When searching for that perfect study spot, most students have a checklist of requirements. Is it quiet enough to study? Is the setting inspirational? Is there food and drink for when I need to re-fuel? And typically at the top of this list, the golden question: is there free Wi-Fi?
To make the process a little easier for students who are new to the city, we’ve picked out some of the best off-campus study spots across Rome. Whether you just need a change of scene, or are trying to avoid distractions while you buckle down to write a paper, here are some great options that should meet most of the requirements on your checklist.
Just three minutes away from the popular Piazza Navona, tucked away among residential buildings, is the Ex Circus Café. Tailored to Rome’s younger student demographic, Ex Circus Café is an ideal spot for dreaming up creative angles for your next essay, reading, or meeting up with a team to discuss a group project.
This café offers comfy, spacious seating (with a mix of couches and tables) and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The Ex Circus Café is also known for its great coffee and inexpensive snacks. All this, along with free Wi-Fi, makes the Ex Circus Café a perfect off-campus work space for study abroad students in Rome.
Students can explore comfortable study spots in cafés across Rome
Sometimes, being around old books and manuscripts provides just the right atmosphere to buckle down and write that Art History or Classics paper.The Biblioteca Angelica, established in 1604, contains 180,000 volumes of historical manuscripts—including the oldest known copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy.
This library is a haven for students looking to immerse themselves in an inspiring and reflective environment. Here, you can focus on your work and draw inspiration from the city’s rich culture and history. As you study, you’ll also have easy access to the Internet, which is available to everyone. All you need to enter this wondrous library is a piece of current ID.
Finding an ideal study spot that also has great coffee and affordable, delicious food isn’t always easy, but Barnum Café manages to tick all the boxes! Located just across the Tiber from John Cabot University, the Barnum Café is set to open early at 8:00am once it re-launches—making it a great location for early birds seeking to maximize their morning by writing essays or catching up on course readings. And if coffee is your thing, Barnum Café has been known to have one of the best cappuccinos around!
By using free Wi-Fi services, students can create their own study spots in Rome
While studying indoors has its perks—such as comfy chairs, food, and charging outlets—venturing outside in Rome to work on assignments can offer unique advantages. By studying at our American university in Italy, you have the opportunity to explore Rome and all of its historical sites. Through free Wi-Fi services like WiFi Italia, you can access the Internet from different hotspots around the city.
If you’re going to do some field research on the Circo Massimo, or the Castel Sant'Angelo, you’ll be glad to know that public Wi-Fi is offered at these locations. This means that you can do online research on-site, right by the Roman ruin you are studying!
If you’d prefer to escape the crowds and study in the tranquility of nature, you can also access Wi-Fi in both Villa Doria Pamphili and Villa Ada, two of Rome’s largest parks. Luckily for students who study abroad in Italy, Villa Doria Pamphili is just a 20 minute walk from the John Cabot University campus.
Which spot on this list would you study at while attending university in Rome?
Contact John Cabot University for more information!