Study in Rome, Italy

Rome, also known as “The Eternal City” has been a place of great importance for literally thousands of years. In this ancient metropolis, legend, history, and modernity collide, producing a city with rich layers of historical texture as well as modern efficiency and abundant shopping and nightlife. It was, of course, the seat of the Roman Empire, one of history’s most powerful civilizations, and was for centuries the center of the ancient world. Today, it remains a top destination for tourists, students, and workers in various industries from abroad.

For a world capital, Rome is fairly compact – only a few miles from end to end – but it is quite dense. Within the city, you should have no trouble walking. The major sightseeing and shopping destinations are all clustered fairly close to one another, and Rome’s narrow streets and numerous parks and plazas make waking a very pleasant experience. Moreover, the richness of Rome’s history can only truly be experienced on foot, as the appearance of historic buildings and the atmosphere of the city simply are not the same from inside a car. If you need to go a long distance or if weather prevents walking, there are plenty of public transportation options to choose from, particularly buses, trams, and the Metro system. All of these options are integrated into a single transit network, so if you plan on staying in Rome for a while, it’s a very good idea to buy a long-term pass, which will save you both money and time. Finally, taxis are common throughout Rome, but they are not easy to flag down – like in many other Italian cities, the standard way to get a cab is to wait in the line at a stand rather than find a taxi on the street the way you would do in New York.

As the capital of Italy, Rome is also the hub of the country’s transportation networks, so weekend trips to Tuscany, Sicily, Florence, Vienna, or the Italian Alps are easily arranged. Italy, like much of the rest of Europe, has an extremely fast, efficient, and clean system of trains that run to all major cities in the country and neighboring countries. For students on a small budget, there are a number of long-term train passes that are a good way to save money if you plan to do a lot of traveling during your stay in Rome.

Weather in Rome is famously mild and pleasant around the year, and this makes it a particularly good place for an extended stay. Even in the winter, temperatures rarely drop below freezing, and while the summers can be quite warm, they are not oppressively so. This warm Mediterranean climate is a significant part of many people’s decision to live, work, or study in Rome. The warmth of the air is also known to translate into a personal warmth among the people of Rome, who are famous for their friendliness and laid-back attitude.