Rome: the Eternal City

[by Mário Linhares, in Rome, Italy]

At the beginning of March, the Executive Board of Urban Sketchers had their annual in person meeting to evaluate what we are doing as worldwide community and plan the future years.

Rome was chosen because it was half way for all members. Peggy was flying from Malaysia, I from Portugal and all the others from North America.

On my last day in Rome, I had the opportunity to go to Piazza S. Pietro and stay there to sketch with time. Rome is called as the Eternal City because ancient Romans believed that no matter what happened to the world, Rome would go on forever. Maybe this is a sign for Urban Sketchers! 😉

It was amazing to have the opportunity to attend part of the 10×10 classes in Rome with Benedetta Dossi. She’s one of our greatest instructors, passionated urban sketcher since the beginning and lead instructor of the Rome 10×10 program. If you are traveling to Rome in the near future, take a look to the schedule and don’t miss this opportunity!

We had 3 full working days inside a room. Only at lunch and dinner we had the time to go out and sketch a little. Amber Sausen, our great USk president, was always ready to challenge our speedy sketching skills: 

” Two minutes to do a sketch. Go!”

At Fontana di Trevi, while doing a 5 minutes sketch, a guy proposed his girlfriend on his knees. “Stop what you’re doing! Came here to see this, Mário. You can’t miss this moment.” – said Amber. Only in Rome this kind of things can happen. It was dark night and cold, but something magical was happening…

I arrived in Rome Thursday at 1am. From Termini station I walked 30 min to the hotel. 

“I don’t mind to walk a entire day in Rome. Every corner has something special, even at 1am”. I said to Ketta, who stayed in Lisbon with Matias.

Next morning, we had the opportunity to go out and sketch the Piazza del Campidoglio and Largo di Torre Argentina (below). 

I hope one day Urban Sketchers can organize the Symposium in Rome, so we can write our history in the Eternal City!