INTRODUCTION TO ROME

LIFE IN ROME

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It's hard to describe Rome in a few words; a city so vast and rich in art, monuments and exquisite views, a historic city, which has preserved its charm and independence throughout the centuries.
Rome's history can be read in every monument, and palazzo; in fact, each and every stone bears witness to the periods of splendor, decay, wars, and numerous architectural styles. The city could be described as a gigantic open-air museum, visited each year by millions of tourists, scholars and pilgrims from all over the world; infact, in the center of Rome is located the Vatican City State (The Holy See), the heart of Christendom, with the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter: Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world in terms of inhabitants and size. The borders are represented by its walls and the travertine pavement curve that joins the two wings of the colonnades in St Peter’s Square.
Today's Rome is a vibrant and lively city with reminders of its past everywhere. In Rome you will encounter ancient monuments, medieval and Renaissance buildings and fountains, and great museums. Rome is the capital of modern Italy and boasts many fine restaurants and cafes, good nightlife, and lively streets and squares. Although Rome is a huge city, its historic center is small.
Rome Location: Rome is on the west in Central Italy, not far from the coast. Modern Rome's main port is Civitavecchia, where cruise ships docks to visit Rome.
Transportation to Rome: Rome's airport Fiumicino is a major international airport and visitors from the United States often arrive here. You'll probably want to avoid driving in Rome. You can take a train into Rome from the airport. The main station, Stazione Termini is close to the historic center of Rome. There are several outlying stations, too. You can arrive at RUFA by bus from Termini train station.

In our experience, living the life of a student in Rome will probably end up costing you €900 a month. This is the collective cost including the accommodation (€500), health insurance (€70), food, clothing, mobile phone, culture/tourism, hobbies (€300) and the costs for public transport (€30).

Add to that the cost of joining in some of excursions, as you'll surely want to see the sights of the nearby cites.

WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST

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TRAVELLING AROUND

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Rome's buses, trams, subway and suburban railways are part of an integrated system run by ATAC and Metrebus (http://www.atac.roma.it) tickets cover all forms of transport. Day and weekly passes are available as books of 10 single tickets known as "carnets"; remember you cant buy tickets on the bus but only from ATAC offices or Tobacco Shops (Tabacchi - look for the blue T sign) Tickets must be validated (stamped) on board by inserting them into the red or yellow validation machines.
There's also a private network of J buses. Most of the main buses terminate at the bus station outside Stazione Termini (where you can get a map of the bus routes). The city's Metro service (which is convenient for many of Rome's sights) has two lines, both of which go through Termini. The above-ground rail network isn't much use to most visitors.
Find here more information about transportation in Rome.

INFORMATION FROM THE ITALIAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ABOUT LIVING IN ITALY

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http://www.study-in-italy.it/living/index.html

LIVING AND STUDYING IN ROME

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Further reading links Rome city guides in English:
RomaTurismo
About Rome

ROME SCHOOL LOCATION

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RUFA is in Rome, Via Benaco 2, nearby Piazza Verbano, in the area bordering on the Trieste, Salario and Parioli neighborhoods.
Summer Courses will be held within the RUFA premises already available (the head office in 2, via Benaco, and in the other two branch offices in 8, via Lariana and 12, via Benaco), on a total of 1200 square meters, in a complex of great historical and architectural value.
In particular, a new branch has been equipped since January 2006 with the intent of creating the Department of Photography and Cinematography. Classrooms will be dedicated to the Students of the Summer Courses, where they could also study by themselves. The theoretical and optional courses will be held in classrooms in common with the other courses.

WHERE WE ARE

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ROME CITY TOURIST BOARD

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Tourist Offices in Rome

THE GUIDE TO ALL ART AND CULTURE IN ITALY

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The site of the Italian Ministry of Culture: http://www.beniculturali.it/
Check out also the Quadriennale of Rome, the Italian national institution responsible for promoting Italian contemporary art, with its main appointment, the Quadriennale d’Arte, an art exhibition of well-known artists alongside young emerging ones.
– http://www.quadriennalediroma.org/indexEng.html
In Rome, starting from the end of June, begins the cultural event called “Estate Romana”, with a huge variety of happenings all over Rome (art exhibitions, theatre shows, live concerts, cinema, dance, music, book)
– http://www.estateromana.comune.roma.it/

