Submitted by Leah Marsh on the 2022 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
Within my first week in Rome, I knew that I would have to find my own personal escape away from the busy city. I was on a mission for a green and quiet space that I could conveniently run away to whenever my heart desired. Quickly, I found just that. The Villa Sciarra Park is a mere 15 minute walk from my apartment, elevated above the rest of the city. The origin of the park dates back to 1653, as it is filled with a plethora of decorative sculptures and fountains from Milan. As I sit on a bench, I see dogs and children running about, I hear the caws of the rose-ringed parakeets, and I feel the breeze of a sunny, January afternoon. Just as I had imagined, I found my perfect escape for the semester.