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Just as wrinkles trace the past and present story of a person, in a city like Rome through its old stores and ancient alleyways, you get the true feeling of its history and charm. Go through the shelves of an old delicatessen in search of ingredients that make the typical cuisine of the locals. These old shops lead us to observe details and pick-up perfumes and aromas unmatched anywhere else.

Do you enjoy going through old stores, little stalls and workshops? Rome is the place for you! The only thing you have to worry about is your luggage. The tendency is to go overboard and buy just about anything and everything that catches your fancy.

Would you like to visit a very typical suburb of Rome? Visit San Lorenzo! The stone work and marble and statues of all shapes and sizes are to be found there. Not to speak of the very characteristic name signs for old time mechanics. Very Roman in their attitude.

Now let’s venture into the very heart of Rome. Not far from Piazza Navona is Via de’ Coronari which is lined with antique shops and very expensive art stores. This is a very exclusive suburb of Rome recommended for the lucky few… Are you looking for rare prints, paintings and carpets? This is the place for you. Of course all credit cards are welcome and the sign “English is spoken” appears on most shop windows.

Window shopping is also enjoyable (considering the prices - one needs to be aware of real costs) since the varieties of objects one can buy are innumerable, from the most outrageous prices to the merely expensive. Remember - all that glitters is not gold!

At No. 198 of Via de’ Coronari is a tiny shop called “Il Collezionista” - the Collector - where tiny soldiers, old spectacles, important medals, old sewing machines and you name it, they have it, are displayed in “bellavista”.

A rocking horse, miniature car and a playful atmosphere is what your children will get if you go along to Via Metastasio No 17, near the Pantheon, where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will gladly cut your children’s hair.

Martina is a well known lady for her ability to fry fish and stuffed zucchini flowers in the real Roman way. How do you get there? It’s half way down Via de’ Giubbonari. It’s called Filettaro, which comes from fillets of fish.

Want a lunch time break? A pizza shop situated between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon serves the most delicious pizza of all times. Especially because you can choose from any possible topping at a very reasonable cost and take it away!

Tags: Rome, Rome Travel, Shopping Tips in Rome, Tourism in Rome, Travel and leisure, Travel Tips, Window Shopping
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Amalfi Coast - The most famous stretch of the Italian coastline lies south of Naples. It takes its name from the town that during the Middle Ages was one of the Italian Sea Republics and vied for supremacy at sea with Venice, Genoa and Pisa. The area is dotted with tiny little villages and larger towns like Positano, Ravello and Sorrento, located on hilly slopes facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. The visual impact is breathtaking as the colors of the houses create a unique contrast with the deep blue color of the sea.

Pompeii - Just imagine: its late in the evening, people are either going to sleep or doing their ordinary chores at home and all of a sudden there is a terrible noise, ashes and gas invade streets and houses; in a matter of minutes the whole city is dead. People have been caught unprepared and their bodies will remain forever in exactly their position at that time. This is what happened in Pompeii about 2000 years ago and now you can see casts that have been made of both men and animals, in addition to whole streets with buildings particularly well preserved.

Rome - The name is a synonym for ancient history, Christianity and beauty. Its impossible to describe in a few lines the marvels you can admire in the city. No doubt you are familiar with the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Bocca della Verita, Navona Square, the Pantheon, St. Peters Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. These, however, are just a few of the magnificent sights that are waiting for you when you come to Rome. You have to see it to believe it!

Florence - Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi, the Academy Gallery, the Old Bridge, Palazzo della Signoria, Michelangelo’s David and a host of other places and artistic masterpieces are probably familiar to people all over the world. All this and much more is Florence, a city that, together with the rest of Tuscany, gave the world so many magnificent artists who created the Renaissance and as many scientists who contributed immensely to the progress of Western Civilization. Think of astronomer Galileo Galilei, scientist and painter Leonardo da Vinci and 15-16th century navigator Amerigo Vespucci (he called America, after his own name, the newly discovered continent).

Chianti Region - A flask or bottle of Chianti may be found anywhere around the world. Its flavour is appreciated by millions of enthusiasts everywhere. This is really where the action is. A tour of the Chianti area will reveal to you what its vineyards look like, how the vines are trained and looked after and what wine production techniques have been developed to achieve such excellent results. Needless to say, the tour must comprise a wine-tasting event so that you may savour the best quality Chianti wine at its very origin.

