John Cabot is located in the heart of Rome, in the picturesque Trastevere neighborhood. I personally love its lively atmosphere, but sometimes for our own sanity we need to escape the vendors, selfie sticks and tourists attempting to take Polaroids of you. In times like these, I love walking to other areas of the city where I can relax and have a breath of fresh air.
One of my favorite places to go to is Villa Borghese. It is quiet, full of nature and it is just a nice park to go chill in and relax.
You can get there by crossing Ponte Garibaldi to Via Arenula (which is on the same street as Viale Trastevere, but on the other side of the river) and at the first fermata (bus stop) taking the bus 63 in the direction Rossellini. It will take you 14 stops around the historic center of Rome to arrive at your destination, fermata Pinciana - Galleria Borghese. Super easy!
Inside of the park you will find the Borghese Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Globe Theater. But if you are not in the mood for cultural sightseeing, just go find a space where you can sit. Just before you go, walk towards the Pincio Terrace – it is a must-see. The Pincio Hill is not one of the famous “Seven Hills of Rome” but its panoramic view across the historic center all the way across the Tiber and the Vatican is definitely worth seeing. From this hill, you can see Piazza del Popolo and many of the famous domes around the city center.
After you have had enough of the view, you can take the steps down to Piazza del Popolo and walk across the piazza to shop along Via del Corso.
As JCU students we are too young to get stuck in a daily routine rut; we need change and new adventures to discover what we like and what we want to do with our lives! Villa Borghese is a great place to explore alone, where you can think and find peace within yourself. And we definitely need time to get lost around this beautiful city, because it doesn’t matter if you are a study abroad student that visits Rome for a semester, or a degree seeker that will be here four years – time flies!
Victoria Barreda de Alba
International Business Major
Class of 2017
Hometown: Reynosa, Mexico
