Bernardi Campus Facilities

St. Thomas’ Bernardi Campus is located on the west bank of the Tiber River on Lungotevere delle Armi in Rome, Italy. Purchased by St. Thomas in 1999, the Bernardi Campus provides housing to St. Thomas students and others participating in academic and summer programs, and offers accommodations for overnight guests. Situated in the Prati neighborhood, the campus is near both the center of Rome and Vatican City. Originally built as a residential estate in 1923, the building was purchased by an order of Spanish nuns in the 1950s. The building was again completely restored and refurbished in 1999 when it was purchased by the university.

There are two residential floors – one for men and one for women. The campus has a variety of room capacities for students – primarily doubles, with a very limited number of triples and singles. For each student, the room has a single bed, desk with desk chair, and wardrobe.

Rooftop Terrace
The rooftop terrace that is available for the residents to use from 7:00a.m.until 11 p.m. Residents are expected to be respectful of neighbors by keeping the noise level at a minimum at all times. 

Computer Lab
The computer lab and Internet is available only to Bernardi student residents and overnight guests. Internet connection in student rooms is not available, although students are encouraged to bring laptops for academic work to use in their rooms. Students are expected to respect the use of the data service for academic purposes, and to give precedence to those using the computers for such purposes. 

Chapel (Luisa e Dante Seghieri Cappella)
A chapel is on the main floor of the residence. Students must keep in mind that the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the chapel and that others may be praying. Students must be conscientious of this when they are gathering in adjoining rooms. A chaplain is available for spiritual direction to the Bernardi residents and for providing the students opportunities of living experiences of the Church in sacraments, in service and in the students’ social life together. A community Mass takes place once or twice a week.

Libraries
There are two libraries: one on the main floor outside the chapel and the other in the computer lab area lounge. Both libraries offer a wide selection of books on a variety of topics that students may find helpful and useful for their academic work and their experience in Rome. All books in both libraries are organized and divided by topic area and subject (i.e., History and Culture, Philosophy and Theology, Arts and Architecture, Literature, Political and Spiritual Reading, and others) and students are expected to put them back in the order they found them after done using them. In the computer lab area, there is also a selection of travel books, guides, maps, phrase books and dictionaries for anyone to use, free, provided that materials borrowed are returned in their original condition.

Kitchen and Dining Room
Students may not use the residence’s kitchen facilities (main kitchen and dishwasher room). No dishes may be taken from the student dining room. Meals may not be taken to student rooms, garden or other public areas of the building due to sanitary concerns. The kitchen anteroom has a refrigerator, microwave, purified water machine and a small cabinet and is available to students. Students are expected to use tables that have not been preset for dinner in the dining room for a snack or quick lunch, and they are expected to clean up when done eating. Students are responsible for cleaning the refrigerator in the anteroom at least once a week.

Elevator
The elevator in the residence is a service lift only. It is used by housekeeping staff and should not be used by students except on moving days or for medical reasons.