Living in Rome

Located in a 15th century palace in the heart of the Italian capitol, the UW Rome Center is the perfect home-base for your study abroad. Our classrooms feature ornate frescoes and spectacular views. The city will also be your classroom! Taught by UW professors, our courses include field trips and opportunities to connect with local people. After class, it’s time to explore! Just outside our doorstep is the vibrant Piazza Campo de’ Fiori, home to an open-air market, shops and cafes. Countless famous sites are a short walk away, including the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Vatican.

Learn More About Living in Rome

Student accommodations are mostly located off campus, within a 40-minute walk from the UWRC in apartments shared with other students in your program. Many apartments are located in beautiful, centuries-old buildings, some of which have steep staircases or other architectural elements typical of old buildings.

Apartments typically have one to three shared bedrooms, a full kitchen, living room and/or common area, and one or more bathrooms.

All apartments are furnished and have a fully-equipped kitchen including standard Italian kitchenware, washing machine and dryer or drying racks.

Bedrooms are usually shared with one or two other students, including one single bed per student and closet/clothing storage space. Bed, bath and kitchen linens are provided.

Apartments are cleaned regularly by a professional cleaning service. The cleaning service does not include daily chores like washing dishes or tidying personal belongings. Upon arrival, you will be provided with a small initial supply of necessities like toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, and dish detergent. Students are expected to replenish these items as needed.

Student housing assignments will be made by your Program Director and you will receive further information about your assigned apartment, including your address and apartment-mates, in advance of your arrival in Rome. You will also be asked to sign the UWRC Housing Agreement during the onboarding process.

Check in for student apartments is typically on the first day of your program and check out is the day after your program ends, unless your program has made other arrangements. If you will be arriving to Rome before the start of your program and staying later, you will need to make alternative housing arrangements for those additional days.

Apartment Forms

Upon arrival to Rome, you and your roommates will be asked to complete our Apartment Condition Form so that you can let us know the condition of the apartment upon arrival, and if anything is broken or missing that should be replaced. This form should completed once at the beginning of the program, one form per apartment.

During the course of the program, if something needs to be fixed or replaced, please complete the Maintenance Request Form.

Italian Housing Etiquette

Some Italian living habits and standards are different than in the US, so it may take a conscious effort on your part to be respectful to those around you and to contribute to the overall safety, efficiency and harmony of your apartment community. Because of the architecture and design of Italian buildings (i.e., marble and ceramic surfaces, pipes that pass through the whole building, no wall to wall carpeting), noise passes easily between walls and floors, especially late at night. For this reason, Italian laws set “quiet hours”. By Italian law, noise is not allowed between 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm or between 10:00 pm – 8:00 am. (Specific hours are set by the administrator of the building.) Excessive noise is unacceptable at all times of the day.

Remember that you will be living alongside Italian families, the elderly, and the employed–people with regular daily lives, jobs, children to take to school, etc., whose weekends do not begin until after Friday or even Saturday afternoon. Respect the following rules at all times:

1. Avoid appearing in public areas of the building barefoot or scantily dressed.
2. Do not wear hard sole or high heel shoes while in your apartment, as they can be heard by those above and below you.
3. Do not run washing machines during quiet hours.
4. Do not congregate in common areas, and be mindful of your noise level while in balconies, stairwells, hallways, and elevators. Do not shout or call to friends or neighbors from the windows or balconies.
5. Do not drag furniture across the room. Instead, lift it off the floor to move it. Avoid moving things during quiet hours.
6. Do not throw anything from the windows or balconies.
7. Do not allow guests to buzz apartments other than your own on the citofono.
8. Dispose of trash properly and regularly. (See Garbage & Recycling Guidelines.)
9. Always close doors and windows when leaving and secure them firmly. Close them quietly and carefully as the Roman wind can cause them to slam and even break.

Late Night & Overnight Guests

Visitors and guests are allowed in student apartments for academic, personal and social reasons. At all times, UWRC students are personally responsible for the actions of their guests. As a result, students are responsible for any damage, physical or otherwise, to the apartment caused by their visitors. Under Italian law, all apartment occupants regardless of duration of stay must be declared to the local police. Therefore, guests are NOT ALLOWED in student apartments late at night (from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am) or overnight.

