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Who lives in Cassia
The Via Cassia is the ancient consular road heading north west out of Rome, and the suburbs strung along it, from the inner Cassia neighbourhoods out to La Storta and the gated estate of Olgiata, have become the natural home of the city's international school families. The character here is green and suburban: tree lined avenues, larger houses and villas with gardens, and a calmer pace than the dense historic centre. To see how the area fits the wider city, start with our international schools in Rome directory.
The corridor draws diplomatic families, employees of the international organisations based in Rome and expat households who prioritise space and proximity to the northern schools. Olgiata in particular is a large gated community popular with international families, while the inner Cassia neighbourhoods offer a mix of apartments and houses closer to the city. It is a practical, family first part of Rome rather than a tourist one.
Schools in and near Cassia
The Via Cassia is where Rome's major international schools concentrate. St George's British International School, founded in 1958 to serve the city's expatriate community, has its main campus at La Storta on the Via Cassia and teaches a British curriculum with the International Baccalaureate to pupils aged three to eighteen, drawing students from more than one hundred countries. Marymount International School sits just off the Via Cassia Antica on Via di Villa Lauchli, serving pupils from age two to eighteen with an American diploma and the International Baccalaureate.
The American Overseas School of Rome and other providers also lie within the northern belt, which is precisely why families settle along the corridor. Treat named schools as illustrative of the area rather than recommendations, and confirm curricula, stages and admissions directly. For the full list use the Rome schools directory, narrow by stage with our guide to primary schools in Rome, and shortlist with the school finder quiz.
Commute and catchment
Italy does not operate catchment areas for international schools, which admit by application, so living on the Via Cassia does not tie you to a particular school. The corridor's appeal is that it puts families within a short drive of the northern international schools, with St George's at La Storta and Marymount off the Via Cassia Antica both reachable without crossing the city.
The trade-off is the commute into central Rome. The Via Cassia can be slow at peak times, and the area is more car dependent than the metro served districts closer to the centre, with the Roma Nord railway and bus links supplementing the roads. Most families along the corridor run a car for the school run and for reaching the centre, and weigh the longer commute against the space and the proximity to schooling.
Housing and cost of living
Housing along the Via Cassia ranges from apartments in the inner Cassia neighbourhoods to detached houses and villas with gardens further out towards La Storta and within the Olgiata estate. This is some of the most family friendly housing stock in Rome, with the space and outdoor room that the historic centre cannot offer. Rents and prices vary widely along the corridor, with gated and villa properties in Olgiata at the upper end and inner apartments more moderate.
Before committing, model the full picture of rent, schooling and transport with our relocation cost calculator, and read the wider relocation guide for the visa, healthcare and setting up steps. Treat any specific figure as indicative and verify current asking rents before you budget, as the most sought after villas near the schools can carry a clear premium.
Family life
Family life along the Via Cassia is green and suburban. The area offers gardens and outdoor space at home, parks and sports clubs, and the kind of room for children that central Rome lacks, while the schools, supermarkets and everyday services are geared towards resident families rather than visitors. The Olgiata estate in particular has its own community feel, with sports and social facilities on the doorstep.
The trade-offs are distance and dependence on the car: the historic centre is a proper journey away rather than a metro hop, and life here is quieter and more residential than central Rome. For families who prioritise space, gardens and being close to the international schools over the buzz and charm of the old city, the Via Cassia corridor is the established choice. For more on where expat families base themselves, see our guide to the best areas to live in Rome for expat families.
Budget your move to Cassia
Model apartment rent, school fees and transport together before you commit to the area.
Open the relocation cost calculatorLiving in Cassia: FAQ
The Via Cassia corridor is Rome's international school belt. St George's British International School has its main campus at La Storta on the Via Cassia, teaching a British curriculum and the IB to ages three to eighteen, and Marymount International School sits off the Via Cassia Antica with an American diploma and the IB for ages two to eighteen. The American Overseas School of Rome is also in the northern belt. See the Rome directory for detail.
The Via Cassia suits families who want green suburban living, larger homes with gardens and a short run to the northern international schools. The trade-offs are a slower commute into central Rome and greater dependence on a car compared with the metro served central districts.
Italy does not use catchment areas, so living on the Via Cassia does not tie you to a school. The corridor sits close to the northern schools, but the road into central Rome can be slow at peak times and the area is more car dependent, with Roma Nord rail and bus links supplementing the roads.
Costs vary widely along the corridor, from more moderate inner Cassia apartments to villas and gated homes in Olgiata at the upper end. The most sought after villas near the schools carry a premium. Model rent, school fees and transport together with the relocation cost calculator before you commit.
Family life along the Via Cassia is green and suburban, with gardens, parks, sports clubs and schools and services geared to resident families, and the Olgiata estate offering its own community feel. The caveats are the distance from the historic centre and reliance on a car.