Rome Campus history
Our Rome Campus is a joint initiative between ACU and the Catholic University of America (CUA). It brings together the leading Catholic universities in the United States and Australia in a joint academic endeavour in Rome.
This collaboration builds upon our prior relationship with CUA, providing opportunities for respective students to study in Australia or Washington, DC. Students from both universities can take advantage of the unique opportunity to study in Rome.
Historical location
Located two kilometres from Vatican City, our Rome Campus has a rich history. The building dates to 1962-63, and noted Italian architect Giò Ponti had a hand in its design.
It was originally built for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion, replacing a family villa that was on the site. The property provided sanctuary to some Jewish families during the Nazi era. ACU and CUA continue this legacy by hosting an annual lecture series on Jewish-Christian dialogue as part of the lease agreement with the Sisters of Sion.
The campus is located at Via Garibaldi 28, on the Janiculum Hill, just above the ancient Roman neighbourhood of Trastevere.
Trastevere was the only neighbourhood west of the Tiber River that was included in the old city of Rome. It was the centre of the Jewish population in Rome in the first and second centuries, and also became a centre for early Christian life.
The campus is at the far western edge of the old city and was included in the walls built around the city in the third century by the Emperor Aurelian. It is a 10-minute walk from the campus to Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, the main square of the neighbourhood.