Garbage & Recycling

While in Rome, it is CRITICAL to adhere to the following rules for disposing of waste and recyclable materials. City inspectors routinely check building’s garbage and recycling, and fines of up to €100 may be imposed if materials are found deposited in the wrong containers. All apartments have specific directions and appropriate bins for disposing of waste and recyclables. In addition, each neighborhood has a specific schedule for days of the week you can dispose of waste and recyclables. Waste and recyclables should be taken out frequently, especially during summer months. If you have questions about where or when to dispose of waste and recyclables, please check out this Trash-Well, Live- Better Handbook directly from Rome’s waste disposal company or contact your apartment manager.

Personal Property Protection

Please note that damage to personal property is not covered by landlord/agency insurance, so if you will be bringing expensive equipment or valuables to Rome, you should consider obtaining personal property coverage. Also, to ensure the safety of your valuables while in Rome, we recommended that you bring a small padlock to keep your cash/valuables in a locked suitcase. Do not to leave delicate/valuable items such as laptops in places where damage might occur (e.g., on apartment floor).

Fire & Safety

All student apartments are in compliance with Italian safety and fire code for residential properties. Please note that Italian safety and fire codes may differ from those in the U.S.

Remember at all times that you are a visitor in a foreign country as well as a representative of the University of Washington.

• • • The U.S. and Italy are different in many ways, and while some Italian laws and customs may seem unreasonable to visitors, students must be aware of them and should be sensitive to them.
    • While in Rome, you must act in an appropriate manner at all time and to follow the UW Standards for Conduct for Study Abroad.
    • If you do not follow these standards for conduct, disciplinary action may be brought against you and the UW Standards for Conduct for Study Abroad will be followed.
    • You signed a document agreeing to follow the UW Standards for Conduct for Study Abroad and submitted the signed document to UW Study Abroad when confirming your acceptance to your program.

In churches, cloisters and other religious sites, remember that you are entering as a privilege. Your conduct and clothing should show respect to the culture and religion of Italy.

Travel Money

The amount of spending money you’ll need during study abroad in Rome will be depending on your travel plans, eating preferences and other personal expenses. You should expect to spend extra on meals and basic expenses during your first couple of weeks in-country as you settle in and purchase necessities like toiletries and household supplies.

Since all student apartments have full kitchens, it’s easy to save money by shopping at the local markets and supermarkets and cooking on your own.

• A budget of about $10 a day if cooking all of your meals should keep you well-nourished.
• If you plan to eat out every meal, you might plan to spend between $25 to $30 dollars a day on food.

Rome is easily navigated by foot, and local transportation in Rome is relatively inexpensive.

• Depending on how long you’ll be studying here, you may choose to buy a monthly Metro passes (called a “tessera” or “abbonamento”) for €35, or individual tickets can be purchased for €1.50.

Weekly costs for postage, laundry, local phone calls and other miscellaneous expenses can run $30-40 a week. Entertainment (e.g., movies, museums, live music) can add another $30-40 a week. Weekend excursions are likely to be your most expensive cost, especially depending on how far you go and for how many days your travel. If you plan to travel, be sure to budget for accommodations, meals and transportation and other personal expenses while you’re on the road.

Debit & Credit Cards

In Italy, cash is still preferred in most restaurants, cafes and other establishments, although credit and debit cards are becoming more widely used throughout Italy and are an increasingly convenient way to pay for things. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express is not. Be sure to report your travel plans to your bank and credit card companies in advance of your travels, as cards are often blocked for security reasons following unusual account activity (e.g., purchases and cash withdrawals made outside the US). Also be sure you understand the fees and daily withdrawal limits of your cards, and make sure that your cards are on the Visa/MasterCard circuit and NOT the Cirrus/Maestro circuit as some ATMs do not accept the latter.

Either exchange some euros prior to your arrival in Rome or use an ATM at the airport in order to have some cash on you when you arrive.

