Study Trips
Travel is essential to the study abroad experience
Here at the Rome Center, you'll be so much more than a tourist. You will have the opportunity to travel and immerse yourself in Italy and beyond.
Study trips are organized during both the fall and spring semester. Trips vary in length, ranging from one to ten days. Each excursion is accompanied by a faculty and/or staff members with expertise in the area of sites visited. The itineraries are prepared with both academic and cultural interests in mind.
During orientation each semester a day trip is held outside of Rome, in order to allow students to take their first trip, accompanied by staff members.
Fall Trips
Global Issues, Local Hospitality
Puglia
The beautiful yet underexplored area of northern Puglia is currently grappling with the demands of global food systems and mass migration. In this three-day trip, we will dive into local food, culture and history, and students will develop a critical perspective on how global issues fall on local shoulders.
Journalism festival in Northern Italy
Ferrara
This single-night trip takes a small group of students to Ferrara during the 'Internazionale' magazine journalism festival, where international journalists, artists and activists come together to discuss contemporary global issues. Students have the opportunity to tour the “City of the Renaissance” and listen to the panels and events.
Human rights symposium at local university
Poland
An immersive five-day journey to Poland during Fall Break explores human rights, history, and culture, culminating in the Human Rights and a Just Society Symposium uniting global students for dialogue, discovery, and change.
Spring Trips
An ancient borderland between East and West
The Balkans
Witness the legacy of war first-hand while exploring this complex yet beautiful territory. Students will discover first-hand the dual nature of this borderland between East and West: once Roman and Barbarian, Ottoman and Austrian, Communist and Capitalist.
Discover the birthplace of the Arab Spring
Tunisia
Tunisia offers a powerful blend of history, resilience, and transformation. Through close collaboration with local partners, this trip provides an in-depth cultural experience, allowing you to engage authentically with the daily life, traditions, and perspectives of this beautiful Mediterranean country.
Hike in the mountains with sheep
Abruzzo
Spend two nights at a dairy farm nestled in the mountains of central Italy. Students will take part in the ancient pastoral practice of transhumance, hiking the green mountains of Abruzzo and learning about the traditional food practices of the area.
Both Semesters
Pilgrimage to the home of St Francis
Assisi
Set out on a two-day pilgrimage to the sacred town of Assisi. Students will explore the city’s most significant Franciscan landmarks in a pilgrimage which reaches deep into personal reflection, spirituality and art history.
Journey along the Path of the Gods
Amalfi Coast
Explore the narrow streets and breathtaking views of historic towns like Positano and Amalfi —all in one unforgettable long weekend of culture and nature. You’ll hike the breathtaking Path of the Gods and the Lemon Path, make fresh pasta and learn the secrets of mozzarella and limoncello.
Protected landscapes in the Val D'Orcia
Tuscany
A three-day journey into rural central Italy exploring local food, wine, and culture. By day, visit Siena and Pienza while discovering the region's rich Medieval and Renaissance heritage. By night, return to an agricultural hamlet built by a local noble family in the 1700s – our temporary home!
Day Trips
For those who don't want to be away from campus for the night, the Rome Center offers a few day trips per semester. These visits send students to small corners of Italy to discover an authentic Italy, unseen by tourists.
Iconic Renaissance art history
Florence
Experience the heart of the Renaissance on a day trip to Florence. Students will explore iconic landmarks on a guided walking tour, visit the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David, and stop by a artisan workshop to discover traditional Florentine craftsmanship.
Biodiversity around the medieval town of Nazzano
A Day on the Tiber River
This excursion offers a rich blend of history, nature, and hands-on learning. Participants will explore the medieval town of Nazzano and its castle, enjoy scenic views over the Tiber–Farfa valley, and hike through the nearby Nature Reserve with a local specialist. The day also includes a sustainable meal and a relaxing boat tour on the Tiber River.
An active taste of tradition
Truffle hunting
Discover Italy’s truffle hunting tradition in the mountains outside Rome. Guided by a local father-and-son team and their trained dogs, students search for truffles, learn the craft’s history, and enjoy a truffle-themed meal at a family-run agriturismo.
More than 200 years of winemaking
Winery visit and tasting
Spend a day savoring the flavors and history of the Lazio countryside. Visit a small family-run winery in an extinct volcano, where students will learn about the winemaking process and enjoy a guided tasting. Then travel to the historically important town of Palestrina for a traditional Roman lunch before exploring the town’s ancient ruins and windy medieval streets.
Where the histories of the USA and Italy meet
World War II
This day trip takes students to key Second World War sites in the Agro Pontino region south of Rome. Visits include the German and American war cemeteries near Pomezia and Nettuno, the immersive Piana delle Orme Museum, and the beach where the Allies landed in 1944 on their way to liberating Rome from the Nazis.
How to Register for a Study Trip/ How do I sign up?
All sign-ups for all excursions takes place in Rome during orientation on campus.
- Due to limited space, trips will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
- During orientation, students may sign up for one study trip. Depending on availability, students may be given the opportunity to sign up for additional trips at a later time.
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