Pisa - Piazza dei Miracoli, or Miracle Square, is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Once you are there, you realize why. In addition to the world-known Leaning Tower, three other marvelous buildings share the privilege of looking on to the square. They each represent a stage in mans life: the Baptistery, birth, the Cathedral, maturity, the Cemetery, death. The whole picture is extremely impressive and leaves visitors absolutely stunned for its impeccable layout and design.

Siena - Siena and its famous Palio, or Horse Race, are one and the same thing in peoples minds. Its true, the Palio is so important for Siena that the people from the various contrade, or wards, support their horses and jockeys to the extent that sometimes a wife and a husband will have disputes over their reciprocal representatives. However, there is much more to Siena than just the Palio. Its layout and the style of its buildings are typically Medieval. So, if you wish to see a city that is as close as possible to what it was like centuries ago, simply go to Siena.

Venice - Known the world over on account of its canals, Venice was established in the early Middle Ages and since then it has grown on the strips of land that, jutting out into the sea, form its canals. Venice had its heyday between the late Middle Ages and the 18th century. Small wonder that most of its finest buildings date from that period. It is really pointless to make an extensive list of them, but we must at least mention St. Mark’s Square which is the heart of the city and offers a splendid spectacle, with its Basilica, Clock-tower and Bell-tower.

Tags: Chianti, Florence, History, Rome, Rome Travel, Sightseeing, Tour of Italy, Touring, Travel, Vacations, Venice, Wine Tasting
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* Why would four soldiers fuss around a cannon piece placed on top of the Janiculum Hill in the centre of Rome? The answer is simple. It’s nearly 12 o’ clock and at noon they will be firing a shot, as has been done every day since 1847. At the time this practice was intended to enable people in Rome to set their clocks and watches at a standard time.

* Ever heard of the “most beautiful hole in Rome”? On top of the Aventine Hill - one of the seven hills of Rome - there is a garden known as ‘Giardino degli Aranci’, or Orange Garden, with a fabulous view of the city. At sunset, when the entrance gate closes, you can peep through the keyhole and have a breathtaking view of a line of trees and, lit in the background, St. Peter’s Dome.

* Learn how to always tell the truth! When touring Rome, one of the sights you can’t miss is the Bocca della Verita, or Mouth of the Truth. Everybody knows the story that in antiquity if you put your hand in there and you had committed a crime, your hand would fall off. This, though, was no coincidence: judges standing behind the wall would signal a man to cut off or let go of your hand. And people normally are not told that this masterpiece of Roman art was in fact the top of a sewer manhole originally placed in the Roman Forum!

* Roman Aqueducts: is this an ancient history lesson? Not at all! It’s modern-day Rome. Those glorious, huge structures you can admire along the Appian Way were in fact aqueducts bringing water to Rome. Below those arches the Romans also built other aqueducts and, strange as it may seem, these are still used to quench the thirst of today’s Romans - the water is excellent: it’s even bottled and exported - and to feed water to many Roman fountains.

* The “bewitched” climbing slope. Ever been driving downhill along a road and suddenly found yourself backing up or at least coming to a stop? You can have this experience along a road near Ariccia, in the vicinity of Rome! Don’t ask us why. All sorts of explanations have been given, but none really satisfactory. It’s fun to watch, though, a soccer ball or a tennis ball rolling back along the road!

* Have you ever stopped to think how giant machinery allows man to carry out fantastic jobs almost without any effort? Only a few centuries ago this was unthinkable. In 16th century Rome, for instance, one day they were trying to lift the obelisk currently standing in the middle of St. Peter’s Square. It was a strenuous job that required great concentration for the 800 workers involved. To ensure silence, the crowd had been told that anyone caught even simply talking would be condemned to death (the necessary scaffold had already been set up). Someone realized that the ropes were giving way and to help out the people on the job, cried out: WATER TO THE ROPES! The trick worked perfectly… and the man, far from being punished, was given a prize and a title!

* Piazza Navona is perhaps the square that Romans love most. According to one of the popular stories involving two famous Italian artists who worked there, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini were at loggerheads with each other and were anxious to show their feelings. So Bernini designed the fountains in the square in such a way that a statue representing the Nile seems to turn its back on the Church of St. Agnes built by Borromini and cover its eyes to avoid the sight of such a terrible-looking church.

