Category: Cultural Events

This Spring, our students toured the Italian Peninsula as part of our Academic Field Trip programming. From the ruins of Pompeii to Venice’s Ex Saffa district, we toured through 5 major Italian cities and across 3 Italian regions. Over the 7-day tour, we learned about ancient urban planning, Renaissance architectural innovation, Medieval fortification, Baroque design, and modern-day repurposing and reutilization of historical buildings. Read to learn more about where we went and what we saw.

We visit the Castel Sant’Angelo with Connecticut College student Kaley Mendoza Pineda and Penn State University student John Murray. Touring the Castel, we learn all about the 2000-year history of the structure and it’s transformation from Hadrian’s mausoleum to papal fortress to state prison and finally it’s current identity as a national museum. During the visit, Kaley and John share their experience as young architects studying abroad at the Pantheon Institute and how Rome is impacting their perspective on design, culture, and where they want to go next in their careers.

This summer we spoke to Owen Petrucci, 4th-year architecture major at Carnegie Mellon University here in Rome studying at the Pantheon Institute during our 4-week summer program. Touring EUR, Owen discussed his experience in the Eternal City and what it has taught him urban design, culture, and finding your “home” in Rome.

With the end of the semester comes Final Crits, when students present their designs in front of their peers and a panel of judges to receive feedback on the work they have done all semester. This Spring 2025, we take a look at the Analysis and Design Studio projects.

In this interview, we talk to Jeremy Lynn and Isaac Merwin about their study abroad experience with Pantheon Institute is past Spring 2025 semester. Shot on location from the Vittoriano monument in Piazza Venezia, Jeremy and Issac share their thoughts on the complexity of Rome, the diversity of the built environment throughout Italy, and their plans for their career in architecture.

Earlier this month, we spoke to architect Edoardo Cappella, professor of Architecture Design Studio at Pantheon Institute and co-founder of the Velia architecture and design studio. In this interview, Edoardo discussed how Rome offers the opportunity to witness architectural complexity born out of the spontaneous evolution of urban planning, creating an atmosphere of design that reflects centuries of cultural, social, religious, political, and engineering metamorphosis. Like rings on a tree, Rome’s long and continuing transformation is visible in the interwoven layers of the Eternal City’s built environment.

On the Ides of March, family, friends, and colleagues gathered together to celebrate Allan Ceen, reflecting on his illustrious career and the marvelous ingenuity of his teaching. Hosted on a rooftop overlooking Largo Argentina, we say said goodbye to a father, husband, collaborator, teacher, peer, pioneer, and mentor whose profound impact will not soon be forgotten.

Natasha Meyer and Julia LoManto are both 4th-year architecture students from Penn State University. Originally from NYC, Natasha and Julia talk about their decision to come to Rome and the hands-on-learning experience of studying at the Pantheon Institute this Spring 2025 semester.

At Pantheon Institute, academic field trips are an integral facet of our commitment to experiential learning. Guided by our expert professors Romolo Martemucci and Lavinia Nannini, students observe firsthand how historical design elements, construction techniques, and spatial organization have influenced both historical and contemporary architecture and urban planning. Come join us as we explore Italy this Spring 2025 Semester.

Architect Lavinia Nannini, originally from Rome, has spent her career engaged in architecture and urban design around the world, working with notable architects like Massimiliano Fuksas and Michael Sorkin.
Now returning back to her hometown of Rome and transitioning into teaching in higher education, Lavinia reflects on the art of seeing, the duality of antiquity and modernity in the Eternal City, and the future of architecture for burgeoning young architects.