History defines everyday life in modern Rome. Walking along the streets, volunteers will continuously find themselves in the shadow of ancient monuments, such as the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Roman Forum, or stumbling upon more recent (or at least less old) architectural wonders like the Trevi Fountain and monument to Vittorio Emanuele II. The flipside to Rome’s densely rich history and architectural beauty is that parts of the city can be overwhelmingly flooded with tourists in peak season. Devote some time to exploring the infinite nooks and crannies of its back streets to find the cool off-the-map hangout spots.
The city has a good metro system which will take you most places you need to go while volunteering in Rome, for a relatively cheap price. Taxis are also readily available but can be quite expensive, and often drivers will attempt to swindle you if they think know you are not a local. Since Rome is such a popular travel destination, you will always want to be mindful of your possessions and of falling into tourist traps.
Do not let the bustling nature of Rome’s tremendous popularity deter you – it is actually quite a laid back city once you move past the commotion surrounding its historical attractions. Locals tend to function at a laid-back pace and you will come to see that many shop owners come and go at their own leisure. The cultural transition will certainly be an adjustment, but soon you will find that there are few people more outgoing and friendly than the Italians, and there are few cities more utterly inspiring to live in than Rome.