Jessica Lagomarsino is the SAI Rome Assistant Program Coordinator.

Below are her top ten things to do in Rome.

• Attend a Papal Mass
• Explore Trastevere Neighborhood
• Have a picnic at Villa Pamphili
• Go to a soccer game
• Spend an afternoon in the Borghese Gardens
• Check out the View at the Gianicolo Hill
• Visit the Basilica San Clemente
• Watch the sunset from the top of Castel Sant’Angelo
• Look through the Keyhole at Piazza Knights of Malta
• Try a pastry from Dolce Maniera

Jess is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and has strong family ties to Italy. During summer vacations, she would visit her “Nonna” and extended family in Genoa (the original home of pesto, focaccia and torta alla Genovese). Needless to say, early exposure to such delicacies gave her an enduring love for Italian food.  Jess attended The American University of Rome, where she majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.“Studying abroad challenges one to accept cultural differences and question how one sees the world,” says Jess, “Rome is a gem of a city because it is a melting pot of cultures and history. Italians have an incredible passion for life; living here has enabled me to smile and laugh more at everyday situations and to be more accepting of diverse lifestyles.”What’s a perfect day in Rome?  “An ideal day for me in Rome would be having coffee at the bar around the corner from my house, taking a jog along the Gianicolo, and then enjoying a long delicious lunch with my Roman friends!”“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with students that share my same hunger for adventure in Rome Sweet Rome!,” adds Jess.