The best way to learn Italian, Socialising!
It’s the first day of their Italian language course, and students are already socialising in the bars and discotheques of Rome! Tonight it’s San Lorenzo Cafe, in the student quartiere, close to the University of Sapienza where many Italian students go out. As the school organizes a social calendar students from different levels and classes can meet each other from the first day. It’s also an opportunity to practice speaking to improve their Italian. And when you just want to relax after practicing Italian there’s always a group of people willing to speak English… or German, or Spanish, or French, or Portuguese, or Japanese………
Although a large number of people prefer to speak Italian all the time. You learn really quickly this way!
San Lorenzo is a favorite place to go to socialise as it has many bars, restaurants, cafes, music venues and discoteques and it has a lively atmosphere because of the students of the university. Many places are very economical also – in San Lorenzo cafe for example a bottle of beer cost €3.50, cocktails were €5.00 and wine is €3.50 also. You can choose from 15 bottles of Italian wine and there is a free ‘aperitif’ – so you can also eat a plate of free food! If you’re interested in wine you can learn about Italian wines in the school’s wine seminars. (There is also a great little place on Campo di Fiori that has an extremely large selection of wines, outdoor seating on the piazza.
Note: Campo di Fiori is another great place to go out.) San Lorenzo is 10 minutes from the school, simply take the tram from the main road next to the school.
I would also highly recommend Travestere as that was my favorite part of the whole trip. We had a group of students, mostly Germans, and me who hung out there. It is far more laid back then the rest of Rome and is far quieter so if you want to escape the noise of the city then please visit that part. I compare it to a mini Venice in that how that part of the city is organized and feels like being back in the city of Venice. Others may disagree with me, of course.
I also recommend Trastevere, as well as Testaccio. Be sure to visit Campo di Fiori and Piazza Navona in the night. Also, there is an amazing bar/club called Anima right next to Piazza Navona. In July 2008, me and my friends from Torre di Babele went almost every night!! We loved it.
Enjoy!