* Have you ever heard of modern-day Romans’ laid back attitude to life, but also of their basically kind-hearted approach to other people’s problems? Here is something for you to think about. Carol Wojtyla, who was in Rome for the conclave after the death of his predecessor, was delayed by a hitch and was looking desperately for a lift to the Vatican. A passing bus driver who was going back to his depot was puzzled to see a priest thumbing a ride and stopped to find out. When he heard what was happening, he decided off his own bat to take him straight to the Vatican on his bus. The grateful Wojtyla, now a Pope, got in touch with him some time later to thank him for allowing that unknown priest to become a Pope.

* Do you think that highways are a modern invention? Think twice. Over 2000 years ago the Romans had their version of highways. They certainly didn’t have vehicles hurtling along at breakneck speed or gas stations, but they did have a road network that even these days would be second to none in length (thousands of miles) or quality (many stretches of Roman roads are still partly in use or have been used as tracks for new highways). They were also fairly sophisticated: they had service areas where people could relax or rest during their trip, facilities to change horses and a sort of diners where you could have a full hot meal or take it away with you in hot stone containers to be left at the next service area.

* There is a street in Rome named Via del Porto di Ripetta (Port of Ripetta Street). What has this peculiar name got to do with Rome? The answer is that in Roman times ships could sail up to the city because Rome was 11 kilometers closer to the sea (the Tiber has discharged huge quantities of silt and sand at its mouth over the years) and the Tiber was navigable. Perhaps it will be possible to sail up the river again before long if the mayor of Rome has it his way: he is pressing for it.

Tags: Excursions, Family Vacations, Historic sights, Rome, Rome Tours, Rome Travel, Rome Vacations, Sightseeing, Touring, Travel, Travel and leisure, Travel Tips, Travelling in Italy
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During your tour of Rome, you wont need to have a lot of money with you. First take a maximum of 50 Euros cash in your wallet, let’s say in 5 and 10 Euro bills. Find another safer place for the rest of your money, credit cards and documents (i.e. money belt, socks, shoes) ” NEVER keep them in your handbag or purse.

Before entering a restaurant in Rome have a look at the price list (usually its on a stand outside the restaurant). Please keep in mind that a cover charge is always applied.

Rome is a lovely place for shopping (fashion clothes, shoes, souvenirs, etc.). Let yourself go, but remember that, if the store has a ‘Tax Free’ sign and you spend at least 150 Euros there, you should ask for the document stating that you have paid the full tag price. When leaving the European Continent for the U.S., you will have to produce said document at the ‘Tax Free’ desk at the airport to obtain a refund of the 12 % European VAT Tax.

Not all taxi drivers are licensed for the job. Always take taxis bearing the ‘Taxi’ sign and ask the driver if he is will give you the receipt at the end of the trip.

In case of an emergency you may need to contact someone urgently for assistance. Keep on yourself a list of contacts you can get in touch with at all times - best if they speak Italian and English.

Before leaving home, make sure you arrange with your mobile provider the activation of international roaming. You phone will then work automatically on your arrival in Rome.

As far as possible pre-pay all the services that you will require during your tour of Rome. You will then know exactly what your costs are. In any case, if necessary, always change your currency at a bank: you will avoid possible problems.

Selecting the right tour operator abroad is essential to have a top-notch tour in Rome. Here are a few things you should check. They should give you their street address, a phone number you can contact, their email address their VAT and Tour Operator License numbers and should be prepared to provide you with a 24-hour emergency mobile number.

This is just something that travellers from the U.S. and Canada should know. Visitors from outside the European Union are entitled to free or near-free medical treatment at Italian hospitals in case of an emergency.

For your information, the phone number of the U.S. Embassy in Via Vittorio Veneto 121, Rome is 0039 06 4674 5929 and the phone number of the Canadian Embassy in Via Zara 30, Rome is 0039 06 854441.

Tags: Rome, Rome Tours, Rome Travel, Shore Excursions in Rome, Sightseeing Tour of Rome, Travel, Travel and leisure, Travel in Italy, Travel Tips
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Rome’s Archo di Constantino, also called the Arch of Constantine in English, was built to commemorate the victory of Emperor Constantine over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Built in 315 CE, this is the most recent still extant truimphal arch in the city.

The arch is an impressive twenty one meters high, twenty-five and a half meters wide and nearly seven and a half meters deep, sporting three distinctive archways. The center one is eleven and a half meters wide and six and a half meters wide, and is the largest of the set, flanked by smaller arches.