• Drawing money directly from ATMs associated with an official bank is normally the best way to ensure a good exchange rate. You will find plenty of banks around the city center with ATMs.
• If you plan to exchange US dollars upon arrival, note that Currency Exchanges are often not open late or on holidays, and that their exchange rates will likely not be as good. Also, if you exchange dollars for euros, do not accept bills larger than €50 as larger bills as it may be difficult to find a vendor willing to accept them.

Write your credit card numbers and credit card company contact information in a safe place so that you have them in the event your card(s) are stolen. In the event that you need emergency cash, we recommend using Western Union. A Western Union location is a short 5 minute walk from the UWRC.

Restaurants and Cafes

Your eating habits may change as you become accustomed to Italian eating and dining customs. Italians often have breakfast in a bar, ordering a cappuccino and a cornetto (croissant) or other pastry. Bars also have soft drinks, spremute (fresh squeezed fruit juice) and tramezzini or panini (sandwiches).

Food and beverages served at a table cost more than if you stand at the counter. If you’re not going to sit down, pay at the cash register first and then take your scontrino (receipt) and place your order at the counter.

Italian lunches and dinners are often long, with several courses, sometimes antipasto (appetizer), primo piatto (first course such as usually soup, pasta or rice) and secondo (meat or fish) with insalata (salad) or contorno (cooked vegetables) with the secondo. You are not required to order all courses, and some restaurants have economically-priced “tourist menus”. Many restaurants charge a coperto (cover charge) – usually between €2-3 per person. Check menus for prices before sitting down.

For a quick lunch, pizza rustica shops (also called pizza al taglio – by the slice) sell a wide variety of kinds of pizza and charge by the weight of each slice.

Markets and Grocery Stores

There are many small supermarkets in Rome’s historic center that are open all day, every day including Sundays.

Open-air markets like at Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza di San Cosimato sell fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as some cheeses and meats and are generally open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to about 2:00 pm.

• You can also buy cheese, sandwich meat and other groceries in alimentari (small grocery stores) or in a supermarket (supermercato).
• Separate shops usually sell meat and fish.
• Alimentari are open in the morning until lunch time and in the afternoon, but are closed on Sunday.
• Bread and favorites like pizza bianca (white pizza, with olive oil and salt) and pizza rossa (red pizza, with tomato sauce) can be purchased at a forno (bakery).
• Fresh milk and cheese are sold in a latteria (dairy products shop), in some bars or alimentari, and in supermarkets.
• The drinking water in Rome is not only safe, but is also rich in minerals and tastes very good.

There are several gyms and studio options near the UWRC and student apartments to help you fulfill your fitness needs. If you are looking for another type of fitness option, the Rome Center staff is more than happy to help you locate it.

Gyms: To become a member of a gym it is often required to obtain a non-competitive medical certificate. These can be obtained by seeing a sports medical doctor. The gym will tell you if the certificate is required and where to go to obtain one. Some gyms even offer the service themselves with an in-house doctor conducting the physical examination.

• Omega Fitness (Via del Monte della Farina, 14): Modern gym with various class offerings, spa, and weight/cardio equipment. Located 4 minutes away from UWRC.
• Moves Fitness (Via dei Coronari, 46): Small gym near Piazza Navona with weight and cardio equipment.
• Trastevere Fitness (Via degli Orti di Trastevere, 60/66): Modern gym with cardio and weight equipment. Located just off Viale di Trastevere.
• Dolphin Fitness Center (Vicolo di Santa Rufina, 49): Located in the Trastevere neighborhood, this small gym is perfect for cardio and weight workouts.
• Doria Center (Via del Plebiscito, 117): Located near Piazza Venezia. Elegant gym with spa and cafe. Large workout studios. Classes also offered.

Yoga Studios: To participate in classes it is not mandatory to obtain a medical certificate.

• Bikram Yoga Roma (Via Aurelia, 190/B): Located behind the Vatican city. Offers Bikram, vinyasa, yin and other types of yoga in a heated environment.
• RYOGA Trastevere (Via dei Fienaroli, 28): Located in Trastevere neighborhood, this studio offers Yoga, Pilates, Bars, and Fitness.
• Zem Yoga Studio Roma (Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 184): Located near Campo de’ Fiori. Offers vinyasa, rocket, hatha and yin in a heated and non-heated classes.

