Travel within Italy By Sea

ROMA

The Eternal City, conjures up an idea of heat, traffic congestion, fashion and history. A well prepared trip to Rome will be remembered for a lifetime and you will most likely return. Piazza del Campidoglio,Rome

Undeniably the art and historic capital of the world reaching back over 2000 years much of which can still be seen today. Did Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome ever imagine the consequences the city would have lending its language, its laws, its calendar and even its faith to other countries and continents?

Archaeological evidence suggests simple farming community beginnings but legend states the brothers Romulus and Remus were the founders of the city. Romulus being the first of seven kings in 753BC.

Tourist Call Centre

0039 06 82059127
Mon - Sun
9 am to 7.30 pm

Home of the Pope is the Vatican City, it is also one of the most famous destinations for pilgrims of the Catholic faith. Starting in Piazza San Pietro where even the pious visitors will be amazed at the beauty of the architecture and artwork. Within the Aurelian walls there are 280 churches and miles of catacombs, all with splendid examples of Baroque but the most humble is Saint Maria in Cosmedin, which evokes the spirit of Rome.

Now with a population exceeding 3,000,000 it is truly a busy bustling city, but the afternoon is the time when the tourists have the city to themselves when they can sit in a shaded spot on the Aventine or Palatine and for a moment sense Rome's Charm, here you can see the history of human civilization on permanent display.

TRAVELLER's TIPS

Rome is best seen on foot with a good pair of walking shoes! Taxis can be expensive but are efficient. The bus/tram system is extensive; tickets must be purchased before boarding and can be bought at newsagents and tobacco shops. Tickets must be time stamped on board and are valid for 75 minutes.
Binoculars can prove to be invaluable in Rome as much of the best sights are on ceilings or on top of columns.
Sleeveless tops, shorts, mini skirts and other pieces of clothing allowing too much flesh to be seen will not be allowed in the churches and religious places around the city.

HOW TO GET THERE

Basilica di San PietroRome Fiumicino Airport - a 30-minute express train runs from the airport to Termini train station in the centre of Rome from 7.45 am to 10pm daily.
Rome Ciampino Airport - bus services connect passengers to the Termini Station in central Rome or to the Ciampino station where trains depart every 15 minutes for Termini Station.
Taxis - can be expensive, use only licensed white cabs

ROME TOURIST BOARD
Via Parigi, 11 - 00185 Roma. Tel. 00 39 06 488991. www.romaturismo.com
An excellent web site which also lays out two sight seeing itineraries, '48 and 96 hours to see Rome' to make the most of your short stay. Much information on the various buildings and attractions listed below can be found on their web site and you can subscribe to the newsletter 'The Happening City' emailed monthly, to find out what's going on.

NOT TO BE MISSED

Colosseum - Tickets needed to visit this site
Roman Forum - Free of charge
Piazza del Campidoglio -
Pantheon - Free of charge
Piazza Navona - illuminated at night
Trevi Fountain - particularly stunning at night
Piazza di Spagna -
The Vatican City - Vatican Tourist Office - on the left side of the piazza for maps and info. www.vatican.va for more information and prices on entrance fees to certain areas. Papal audiences - Wednesdays at 11am apply for free tickets a few weeks in advance in writing to Prefttura della Casa Pontificia, Citta' del Vaticano 00120 Roma.
Castel Sant'Angelo - Tickets required to visit the castle
Trastevere - Allow about 4 hours to leisurely cover the suggested walking routes.
Ostia Antica - A 15 minute metro ride followed by a 20 minute train ride to visit the archaeological site of the once main commercial port of Rome. Well preserved baths, temples and residential neighbourhood. A short walk from the station.
EUR - On the way back from Ostia Antica get off a couple of stops before Porto San Paolo to take a walk through EUR, the modern centre of Rome.
Centrale Montemartini - The most original coexistence of ancient and modern Rome, where more than 400 ancient statues are displayed in the 1912 public electrical power plant.
Borghese Gallery - Home of a fascinating artistic treasure chest, the art of Cardinal Scipione Borghese.
Catacombs and Appian Way - a short 15 minute bus journey from the centre.

SPECIAL SUGGESTIONS

Open-air market,Campo de' Fiori,RomeTo make your stay in Rome even more memorable
-Discover early Christian Rome along the Clivo di Scauro
-Visit the maze like streets of the Jewish Ghetto
-Browse in the antique shops of Via Giulia and Via dei Coronari
-Take part in the fascinating necropolis tour under St Peter's
-Enjoy the views from Castel Sant'Angelo and San Pietro in Montorio
-Visit Caravaggio's finest works at San Luigi dei Francesi
-Watch the sunset from the Pincio and then walk to the Spanish Steps
-Tour the Borghese Gardens by bike
-Have a picnic among the orange trees in Parco Savello on the Aventine Hill
-Throw a cent into the Trevi Fountain

WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK

Rome has many restaurants, osterie, tavole calde, trattorie and pizzerie, so many it makes for a tricky decision however whatever you choose look out for the following specialities on the menu...
Antipasti - various starter dishes including, salamis and cooked meats, olives and shellfish
Pasta - Spaghetti alla carbonara (tossed with raw beaten eggs and bacon), bucatini all'amatriciana (tomato sauce, bacon, chilli peppers and pecorino), penne all'arrabbiata (hot tomato sauce) or fettuccine al burro (noodles with a light butter and parmesan sauce)
Second courses - lamb or chicken alla cacciatore, saltimbocca (veal fillet with prosciutto and sage) coda alla vaccinara (stewed oxtail)
Abbacchio - baby lamb, capretto - kid, porchetta - suckling pig
Cheeses - ricotta, mozzarella
Desserts - Gelato (ice cream) or Macedonia (fresh fruit salad), Tiramisu
Wines
White - Frascati, Marino, Colli Albani, Velletri
Red - Torre Ercolana, Colle Picchioni, Castel San Giorgio, Fiorano, Maccarese, Cesanese

An Aperitivo is a vermouth with a shaving of lemon peel and ice such as Campari, Martini, or Aperol these can also be diluted with wine, water or juices. A prosecco is a dry white bubbly wine.
To finish your meal you can order a digestivo such as Sambuca, an Amaretto or a Strega.

Going out for the evening? - Nightlife is mainly concentrated in three areas each one offering different kinds of entertainment.
- The district between Piazza Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Navona has a wide choice of pubs and bars.
- The streets of Trastevere are full of typical Roman restaurants and bars hosting live shows and music.
- Most of the popular nightclubs are concentrated in the Testaccio area, in particular Via di Monte Testaccio and Via di Libetta

SHOPPING

Shopping, Via Condotti In general shops are closed on Monday mornings while food shops close on Thursday afternoons. Normal shop opening hours are 10am - 1pm and 4pm - 7pm in winter or 5pm - 8pm in the summer. Shops in the historic centre may stay open all day.
Fashion - The main shopping centres are on Via Condotti extending four blocks to Via della Croce in the north and Via del Corso in the south over to Piazza di Spagna to the east, this area is pedestrian, an atmosphere of hushed elegance. Less formal shopping districts include Via del Tritone and the streets around the Trevi Fountain where you can find cheap leather bags and shoes. Prezzi fissi means fixed prices and sconti means discounts.
Markets - Borgo Parioli open sat and sun for antiques
Mercato di Via Sannio - mon - sat 10am - 1pm new and second hand clothes and shoes sold at factory prices
Porta Portese - Flea market

Festivals
For correct dates and venues please visit www.romaturismo.com

La Notte Bianca - one Saturday night in September when all Rome stays awake all night. You can visit museums, galleries, or just walk in the city centre all night long.