FREE TIME / DAYS OUT

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		NAME		ADDRESS		PHONE		DESCRIPTION		NEIGHBORHOOD
1		ARCHEOBUS		90, Via Garibaldi		+39 06 45494884		Ride the City of Seven Hills
2		THE HOLY SEE– ST. PETER’S BASILICA		Vatican City State		General Information: fax +39.06.698.85518		Papal Basilica of Saint Peter - Vatican		Centro Storico
3		VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL		Vatican City State		+39 06 6988 5100 OFFICE FOR GUIDED TOURS (Fax reservation)		It is one of the most renowned and famous cultural institutions of the World		Centro Storico
4		AREA SACRA		Largo Torre Argentina		+39 06 488991 (Tourist Information)		Republican temples		Centro Storico
5		ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS		84, Viale del Parco Mellini		+39 06 35347056 +39 06 35533290		Progress in astronomy		Monte Mario
6		BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ROME		79, Viale Enrico De Nicola		+39 06 39967700		Fragments of the past		San Giovanni Termini Colle Oppio San Lorenzo
7		BRONZE AND CLAY FIGURINES FROM HELLENISTIC AND ROMAN EGYPT		13, Viale del Vaticano		+39 06 488991		The fascinating Egyptian world		Aurelio Pineta Sacchetti Forte Bravetta
8		CINECITTÀ		1055, Via Tuscolana		+39 06 72293207		The dream factory		Cinecittà Prenestino Labicano Centocelle Casilino
9		COLOSSEO (COLOSSEUM)		Piazza del Colosseo		+39 06 39967700		The Symbol of Rome		San Giovanni Termini Colle Oppio San Lorenzo
10		COMMUNICATION AT EXPLORA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ROME		80 Via Flaminia		+39 06 36005488		Educational fun		Pinciano Flaminio Parioli Cassia Giustiniana
11		DOMUS AUREA		Via della Domus Aurea		+39 06 39967700		Nero's Great Palace		San Giovanni Termini Colle Oppio San Lorenzo
12		FINE ART IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION		131, Via delle Belle Arti		+39 06 322981		A dive into the present		Pinciano Flaminio Parioli Cassia Giustiniana

The Apennines of Umbria and high Latium (the Etruscan Tuscia) are a great place to relax and are about an hour away. Naples is 2 hours by train and the chic seaside resorts of Tuscany such as Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole less than 3 hours.

PLACES TO VISIT IN ROME

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		The Pantheon is situated in Piazza della Rotonda. Open Monday to Friday 8:30AM - 7:30PM and Sundays from 9:00AM - 6:00PM. Public Holidays from 9:00AM to 1:00PM. Entry is free.
		The RomanForum is situated in Largo Romolo and Remo. Open every day from 9:00AM - 4:30PM. Entry is free.
		Vittorio Emanuele Monument is situated in Piazza Venezia. Open seven days a week. The external part of the monument is open from 9:30AM to 4:30PM. The internal part of the monument is open from 9:30AM to 6:00PM. Entry is free
		Caracalla Thermal Baths are situated in Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 52. Open Mondays from 9:00AM to 2:00PM and the rest of the week from 9:00AM to one hour before the sunset. Entry is € 6,00. Tickets are also valid for the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Villa of the Quintilis.
		The Castle of Saint Angelo is situated in Lungotevere di Castello, 50. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00AM to 7:00PM. Entry is € 5,00. Entry is free for members of the European Community under 18 years and over 65 years of age.
		The Ara Pacis is open for the public from 9:00AM to 7:00PM. Entrance is € 6,50. Concessions are € 3,00. Audio Guide available in Italian, English, Franch and Spanish, € 3,50. Closed on Mondays, 1st January, 1st May and 25th December. The 24th and the 31st of December is open from 9:00 AM to 2:00PM. Bookstore inside.
		The Circus of Massenzio and Mausoleum of Romolo are situated on Via Appia Antica, 153. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00AM to 1:00PM. Entry is € 2,60.
		The Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. Its structure includes three large "beetles" of different sizes, with the cover sheet of lead, placed radially around the cavea to form a large outdoor amphitheater, the cavea, which can accommodate about 3000 spectators. Every year more than one million people have visited the complex run by the Musica per Roma Foundation.
		The Jubilee Church (La Chiesa del Dio Padre Misericordioso) in Rome was designed by the famous American architect Rrichard Meier. The Church has been conceived as a new center for a somewhat isolated housing quarter in the Tor Tre Teste area, located outside central Rome.

LINKS TO WEEKLY EVENTS IN ROME

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MOVIES IN ENGLISH THIS WEEK

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Check out the websites:

www.whatsoninrome.com
www.trovacinema.it
www.romereview.com

AFTER THE COURSE FINISHES

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When your course finishes in Rome you have the opportunity to further explore Italy's other historic towns and cities (and the beaches) or choose one of the other nearby European countries to visit such as France, Switzerland, Austria or Spain.

CHECK THESE LINKS FOR FURTHER PLANNING AND INSPIRATION

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– www.raileurope.co.uk (European rail networks)
– www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html (Italian state railways)
– www.azfly.it (low cost Italian flights consortium domestic and international)
– www.italiantourism.com/ (Italian Tourist board official site)
– http://europa.eu.int/abc/travel/index_en.htm European Union official site on all aspects of travelling around all of the 25 EU countries with further links to tourist offices

FESTIVALS AND CARNIVALS

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August in Europe offers a host of interesting festivals, street parties and cultural events. You could head up to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, stay in Italy for the Palio horse races in Siena or the outdoor Opera in the Roman Arena at Verona or pop down to Spain for the Benicassim Music Festival and the "Tomatina" both near Valencia.

OTHER USEFUL LINKS

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TRANSPORTATION IN ITALY

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Rome's Main Transportation Home Page
Italy's Train System
Maps of Rome and Driving Instructions