Running: There are many great running routes in Rome and it is a fantastic way to take in the sights. To name a few:

• Cycling path along the Tiber River
• Villa Doria Pamphili (largest open park in Rome)
• Circus Maximus (Ancient Roman race track)

Walking is the best way to get to know the city, and most everything within the Centro Storico is within less than a 30 minute walk. While most large streets have sidewalks, most of the windy cobblestone streets do not and are thus shared with scooters, cars and trucks. Be mindful of traffic around you and stay to the side of the street when you hear a vehicle approaching.

The bus and subway systems are also convenient and inexpensive. Bus/subway tickets cost €1.50 and can be used to transfer within 100 minutes from the time they are first validated. They are sold at most tobacco shops, ticket booths, ticket vending machines, and some newsstands. Enter buses from the back or front door and validate the ticket in the machine inside the bus; get off from the central doors. If you choose to use taxis while in Rome please consider Chiamataxi +060609 or download the MyTaxi app onto your phone!

Getting to the UW Rome Center

SHUTTLE  This is the least expensive option from Fiumicino, Rome’s international airport, or Ciampino, a smaller airport for some European connections.

• • • Buses run about every 30 minutes and trips take between 45 minutes to 1 hour. Tickets can be purchased online at Sit Bus Shuttle (tickets purchased online cost €6 one way per person; be sure to print the e-ticket and keep it with you) or on board of the bus.
    • The bus stop at Fiumicino Airport is located near Terminal 3, bus stop no. 1 (take right when you go out from the terminal). In Ciampino Airport, the bus stop is located near the exit from the terminal.
    • Once at Termini, purchase a bus ticket at the newsstand outside of the station for €1.50 and take the #64 bus for €1.50 to the Corso Vittorio Emanuele/Sant’Andrea della Valle stop (9 stops), and then walk to the UWRC.

TRAIN   The regional train from Fiumicino airport to Stazione Trastevere (7 stops) runs from 5:57 am to 11:27 pm daily, leaving every 15 to 20 minutes and costs €8. You can purchase a ticket in advance at Trenitalia.com or at the station adjacent to the airport.

• • • There are two trains from Fiumicino, so make sure you take the train headed for Fara Sabina. The other train goes to Roma Termini, which is another option, it just takes longer!
    • From the Trastevere train station, purchase a bus ticket at the newsstand inside the station for €1.50 and take the #8 tram in the direction of Venezia to the Arenula/Cairoli stop (8 stops), and then walk to the UWRC.

CAR SERVICE  The most convenient, but expensive way to get to the UWRC is to book a car in advance only.

• • • You can book through a number of providers including AutolineRoma on Android or iPhone (€40, Discount Code: 101), MovinRome (€39), Fiumicino Taxi (€42), or MyTaxi (approximately €50).
    • Surcharges may apply between 11 pm and 5 am.

If you take a taxi from the taxi pick-up line at Fiumicino, be forewarned that drivers frequently try to charge significantly more than the flat rate established by law from Fiumicino airport to the historic center of Rome (currently €48 for a “Comune di Roma” cab, €60 for a “Comune di Fiumicino” cab). This rate is applicable regardless of time of day, number of passengers, and quantity of luggage. Make sure that you verify the cost with the driver and have exact change ready. Make sure that your luggage is out of the taxi before you pay the driver. Always take a legal WHITE taxi.

It is important for your family to know how you are doing while you are studying in Rome. Arrange a plan to keep in touch with a family member, especially in the case of an emergency, and keep family up-to-date on your studies and travels, especially any independent travel that does not involve your university program.

Email

There is wireless access throughout the UWRC facility for students using their own laptop or mobile device.  The UWRC Computer Lab (generally open Monday-Friday 8:45 am to 1 am and some  weekend hours) has 12 desktop computers and other equipment. Since the lab is intended primarily for academic use, you should not count on unlimited access for personal email or web browsing.

Cell phones

All UW Rome Center students are required to have a cell phone able to receive/send calls in Italy for program and emergency purposes. Your program director will compile a list of all student cell phone contacts within the first few days of your program.

