italian school which was very enjoyable as we met many people and exchanged Facebook accounts. The place they are learning is vastly different from our own. It was an education for us both to hear how different it is. 

Finally, we arrived to the incredible Benedictine monastery, built into a huge wall of rock. Here we encountered many beautiful artefacts dating back to the 14 century.  The story is that Benedict, the founder of the Benedictines, the order of Salvado, left Rome and spent 3 years in a cave in solitary contemplation to bring himself closer to God. He was known to throw himself into thorns to fight off temptation. He then built 12 different Monasteries, one of which we also saw. I was able to purchase a Benedictine cross for my house and know that it's such a privilege to be able to bring home to our Salvdao house, a cross from the very place where our house patrons founder lived and died. The cave was amazing to see and the scenery has to be seen to be believed. 

After this monastery we visited the second monastery, St Scholastica, which was again very beautiful and old, as these paintings and buildings were thousands of years old. It was amazing to touch the history and feel and see where people significant to our time were laid to rest as well as stood and walked which really took me into a world that made me think wow! I was standing in a room 1500 years old! We learnt many things about Saint Benedict such as that he was nearly killed for being so strict in his reverence and adherence to the rules of the order. 

Today was an experience that I believe I will hold within myself for a very long time.