On Foot
One of the best ways to explore and discover Rome is on foot. Walking around the streets of Rome is easy and pleasant, allowing you to discover churches, museums and quaint streets lined with artisan shops and authentic restaurants.
Rome Experience
There’s never a dull moment when you study in Rome. As you pursue your academics, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with the city’s remarkable history firsthand, exploring archaeological sites, visiting world-renowned museums, and witnessing the intersection of ancient and modern life.
The vibrant energy of the eternal city, with its bustling markets, charming cafes, and lively piazzas will be an extension of your campus experience.
History and Archaeology
Rome is a living museum, inviting you to step back in time and explore its ancient legacy. As you navigate the city’s cobblestone streets and explore iconic landmarks like Vatican City and the Colosseum, history will unfold on a daily basis.
Food and Cafes
Maritozzo. Supplì. Cacio e pepe. Gelato. And of course, espresso. Your time in Rome will provide you with limitless opportunities to expand your palette and indulge your tastebuds.
Arts and Culture
From ancient Roman sculptures and medieval mosaics to masterpieces of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, Rome is an art-lover’s dream come true. Whether you’re visiting the Capitoline Museums or St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome’s churches, galleries and piazzas show off the city’s remarkable cultural heritage.
Surrounding Beaches
Beautiful Mediterranean beaches are just a short daytrip from the Bernardi Campus in Rome. Using the train system, you can easily access a variety of beaches that boast the Bandiera Blu (blue flag) designation, an internationally recognized symbol of high environmental and quality standards for beaches.
Academic Excursions
Most Bernardi programs include regular academic excursions, including site visits, weekend trips or cultural events to immerse you in a new culture and broaden your perspective of the world.
Community
One of the benefits of living at Bernardi Campus is the creation of a small, close-knit community. This sense of community begins the day you arrive and grows as you study, explore, learn and travel with your classmates. Building relationships around shared experiences is a hallmark of Bernardi Campus.
Weekend Travel
Prior to their arrival in Rome, students will receive a calendar that outlines all their scheduled academic weekends, day excursions and site visits. All other weekends are considered “free time” to explore the city of Rome, or to experience Italy and the surrounding region. Students must inform the director of their travel plans (departure, destination, companions, return to Rome), and the director is available for travel guidance and suggestions.
Getting Around
The Metro
The Metro is Rome’s subway (underground), and the Lepanto stop is just blocks from Bernardi Campus. Students are provided with a monthly Metro pass (valid for the subway and any city bus within Rome), making it easy to see much of the city over the course of a semester.
Train System
Florence, Milan, Venice and more. There’s no better way to see the great cities of Italy than by its extensive rail system. Stazione Termini is the main train station in Rome, providing full access to most cities in Italy and Europe.
Campus Location
Campus Location
The Bernardi Campus is situated within Rome’s vibrant Prati neighborhood, known for its rich architecture, cafés, restaurants and shops. Within walking distance, students can explore Vatican City and historic landmarks such as Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Spanish Steps and the Colosseum.
Testimonials
Learn more about the Bernardi Campus experience from some of our past student and faculty residents.
“While searching for the best cappuccino in Rome, my roommate and I wandered into a small open-air café/library called Bibliobar. The baristas there taught us daily Italian phrases, the café offered stunning views of Castel Sant’Angelo, and it served an amazing cappuccino! We spent the semester there enjoying the sunshine, learning Italian, and sipping innumerous cappuccinos!”
—Brigid Coyne '25
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my days in the eternal city. A week of my life in the Rome Empower program consisted of class at St. Peter’s Basilica, to class in the Vatican Museums, finishing with a weekend trip to an unforgettable destination somewhere in Italy. My semester abroad in Rome gave me the opportunity to cultivate unforgettable academic experiences, and a chance to experience so much of Italy’s beauty.”
—Daniel Grady '26
“Being a part of the Rome Empower cohort is an experience unlike any other. Being able to call the Bernardi Campus home, along with the close-knit community of students, professors, and faculty, created a stress-free experience. This program provided me with never-ending learning inside and outside of the classroom. Being able to walk around and explore hundreds of Catholic churches was incredibly fascinating and gave me lifelong knowledge. The food in Rome is enough reason alone to study abroad with Rome Empower. I will always consider Rome a second home, and I am grateful to have been a part of the program, as it truly changed my life.”
—Sofia Flaiani '26
“The Rome Empower program was a game-changing opportunity during my time at St. Thomas. We had the chance to experience the eternal city of Rome as our experiential learning classroom, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thanks to the Bernadi family, AIFS, and the St. Thomas faculty for making our experience incredible.”
—Tae Kosmo '25
“From shaking hands with Pope Francis, to cliff jumping in the Amalfi coast, this program was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The program's field trip-based learning made class more enjoyable and memorable. Of all of the class excursions, my favorites were an art history class trip to Pompeii/Herculaneum, a visit to a sustainable vineyard to learn about the chemistry of wine making, and a theology trip to the town of Assisi-home of Saint Francis!”
—Gracelyn Riedel '24
“One Tuesday morning, for example, the students in my English class toured Esquilino—a neighborhood in Rome famous for its diverse migrant community and lively mercato and piazza. By mid-afternoon, they were viewing the world-famous art collection at the Vatican museums..”
—Kanishka Chowdhury, Professor, Rome Empower Program