The design is similar to the Arch of Septimus Severus, located on the Roman Forum. Both include a main section with detached columns, and an attic, or upper portion (not the top part of the house, as we use the term today). The attic sports a main inscription.

A visit to the famous arch is simple to do in Rome. Located across the ancient Road of Triumph, or Via Triumphalis - the road used by victorious emperors returning to the city - this arch says a lot about what Constantine wanted his rivals to think.

The arch is near to the Colossum, and can be easily visited by taking the Metro. It’s easy to add the Arch of Constantine into a tour of the ancient ruins of Rome, too, since there are many in this part of the city.

Depending on the angle and lighting you’re viewing the arch from, you may notice that some parts are a different color, and that it looks like it’s made out of different kinds of stone.

This is because the Arch of Constantine wasn’t built from scratch - it was made from other monuments in Rome. Borrowed pieces are especially evident in the lower portion of the arch.

The lower portion of the arch is solid marble blocks, with a staircase located high up in the thickness of the arch and hard to access from the ground. The attic is brick with a marble facing.

Some people have said that this kind of borrowing was done in order to make construction go faster or to make up for the lack of skill of builders. It’s hard to say exactly why the arch was made this way, but it provides another interesting historical detail.

The arch itself ended up as part of another building in the Middle Ages, when it became part of a family stronghold. It wasn’t until the eighteenth century that people began to excavate and restore it, with the last restoration happening in the late 1990s.

Your trip to Rome will probably include a number of ancient structures, so don’t forget to include the Arch of Constantine. While you’re near the Colossum, take a few moments to appreciate this interesting piece of Rome’s history.

Tags: Italy, Rome, Rome Travel, The Arch of Constantine, Tourism
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Some people say that Rome casts a magic spell on many of its visitors. Judging by the movie Roman Holiday, that’s definitely the case. Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, the two main characters, though from widely different origins, manage to fall in love with each other and when they finally have to part, the lovely time spent together in the Eternal City is a lovely memory for both to retain.

Federico Fellinis 1960 movie La Dolce Vita was quite popular at the time in the States. This was not so much because of its social contents, but on account of the views of Rome that were included in the film. In a famous scene Anita Ekberg walks straight into Trevi Fountain - and to stardom: this has become a classic scene in the history books of the world’s movie industry. Not surprising, seeing that Fellini himself adored Rome, which was not his native city (he was born in northern Italy)and yet seemed to suit him perfectly.

If you have ever been to Rome or simply read any travel books on Rome, you must come across the habit of foreign travellers to throw a coin into Trevi Fountain in the hope that their wish to return to Rome will come true. In 1954 Jean Negulesco directed a charming movie titled Three Coins In The Fountain referring to this tradition. Obviously there are many scenes of showing parts of Rome that are dear to the hearts of those who have seen the city and… to those who wish they will.

Are you familiar with the 1959 historical colossal movie Ben Hur? Its director, William Wyler, only a few years before had shot Roman Holiday and, quite clearly, fallen in love with Rome. So he decided to set the first “colossal” in movie history in Ancient Rome. The scenes were all shot in Cinecitta - Rome’s “Holliwood” studios - but they are so realistic that you feel as if you are literally stepping back in the past. The glorious, if occasionally cruel, days of ancient Rome are perfectly re-enacted.

Have you seen The Talented Mr. Ripley? If so, where is it set? The answer will probably be, mostly in Italy. Do you realize, though, that some scenes were actually shot in Rome? They certainly were, in a tiny square called Piazza Mattei. This square is known to all Romans as Turtle Fountain Square because of the lovely fountain in its centre.

If you ask anybody what is the movie of Ancient Rome that they recall best, probably the answer is The Gladiator. Believe it or not, this movie, that provides a complex picture of power, love, hatred, greatness and cruelty, was not shot in Rome at all. Still, Ridley Scott - who also directed Blade Runner - managed to create an atmosphere and a physical reconstruction of Ancient Rome that very closely resembles the true original. Russell Crowe fits the part perfectly and so do all the other actors in the movie.

Ever been to Rome? If you are planning to go there you can’t miss visiting Trastevere. This is an ancient suburb in the very heart of Rome that for anyone living or visiting this magic city is an absolute must! Norman Jewison shared this opinion when he set his 1994 movie Only You partly also in Trastevere.

Tags: entertainment, Movies, recreation, Rome, Rome Sightseeing, Rome Travel, Touring in Rome, Travel
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