Rome & Italy



Total immersion

Rome is a contradiction—at once awash in history and brimming with life, a place to reflect on the past while reveling in the present and contemplating the future.

At the John Felice Rome Center, you will experience this firsthand in a truly cosmopolitan city, where the wisdom of centuries past flourishes amid the affairs of the day. All this provides a palpable sense of the city’s classical roots in Christianity as well as its passion for lively discussion on a host of modern issues—from immigration rights to the environment.

Then, of course, there is the food, art, and culture—all of which speak for themselves.

A taste of what you can do:

  • Immerse yourself in the heart of Italian culture.
  • Ride 15 minutes on city buses to St. Peter's Square, visit picturesque neighborhoods, or take the metro to famed monuments around the city.
  • Discover the Vatican, from the spiritual grandeur of St. Peter's Basilica to the spectacular array of art in its museums.
  • Grab a gelato near the Pantheon or in Piazza Navona, favorite stops for Romans for 2,000 years.
  • Take in the breathtaking views of Rome around every corner, but especially from the heights of Monte Mario, your home at the Rome Center.
  • Arrange for your family and friends to stay in some of Rome's charming guest accommodations.

In addition, the JFRC's orientation program offers a range of outlets to immediately immerse students into the Italian landscape and culture. Tours throughout the country introduce students to what lies ahead, while an intensive Italian language program equips them with skills they'll need to communicate effectively during their stay abroad.

World War II Sites in Rome and Italy

A distinguished and dedicated alumnus of the Rome Center, Philip R. O'Connor, Ph.D., class of 1968-1969, has compiled a guidebook specifically for Rome Center students about many battle sites and wartime incidents in Rome and Italy. As the author himself notes in his introduction to his guide, "The World War II Guide for Loyola Rome Students has the modest intent to help make the unique Loyola Rome experience more memorable. It can help connect students not merely to the broader past of Italy in world history but also to the experiences of relatives who lived through World War II."

A complete copy of A Loyola Rome Student's Guide to World War II in Rome & Italy can be found here (PDF).