Cell phone options:

• • • Bring your US phone (unlocked) and buy an Italian phone chip (costs about 25 euros including 1st month phone/data plan; monthly plans cost as little as 15 euros.)  Here’s how it works:  if you come to Rome with an UN-LOCKED U.S. phone, you can swap your SIM card (with your U.S. provider) and purchase a local SIM card. You can purchase one from any of the three Italian providers: Wind, Vodafone, or TIM (shop closest to the UWRC).
      
    • Purchase an Italian cell phone in Rome, for about 50 euros including SIM card and 1st month phone/data plan. 

Note: It is also possible to rent cell phones through agencies operating online or in Rome/Florence, but there are currently none that we could recommend to our students or faculty.

Receiving calls

Telephone calls should be directed to students’ cell phones. Emergency messages may be left with the UWRC Office.

Please note that unless specifically authorized, Rome Center staff cannot give out students’ addresses or home Rome phone numbers to family or friends calling.

Students can make international calls with an American AT&T, MCI or Sprint calling card.

Making International Calls

Italy Country Code: +39
To call the U.S.: +1.Area Code.Number or 001.Area Code.Number
To call an Italian number from the U.S. or from a U.S. number while in Italy: +39.Area Code.Number or 011.39.Area Code.Number

See HowtoCallAbroad.com for more assistance.

Receiving mail

You may receive mail at the UWRC while studying abroad. If family and friends want to send you letters or packages, please make sure they include your name, program name and the UWRC in the address information.

Student mail should be addressed as follows:

YOUR NAME
PROGRAM NAME
c/o University of Washington Rome Center
Piazza del Biscione 95
00186 Roma Italia

Students are advised to not change your official mailing or billing address for voting materials, credit card or bank statements, etc., as the process to change your address back again to the US once you leave Rome is quite laborious. If you would like assistance with voting abroad, please visit VoteFromAbroad.org.

Receiving packages 

The U.S. Postal Service is the best way for your family and friends to send non-urgent packages to Italy. Please keep in mind that it typically takes between two to four weeks – and often longer – for packages mailed from the U.S. to arrive at the UWRC. FedEx, UPS or DHL are recommended for more urgent shipments. Students are responsible for any applicable Customs tax when claiming packages. This charge ranges between €10 to €70 or more.

Important Customs Information

• • • Customs fees on packages arriving in Italy from the U.S. are based on the value of the contents as determined by the Italian Post Office and Customs regulations PLUS the cost of shipping. These charges can be quite expensive, even for items marked “Used Personal Effects”.
    • Since insuring a package calls attention to its possible value, senders might consider not insuring the package and/or declaring only a minimal value (e.g., $30) of the contents.
    • Sender should clearly indicate the cost of shipping; otherwise, Italian Customs will estimate this cost and their estimate is often higher than the actual cost.
    • Packages may be opened by Customs at random. Those not stopped for duty will be delivered to the UWRC. If Customs has questions about the contents of a package, they will send correspondence to your attention at the address provided.
    • NO MEDICATIONS SHOULD BE MAILED, including over-the-counter medications and vitamins. Such items, if declared or detected, may not be delivered. If you urgently need prescription medications while in Rome, please contact the UW Rome Center Office.
    • Packages containing FOOD OF ANY TYPE (e.g., packaged, processed, homemade) or COSMETIC PRODUCTS are subject to Customs inspection. A handling fee is automatically charged, and you must complete a complicated payment process in order for the package to be released. We know that favorite foods are a staple of the traditional “care package”, but please be forewarned of the potential costs and slow delivery time of such packages. (And remember, you can buy peanut butter and Doritos in Italy!)

Receiving express courier shipments

• • • Courier packages (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.) should be addressed as indicated above. Sending them “c/o of the UW Rome Center” allows the UW Rome Center Office to receive your package on your behalf.
    • Include the Rome Center’s phone number on the courier waybill (06-686-8807).

Mail received after you leave Rome

• • • Letters will be forwarded to students’ departments for 1 quarter only. After this, mail will be refused and will be returned to sender.
    • The UWRC Office cannot receive packages on your behalf after your program has ended. Packages received after your program will be refused or discarded in the event that they are accepted by the building porter. We suggest that friends and family not to send packages during the last 4 to 5 weeks of your program.