AIFS Abroad in Rome, Italy: Semester

Biggest difficulty was the language barrier with staff and locals. Other than that the city is beautiful and a great place to learn on your own. Most of the days are spend packed with different activities.

AIFS has a super helpful staff who prepare you fully pre-departure, offer a variety of excursions and trips around not only Rome but all of Italy and answer any questions you have. The majority of the classes provided go to on-site visits for lectures so you really get the full experience.

Studying abroad in Rome was such a great experience and I learned a lot. My highlights were the side trips to Pompeii and Capri. From an academic standpoint, I really enjoyed my history class. Being able to walk around the city and envision where and how historic events took place was fantastic!

i had a fantastic experience with aifs in rome. the staff is always there for you, the accommodations are excellent, and the organized trips are a lot of fun. classes arent too challenging, which allows you plenty of freedom to spend time enjoying the city and traveling. rome is a small enough city that you never feel overwhelmed but at the same time there are always new things to do and places to see. id go back in a heartbeat

Richmond in Rome with AIFS is hands down the best study abroad program in the eternal city. Since meal plans, accommodations, and excursions are included you really do get the most for your money. For me, the program was the perfect size (about 75 students and 15 staff members) which was intimate enough for engaging classes, and large enough to meet new faces throughout the semester. The school itself was located in an amazing location, allowing me to explore the city between classes, and to enjoy the scenery on my walk to school every morning. In fact, I chose the home-stay option, and my apartment was just a block from the Vatican! That placed me right in the historical center of Rome, and coincidentally during one of the most epic moments in history-the resignation of Pope Benedetto XVI, and the election of Pope Francesco! Now of course, not everyone will be so fortunate to be there in such heightened times, however, this is just to illustrate the point that Rome is an incredibly busy city, with some of the worlds richest and growing history. This study abroad program helped me be a part of that.

Many of my classes were taught onsite by knowledgeable and passionate professors. The excursions were very well organized. Each of them had a balance between faculty-led activities and free time for exploring on your own. The accommodations in Venezia, Napoli, and Firenze were cozy and centrally located. Excursions were a great way to bond with other students in my program. In addition to the excursions, the cultural events such as wine tastings, cooking classes, museum and villa trips helped expose us students to the culture and become closer with one another at the same time.

Another plus for this program when comparing it to others, is that it comes with meal vouchers! Eating in Rome as one would imagine can become pretty expensive, however these costs can be greatly reduced with these vouchers. Because they were accepted in many restaurants and grocery stores in all of Italy, I was able to better budget my expenses so that I could travel more.

If I every had a question or concern, or was in need of a simple suggestion, a staff member was just a phone call or email away with a quick response. Any student on my program will tell you how amazing the Richmond staff was: Rosanna, Marco, Chicca, instructors and interns put forth great efforts to give us an unforgettable experience and they succeeded. They were also just very caring and approachable people that many of us students, including myself still keep in touch with.

Undoubtedly, my favorite part of my study abroad experience was my Italian host family. My host family and I became very close. They showed me Rome from the eyes of Romans, and taught me a lot about their culture and way of life in a way that I wouldn't have been able to learn on my own. My months in Rome have forged a relationship with them and my Italian friends that will last a lifetime, and that's something you can't put a price tag on. I cannot wait to go back!

this program was an amazing experience. the staff did an amazing job organizing outings and housing. they were very helpful with any questions we had. Rome was a great city to study in, the city and the nightlife were lots of fun. Rome is a great city to study in.

The people were great!! The shopping was amazing!! The food was to die for and worth every minute of the flight... It was the first time I've ever been out of the country but I still felt at home. You're so close to many different cities which are a train ride or quick flight away. If you only take one class, which I did, you will have plenty of time to explore the city! I took a renaissance class where we visited the Vatican for class as well as the pantheon among many other amazing sights. Bring comfortable shoes and try the bruschetta!

AIFS Richmond in Rome is an absolutely wonderful program. The staff are friendly, inviting, and want to help you to have the best experience in Rome as possible. The location of the school is in the heart of the city, and my apartment arrangement was fantastic - it overlooked the Tiber River and was only feet away from the Roman Forum. There is no better way to experience and learn about history and art than to do it with AIF in Rome. Classes are taught mainly on site and not in classrooms, making learning so much more of an experience and adventure rather than a boring task.