Studying abroad in Rome is an incredible experience for students and affords them the opportunity to explore the Eternal City and everything is has to offer. Rome is a well-connected city with trains, buses and planes taking you wherever you would like to go. The central location of Rome allows students to travel with ease to all of the unique locations within Italy during their time abroad.
Based on our 15 years of experience in the student travel industry, we’ve compiled our list of the top three cultural weekend excursions to take with your students from Rome.
The Amalfi Coast
Located nearby the port city of Naples, the Amalfi Coast is overflowing with stunning views, amazing seafood and a storied history. There are many beautiful towns to choose from along the gorgeous coast, but we have narrowed down our four cities that you can’t miss when planning your trip.
Must See Cities
Sorrento
Sorrento is the last stop at the end of circumvesuviana train which takes you along the coast from Naples, passing by Pompeii on the way. The history of this city dates back more than 2000 years and previous inhabitants include the Greeks and Romans. The city boasts a quaint downtown area full of shops and restaurants and when visiting Sorrento you can’t miss the gorgeous sunset.
Positano
When you think about the Amalfi Coast, a picture of colorful buildings stacked into the cliffside are most likely what comes to mind. This famous city is none other than the captivating town of Positano. Visit the 300 meter long Spiaggia Grande, which is one of the longest beaches in the entire Amalfi Coast or climb the 2,000 steps to the top of the town to see the gorgeous view from above.
Capri
The stunning island of Capri was originally a Greek colony before becoming a resort (Capreae) destination of Roman emperors in the early years of the Roman Empire. The island is home to the world-famous Grotto Azzurro, the Blue Grotto. Be sure to pick up a bottle of their delicious limoncello made from lemons grown on the island.
Pompeii
This UNESCO World Heritage site is well-known for being destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., which resulted in the entire city being covered in volcanic ash. Tour guides paint a picture of daily life of the city before its demise as the city was discovered to be well preserved underneath the ash with many of the buildings and artifacts still intact.
Florence
Known as the Cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is a beautiful city located in the center of the region of Tuscany and is home to beautiful architecture, art and history. Florence was first founded around the 1st century BC as a Roman military colony and grew to be a thriving hub of commerce and learning during the Renaissance.
Top Sites
Cathedral of Florence, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore
Towering over the cityscape, the Cathedral is an incredible architectural achievement built in Italian Gothic style. The large dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and is a testament to his mastery of technical knowledge in 1436.
Piazzale Michelangelo
This spot affords visitors a sweeping view of Florence and is a perfect location to catch a sunset. If you don’t believe us just check out the amazing views in our photo above.
Michelangelo’s David
A trip to Florence would not be complete if you don’t visit the world famous Michelangelo’s David. Housed in Accademia Gallery, the David is a commanding 5.16 meters tall and carved out of a single block of Carrera marble by Michelangelo in 1504.
Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is located in the Northern Italian region of Liguria and is comprised of five small villages along the coast. The hiking trails that connect each town are a protected National Park and UNESCO World Heritage site. We highly recommend visiting all five towns and eating delicious seafood while taking in the sweeping views.
Our Favorite Towns
Manarola
The second town from the La Spezia train station is a picture perfect village with colorful stacked houses and crystal blue waters. Here you can capture gorgeous photos along the walkway (like our photo above) before swimming in the waters below.
Vernazza
Vernazza is the fourth town in Cinque Terre and is also home to colorful stacked buildings. We recommend grabbing a slice of pesto pizza as pesto originates from Liguria!
Monterosso al Mare
The last and largest of the five towns is Monterosso al Mare. Here you can visit the Church of San Giovanni Battista which was built in the 1200s and is located in the main square of the old town.
What is your favorite Rome weekend trip? Share your experiences in the comments below.
