Rome Center hallway
Walking into the Rome Center for the first time is truly awe-inspiring. The 16th-century building in the Palazzo Cenci-Bolognetti welcomes eager students with its grand spiral staircase, frescoed ceiling, detailed wooden doors and inviting corridors that lead to their studios. And if all the intricate details of this historic building aren’t enough, you can peer out of the windows to see the piazza below and the Roman architecture that surrounds the structure.
The Iowa State University Rome Center is located in the Piazza delle Cinque Scole
The College of Design has been taking students to Rome for more than 30 years. Architecture, art and design, graphic design, interior design, integrated studio arts and landscape architecture students travel to the Eternal City for the semester to immerse themselves in the history and culture.
Students attend classes at the Rome Center in Piazza delle Cinque Scole, a stone’s throw from the Tiber River and walking distance from historical sites like the Pantheon, Teatro di Marcellus, Piazza Navona and Largo di Torre Argentina.
Students working in the studio
Lessons taught in studios are supplemented with real-world examples. Field trips for students to explore Italy are sprinkled throughout the semester. Students take day trips to art museums and design centers to deepen their understanding of the region. They travel to cities like Milan, Venice, Naples, Sorrento and more.
Duomo di Milano in Milan, Italy
Your generous gifts will afford our students endless opportunities abroad. Donations will ease the financial burden for our students to obtain their passports, visas and plane tickets. Your support will provide bus, tram and train passes to help students easily travel to and from their studios and you will give them the best art supplies to complete their work. These funds can bring in guest speakers as well as cover admission to world-class museums, art galleries and special events. And donations will allow for facility upgrades to ensure the best environment for College of Design students to thrive in.
With your help, our students have the opportunity to build new connections, challenge themselves and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Every contribution makes a difference. Thank you for your support!
Help cover students’ transportation costs as they travel around Rome and Italy.
Help students get the most out of their trip abroad by visiting world-class museums, art galleries and special events.
Students often need to purchase supplies like canvases, paints and other materials once they arrive in Rome (imagine trying to pack or ship those instead!). Help students create their best work with a donation toward these materials.
Help students procure the required Italian student visa to stay in Italy for a full semester.
Enrich students' experience with a donation to help fund guest workshops and lectures.
The first and most important step of getting our students to Rome is ensuring they have their passport. Your donation could help students get closer to participating in this exciting experience.
Maintaining a historical building isn’t an easy task. You could help us make necessary facility upgrades to the Rome Center so students can continue learning there for years to come.
Donating at this level will help more students embark on the educational and inspiring journey that is the Rome Program!