My name is Brooke Hornung and I am a junior at the University of Alabama studying abroad in Rome, Italy! While studying abroad in Rome, I was placed to live in the Trastevere neighborhood. It is a unique part of Rome with so much to do. Restaurants and shops of all kinds fill every street. It is always bustling with people. You truly could never get bored here! This town is popular with young adults and study abroad students as there are multiple universities in this area. Walking around you’re bound to see some familiar faces. Another perk is that my school, John Cabot University, is less than a ten minute walk from my apartment so no need to use public transportation.

Cobblestone Streets of Trastevere

My favorite part about Trastevere is definitely the food options. I have tried many local, homemade Italian dishes from a variety of restaurants. From pasta, to pizza, to suppli (a fried rice ball, a very common Roman dish) Trastevere has so much to offer! I believe you could try a new restaurant almost everyday and not get to them all. One of my favorite places to go for a quick bite to eat is Suppli Roma. I actually tried this on a food tour at the beginning of the semester and continue to go back often. I am looking forward to continuing exploring more restaurants in my month left in Rome. There are also lots of small boutiques, pharmacies, grocery stores, hair salons and so much more. You can find anything you would possibly need here! Time goes by quickly, so be sure to embrace every moment and take advantage of every day!

Suppli, a common Roman dish

Trastevere is about a 15-20 minute walk to popular tourist attractions such as the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain and about a 30 minute walk to Vatican City and the Colosseum. That leads me to another reason why I love this area. From Trastevere anywhere in the city center is easily accessible, however, you can avoid super touristy areas that often get overcrowded. I believe Trastevere truly has such a charm to it and so much to explore. I have created some fantastic memories in this area that I will treasure forever! I hope if you choose to study abroad in Rome, you will enjoy and embrace all of the hidden gems Trastevere has to offer!

Views of the Colosseum

Brooke is a Spring 2023 student in Rome from University of Alabama.