CIEE High School Summer in Rome, Italy: Architecture & Culture Recently Updated

What makes a city timeless? Discover the secrets of Roman design and bring your own creative ideas to life.

There’s no better place to explore architecture than Rome, an open-air museum where the streets reveal 2,000 years of design breakthroughs. In this hands-on program, you’ll dive into the world of architecture and urban design with fellow Global Navigators by your side, sketching on site, observing how people interact with their environments, and bringing your own creative ideas to life.

In class and on walking tours, you’ll learn how Rome’s signature features and architecture technology revolutionized Western architecture. Visit landmarks like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon, study key design principles, and meet local architects and historians. Your learning will culminate in an original 3-D design project inspired by Rome, presented in a gallery open to peers and local professionals.

Outside class, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, wander cobblestone alleys in Trastevere, and devour fresh pasta, pizza, and gelato. Take a day trip to Florence to see Renaissance masterpieces up close, and explore the stunning gardens and villas of Tivoli. Your summer in Rome will be filled with unforgettable experiences, new friendships, and creative inspiration that's bound to shape your future.