This course is designed for students who wish to refine their Italian language skills and learn about contemporary Italian culture and society while exploring the neighborhoods of Rome off the beaten tracks. Each unit is introduced through clips from movies, historic documentaries, or passages from literary texts as well as songs, offering students a wide variety of authentic sources to develop their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The course includes visits to the neighborhoods under study, during which students will conduct guided observations, interaction with locals, guided research, and cultural "scavenger hunts".