A3 - Cultural Diversity and Religion's Impact on Architecture

🚆  Prague, Cologne, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Florence, Venice, Milan

📆 30 July - 15 August 2025

Our first stop was Prague. We visited Charles Bridge, the Lennon Wall, and Prague Castle, exploring the city’s history, culture, and architecture. Along Charles Bridge, the statues of saints show the strong influence of religion on public art. We also saw key churches like St. George’s Basilica and St. Nicholas Church, and walked through Old Town, where Gothic and Baroque buildings tell stories of faith, power, and identity. At Prague Castle, we visited St. Vitus Cathedral and the surrounding gardens, seeing how royal and religious history shaped the city.

Later, we explored modern architecture at the Dancing House and reflected on how Prague blends old and new styles. We finished the day with the illuminated Dancing House, the Powder Tower, and a shared traditional dinner, talking about how the city connects its past with its present.

Our next stop was Cologne, although it was quite short. We focused mainly on how religion has shaped the city’s architecture. We visited Cologne Cathedral with its massive towers and stained glass windows, built to show the power of the Church in the Middle Ages. We also saw Great St. Martin Church, an older Romanesque building with a simple but strong design. Walking through the old town, we noticed how these churches still dominate the skyline and continue to define the character of the city today.

We start our day in Frankfurt by visiting the Kaiserdom and Paulskirche, looking at how the city’s religious and political history is reflected in these places. Since we are short on time, we try to fit everything into our list and don’t really have a proper photo session. Instead, we keep moving and focus on experiencing as much as possible. We go up the Main Tower to take in the panoramic view over Frankfurt, then visit the Goethe House to see where Germany’s most famous writer was born. 

Next stop on our journey is the city of lights - Paris. We start at the Eiffel Tower, taking in views over the city and reflecting on how it has become one of its main symbols. We also take some creative group photos and enjoy the experience together. We continue with a walk through the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs-Élysées, experiencing one of Paris’s most famous streets. Afterwards, we go to the Panthéon, noticing its impressive architecture and understanding its role as a monument dedicated to important figures in French history.

We then visit the Musée d’Orsay, exploring its rich collection of art and seeing how creativity and history are connected through different periods and styles. We also explore the Latin Quarter, moving through its narrow streets, historic buildings, and lively atmosphere where student life and cultural heritage come together. The route continues through the Luxembourg Garden before ending with a relaxed picnic-style dinner in a nearby park.

In Brussels, we explore how religion, royalty, and changing artistic styles have shaped the city’s architecture. We start at the Grand Place, admiring the detailed facades and Gothic-style guildhalls that reflect both civic pride and religious influence in European design. We then visit St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, where the Gothic architecture shows the strong role of religion in shaping public space and the city’s identity.

We also see the Manneken Pis, a small but well-known local symbol, and the Atomium, a bold modern structure that contrasts strongly with the historic center and shows how ideas about architecture have changed over time. We continue to the Royal Palace and the Galeries Royales, reflecting on how royal, religious, and cultural traditions are all layered into the urban landscape of Brussels.

In Florence, we start at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), admiring its massive red dome and Renaissance architecture. Next, they visit Giotto’s Bell Tower, right beside the cathedral, observing how both structures express the city’s ambition, devotion, and artistic pride. The route then takes them across the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most iconic bridge, reflecting the city’s long tradition of trade, daily life, and craftsmanship along the Arno River.

The group travels to Venice, not far from their previous stop, to explore its unique architecture and atmosphere. While there, they take part in a Venice Photo Quest, a creative activity that helps them engage more closely with the city.

They visit key sites like Piazza San Marco, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Doge’s Palace, using photo prompts that guide them to look deeper at details and meanings rather than just taking standard sightseeing pictures. The focus is on capturing Venice’s religious, political, and artistic influences through its architecture and telling the story of the city in their own way.

The exploration begins in Milan with a visit to the Duomo di Milano, taking in its detailed Gothic design and towering spires. There, we take part in a real photo jam session. We continue to the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, one of Milan’s oldest churches, where the simpler architecture reflects early Christian history and the city’s religious heritage. Afterwards, we have a relaxed lunch and spend time in Parco Sempione, enjoying the green space in the middle of the city and taking a break from the busy urban environment.

Day 14 is dedicated to slowing down and enjoying nature at Lake Como. After many busy travel days, it feels good to finally pause, walk by the water, take in the mountain views, and just breathe fresh air. We spend the day relaxing, talking, and enjoying the atmosphere together, appreciating the calm beauty of the lake and the slower rhythm of the place after so much movement between cities.

On Day 15, we spend our last full day walking once again through the streets of Milan, enjoying the atmosphere of the city one more time before the journey comes to an end. We also prepare our luggage and take things a bit slower, reflecting on everything we experienced throughout the trip. It feels strange knowing it’s the final day before flying back to Romania, but also satisfying to look back at how much we saw and experienced together.