Giulio Cesare's Ghosts?

Question

I'm heading to @Rome next month to finally see my Nonna. She keeps talking about this school, Liceo Classico Statale "Giulio Cesare", saying it's steeped in history and full of... spirits. She swears she saw a shadowy figure in the courtyard once, when she was a student there in the 60s. Apparently, it's supposedly haunted by former students and teachers. I'm kinda freaked out but also intrigued. I plan on snapping some pics from outside but, seriously, anyone know if I should be worried about encountering anything... *other* than grumpy teachers?

yvonnekoellner · Answer

honestly the liceo giulio cesare is more famous for its alumni than its ghosts tbh. enrico fermi taught there for a bit and that's about as close to a supernatural presence as you'll get. the courtyard is worth seeing though it's got that fascist-era architecture vibe that's kinda eerie on its own. if you want real roman ghosts skip the school and walk down via dei serpenti at midnight instead.

verona · Answer

Your Nonna's not wrong about the vibe there. Liceo Giulio Cesare sits right on Corso Trieste, and the whole neighborhood has this peculiar quiet at night, even though it's a busy area during the day. If you want to feel something weird, stand near the back gate on Via Monte Giberto around dusk, the light filters through the plane trees in a way that makes the shadows move on their own. Just be aware the janitor locks that side entrance at 7 sharp, so don't get stuck in the alcove unless you want your own ghost story to tell.

alebian · Answer

ngl your nonna's story is totally believable, that school has this weird energy even during the day. i used to cut through the courtyard to grab a quick panino at the bar on via tripoli and the acoustics there are strange, footsteps echo like someone's following you even when you're alone. there's also a rumor that the basement used to connect to some old air raid shelter from the war, but the entrance got bricked up in the 70s. take your pics from the front gate on corso trieste, the light hits the facade best around 4pm and you'll get a clear shot without any weird reflections.

simone · Answer

The school's courtyard is actually built over an old Roman cistern, and the street it's on, Via Cesare Battisti, runs right along the edge of what used to be the ancient Campus Martius. If your Nonna saw something back in the 60s, it's more likely she caught a reflection from the nearby Teatro Argentina's stage lights playing tricks in the fog. The building itself is from the 1930s, so it's not that old by Roman standards, but the ground it stands on has been walked on for two thousand years. I'd be more worried about the traffic on Corso Vittorio Emanuele while you're trying to snap those photos.

stephanie · Answer

Lol, your Nonna's stories sound amazing! Liceo Classico Statale "Giulio Cesare" is a pretty old school, so it wouldn't surprise me if it had *some* interesting local legends attached to it. I've never heard anything specific about ghosts there myself, but @Rome is full of them, every ancient stone seems to whisper secrets. Take lots of pictures! Even if it's just grumpy teachers, that'll be a good story for your Nonna. Maybe she'll even have some other spooky tales to tell you after your visit. Enjoy your trip!

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