Rome

  • Colloseum
  • Rome Basilica Group Photo
  • The Forum

One of the best trips we went on was to Rome and the Vatican City. They took us to the Colosseum to learn about its history of gladiator contests and public spectacles that took place there. It was overwhelmingly beautiful and having Nero, the head faculty of our program, explain in detail the history, as we were standing on the very ruins, was an experience I otherwise would’ve never had if I didn’t come with FSU to Rome. The Vatican City was another beautiful place they brought us to, and they had us explore it together, but also let us roam around afterwards. We were able to take in the stunning art and enormousness of this place at our own pace and that made it so much better, because it didn’t feel like a lecture class, but rather a vacation with friends who were all experiencing this beautiful city together and learning together.- Jackie, Fall 2016

All roads lead here- Rome, which was historically referred to as Caput Mundi, or the capital of the world. Rome is located in the Lazio region, the southernmost part of central Italy. With a history that spans 28 centuries, the culture here is undeniable- Rome was founded in 753BC, which makes it much older (by approximately 2500 years) than Italy itself.

From ancient ruins to baroque piazzas to renaissance works of art housed in ornate churches, it would be hard to walk down any street in Rome without coming face-to-face with its rich history and culture. The city is one of the most populated in all of Europe and one of the topmost-visited cities in the world. Modern day Rome is a vibrant fusion of old and new. Each district of this city has its own culture, culinary flavors and stunning architecture. It truly has something to offer everyone.

Students will enjoy a weekend full of visits to the most famous monuments, churches and sites in the world, but with an itinerary that is as authentic as possible- we want students to see Rome as a local, not as a tourist. Students will enter some churches after hours in order to get away from the crowds, eat at the local’s restaurant for a typical roman meal of cacio e pepe pasta, and will take after-dinner strolls to visit the Trevi fountain, one of the most breathtaking fountains, and the Spanish steps, which seem to come alive at night.

Though the itineraries may vary slightly, students can be sure that when visiting Rome with FSU they will visit:

The Vatican museum, after hours. Students have the chance to hear the history of Vatican city in St.Peters square before entering the famous basilica. After some free time to explore afterwards, they will then enter the Vatican museum, at night. The crowds will have left, and students will be brought through by a professor who will show them works from the collection amazed over the centuries by the Roman Catholic Church. Their last stop, before exiting the museum, will be the Sistine chapel, where Michelangelo’s masterpiece from up above, will leave them in awe.

The Capitoline Hill, Roman Forum and the Colosseum: Starting from the Capitoline hill, known as the religious and political heart of the city, students will learn about the significance of its location and its history. From there, they will walk from the hill to the valley below, where the Roman Forum is located, a valley full of archeological fragments and ruins once known as the venue for everything from criminal trials to public speeches. Students will walk through the forum among the ancient ruins and cypress trees as they learn about what happened during criminal trials and what happened to the convicted. They will then step back in time and into the gladiator’s sandals as they visit the colosseum and hear the violent history of the amphitheater that would regularly hold up to 80,000 spectators for their various battles, between men, beasts and even battleships.

Depending on the semester, other sites that are visited may be:

The baths of Caracalla, one of the largest and best reserved examples of public baths that exist. Students will walk through the frigidarium, trepidarium, and various rooms in which Romans spent their leisure time.

Ara Pacis museum, which houses the impressive marble masterpiece, a tribute to the god of peace, commissioned by the Romans in 9 BC. From there students will take a short walk to the Pantheon, a former temple that is one of the best reserved from Roman times, constructed in 118AD.

Each trip to Rome cannot be complete with a meal at a typical Roman restaurant in which student sit side by side on wooden tables with red-checkered tablecloth and are served famous Roman pasta dishes from the typical cuisine:  caccio e pepe pasta, carbonara, and more.