My time in Rome has been incredible; I’ve been able to eat amazing food every day, see renowned landmarks like the Colosseum, and meet so many people I never would have had the chance to meet outside of study abroad. Additionally, one aspect of this experience that has been incredible is the SAI Viva Experiences. Over the course of the semester, I have attended eleven of these experiences and have enjoyed every one of them. They have exposed me to multiple different parts of Rome and Italy that I never would have found on my own, as well as provided a great way to meet new people that are also studying through SAI. Many different Viva Experiences are offered such as cooking classes, mosaic workshops, and numerous day trips. Below I’ll detail my three favorite Viva Experiences that I had the opportunity to partake in during my time in Rome.

The gardens in Tivoli.

My first favorite Viva Experience was a day trip to Tivoli, a small town about an hour train ride outside of Rome. Upon arriving we were greeted by a tour guide who took us around the town and provided small unique facts about the history of the town. In the latter half of the tour, we explored the famous garden of Villa d’Este. There are countless fountains, big and small, spread throughout this expansive garden. Mosaics outline many of these fountains and an incredible view of scattered towns can be seen. We then went to lunch above a beautiful valley, and ate incredible meats and cheeses with pasta as the main course.

The Esquilino food market.

In another one of the Viva Experiences, we went to explore the neighborhood of Esquilino in Rome. This neighborhood is home to many immigrants that come to Rome and therefore has many international shops and restaurants that often can’t be found elsewhere throughout the city. We started the Viva Experience in Gelateria Fassi and got a firsthand look at how the famous gelato shop has been making their gelato for over a hundred years. We got a chance to make our own batch of banana gelato and try it right from the machine. Following that, we explored the Esquilino Market which is pictured above. This market offers an abundance of fresh fruit, meat, and seafood. We had an incredible lunch nearby and ended the Viva Experience at a beautiful basilica. This experience was incredible and showed how much Rome has to offer outside of the typical tourist attractions.

Lunch at a Frascati vineyard.

For my final favorite Viva Experience, we went on a day trip to the small town of Frascati. Similarly to Tivoli, we had a tour guide that explained small historical facts about the town. We had an amazing lunch, and then went to explore a family-owned vineyard. Fresh wine was offered for tasting with bread and cheese, and the family gave us a tour of their historical caverns that housed the wine in the past. This day trip allowed us to try a few new wines all while being able to meet many Italians that lived in this small town outside of Rome.

Overall, these Viva Experiences are only the tip of the iceberg. There are many other experiences, either located in or near Rome, that allow you to experience many different aspects of Italian culture. And the best part, the cost of these experiences are all included within the SAI fees, so nothing must be paid the day of. I highly encourage everyone to attend as many Viva Experiences as possible, as I became closer with many other people in my program and came out with many unique memories in the process.

Written by: Reece, Spring 2025 Rome student, from Colorado State University