On-site classes are a great way to do some elevated sightseeing in Rome, with a course to enrich your experience. Likewise, getting out into the city for part of your classes will help you retain all of the exciting knowledge and material you’re being exposed to. It’s a win-win for study abroad students who are balancing course credits with exploration in Italy. From art and architecture of Ancient Rome, to Renaissance sculpture and contemporary urban development, you can see tactile examples of the subjects you are studying and often get some fresh air while you’re at it. Read on for some of the sites you could visit through your studies.
1. See the Santa Maria sopra Minerva near JCU
Just a 20-minute walk from campus, the Santa Maria sopra Minerva stands on the site of three pagan temples. A course about Renaissance Rome and its monuments could bring you to this church, featuring a Michelangelo sculpture, Cristo Risorto, of Christ bearing the cross. This is Rome’s only Gothic church.
Built in the 13th century, the church has a simple exterior that reveals a beautifully detailed interior upon entry. When you study abroad in Rome you have the advantage of the many ornate churches that Rome has to offer. Take as much advantage as you can!
2. Walk to Gianicolo Hill for a Sweeping View of Rome
Gianicolo, or Janiculum, is Rome’s highest hill and provides an excellent vantage point for a broad view of Rome. For a class focusing on urban development and the modern city of Rome, this is the perfect place to get a look at the layout of the city as you gaze over rooftops. You can overlook the neighborhood of Trastevere, where campus is located.
Trastevere has a rich history of fishermen and immigrants from the East settling along the Tiber, birthing a unique and vibrant culture that now features nightlife and a sizeable student and artist population. The streets are narrow and winding, full of historical landmarks.
3. Visit the Aqueducts and be Surrounded by History
The aqueducts are a major part of Roman history and an iconic image that comes to mind for many students getting ready for university in Italy. As a piece of Ancient Rome, these are sites you may visit to get an up-close look at them. The structures supplied clean water to citizens for drinking, bathing, and fountains. Highly populated areas benefitted from this network of amazing engineering.
The Aqua Marcia is one that you may get a chance to visit. This was built starting in 144 BCE, Rome’s longest aqueduct at 56 miles long.
Are you interested in studying at John Cabot in Rome?
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