rome, Italy

Semester/Year study abroad Program

Academic and Cultural Enrichment

Academic Excursions

Lecture Series

Cultural Outings

Volunteer Opportunities

Temple Rome Gallery of Art

The extensive program of cultural activities at Temple Rome is designed to enhance the academic program and enrich students’ social and cultural lives while in Rome. These events extend the learning environment beyond the classroom and studio, expose students to aspects of the city of Rome and Italian life they might not ordinarily encounter, and encourage students to take an active role in learning about the culture in which they are living.

Academic Excursions

Faculty-led field trips are an integral component of many courses. They range from half-day excursions to churches, museums and historic sites in and around Rome, to day trips to the hill towns of Viterbo, Caprarola and Tuscania, to three-day field trips to such cities as Florence, Milan, Naples and Brussels. During one excursion, students in Art History 2135 visit the Archaeological Museum in Naples to view antique sculpture and painting; explore the well-preserved ruins of Pompeii, the Roman town buried in A.D. 79 by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius; and visit Paestum, the site of 7th century B.C. Greek temples. In all, students get a firsthand look at more than 800 years of ancient history in three days. Excursions involving travel and/or accommodations carry a fee to cover these costs, and students on all excursions are individually responsible for paying entrance fees.

Lecture Series

Temple Rome sponsors organized discussions on contemporary issues in Italy and two film series. The Art and Culture in Italy speaker series invites political figures, writers, philosophers and faculty from Italian universities to discuss a wide range of contemporary issues as seen from Italian perspectives. The film series present historic and contemporary Italian films and explore ancient Rome and Italy as depicted by Hollywood.

Cultural Outings

Temple Rome also arranges optional outings each semester. Organized groups travel beyond the city limits to explore locations such as Tivoli, sites along the Via Cassia and the Alban Hills. Local events may include the Aurelian “Wall Walk” around the city, an evening at the theater, or a football match at the Rome stadium.

Volunteer Opportunities

Temple Rome encourages students to become involved in the local community by connecting them with volunteer opportunities in Rome. For example, Temple Rome has an established relationship with a soup kitchen in downtown Rome. Students who choose to volunteer their time may sign up according to their availability.

Temple Rome Gallery of Art

The Temple Rome Gallery of Art sponsors exhibitions of Italian and American artists working in Italy and other European countries; student and faculty shows; and topical displays, such as an exhibition of works by architecture students from the national academies in Rome. These events are frequented by the Italian public and have been so successful that Temple Rome has become a part of the Roman art scene.