Travel Guide Rome Seven hills and a thousand discoveries to make
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Travel Guide
Rome
Seven hills and a thousand discoveries to make
02 Quick view 05 Top 10 sights 11 GEO Tip
02 Italy 07 Shopping in Rome 12 Best of...
04 Travel etiquette 07 Restaurants 14 24 hours in ...
04 Health 08 Nightlife
04 Phone calls & Internet 09 Calendar of events
05 Getting around Rome 10 Hotels
© Luciano Mortula/shutterstock
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Quick view
Rome: Seven hills and a thousand discoveries to make
Roma, non basta una vita! so the popular saying goes. It means, in Rome, one
lifetime is not enough – there’s simply too much to see, eat and experience. Here
you’ll find the great icons of the Western world: the Colosseum, the Forum, the
Pantheon and St Peter’s Cathedral. Layered atop are neighbourly medieval
piazzas, Renaissance palaces and baroque churches and fountains, each corner
revealing priceless Bernini sculptures and haunting ruins.
Unfazed by it all, Romans go about their daily business. Take a leaf out of their
book: choose selectively and then soak up the dolce vita vibe by lingering over
long, lazy lunches and romantic evening aperitivo.
Italy
General Information
Country overview
Despite incessant praise, travelling in Italy remains one of those rare experiences
in life – like a perfect spring day or the power of first love – that cannot be
overrated. In few places do history, art, fashion, food and la dolce vita (the good
life) intermingle so effortlessly.
There are sunny isles and electric blue surf, glacial northern lakes and fiery
southern volcanoes, rolling vineyards and an urban landscape that harbours more
UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country in the world. Few places
offer such variety and few visitors leave without a fervent desire to return.
Geography
Italy is situated in Europe, with a long coastline of approximately 7,600km (4,720
miles) stretching into the Mediterranean Sea and a mountainous northern border
adjoining France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. This northern Alpine region
contains some of the highest peaks in Europe and is a good area for winter sports.
In central Italy, Tuscany has a diverse landscape composed of fertile rolling hills,
lush river valleys, minor mountain ranges and a long sandy coastline. To the east
is Umbria, known as the ‘green heart of Italy'; hilly with broad plains, olive groves
and pines, and Le Marche – a region of gentle mountains, rivers and small fertile
plains.
Further south lies Rome, Italy's capital city. Within its precincts is the Vatican City.
The south of the country is hotter, wilder and much, much drier than the north,
characterised by dry sierras, rocky mountain ranges and volcanic outcrops,
including three of Europe’s most active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli.
Puglia, the ‘heel of the boot', is a mixed landscape of fertile plateaus, expansive
olive groves and flat, ochre-coloured plains. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia lie
offshore to the southwest and west respectively.
General knowledge
Key facts
Area: 301340 sq km (116348 sq miles).
Population: 60.5 million (2015).
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Population density: 204.0 per sq km.
Capital: Rome.
Language
The state language is Italian. South Tyrol is officially a bilingual province, where
German is the language mainly spoken. In Trentino, Ladin is taught in some
schools.
Currency
Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100,
50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and
1 cents.
Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the two round-pin type.
Public holidays
In addition to public holidays, local feast days are held in honour of town patron
saints, generally without closure of shops and offices.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2019 – December 2020 period.
2019
Capodanno (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2019
Epifania (Epiphany): 6 January 2019
Pasqua (Easter Sunday): 21 April 2019
Lunedì dell’Angelo (Easter Monday): 22 April 2019
Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day): 25 April 2019
Festa del Lavoro (Labour Day): 1 May 2019
Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day): 2 June 2019
Assunzione di Maria Vergine (Assumption): 15 August 2019
Tutti i santi (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2019
Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception): 8 December 2019
Natale (Christmas Day): 25 December 2019
Santo Stefano (St. Stephen’s Day): 26 December 2019
2020
Capodanno (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2020
Epifania (Epiphany): 6 January 2020
Pasqua (Easter Sunday): 12 April 2020
Lunedì dell’Angelo (Easter Monday): 13 April 2020
Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day): 25 April 2020
Festa del Lavoro (Labour Day): 1 May 2020
Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day): 2 June 2020
Assunzione di Maria Vergine (Assumption): 15 August 2020
Tutti i santi (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2020
Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception): 8 December 2020
Natale (Christmas Day): 25 December 2020
Santo Stefano (St. Stephen’s Day): 26 December 2020
All information subject to change.
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Travel etiquette
How to fit in
Social conventions
The social structure is heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic Church and,
generally speaking, family ties are stronger than in most other countries in Western
Europe. Normal social courtesies should be observed. Dress is casual but smart in
most places, and beachwear should be confined to the beach. Conservative
clothes are expected when visiting religious buildings and smaller, traditional
communities.
Formal wear is usually indicated on invitations. Smoking is prohibited in public
buildings, transport and cinemas. When visiting an Italian home for dinner, bring a
small gift of sweets or chocolate, and dress well. Let your host lead when sitting
and starting the meal. Take a small portion of what’s on offer as you will surely be
cajoled into having another helping. If you do not want more wine, leave your glass
full so it cannot be refilled.
Health
Health
Main emergency number: 112
Food & Drink
Tap water is generally safe to drink. Bottled water is available. The inscription
'Acqua Non Potabile' means water is not drinkable. Milk is generally pasteurised
and dairy products are safe for consumption. Past outbreaks of brucellosis in
southern regions means unpasteurised buffalo mozzarella is best avoided. Local
meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are considered safe to eat.
Other Risks
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also recommends vaccinations for
measles, mumps, rubella, polio and hepatitis B.
Contractual physician of Lufthansa
Dr. Heinz, Andreas
Via della Stazione di San Pietro 45
00165 Rome
Italy
Tel. +39-06-39387984
Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it
bear the cost of any treatment.
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone & Internet
Telephone
Country code: +39
Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway
and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without
incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for
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phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do
apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on
data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your
country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the
new arrangement.
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using
public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all
passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or
security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.
Getting around Rome
Getting around
Public Transport
Rome’s two-line metro system is of limited use to travellers. It’s easier to get
around on foot, or use the city’s extensive bus and tram system, which is operated
by ATAC (tel: +39-6/57 003; www.atac.roma.it). Single tickets are valid for one
metro ride or 75 minutes. Daily and three-day passes are better value. Tickets are
purchased from vending machines and newsstands and need to be validated at
the metro gate or in the machines onboard buses and trams.
Taxis
Pick up cabs at designated ranks. Taxis can be booked over the phone, and are
metered as soon as you book. Try Radio Taxi (tel: +39-6/35 70) or La Capitale (tel:
+39-6/49 94). Tipping isn’t necessary.
Top 10 sights
Top 10 sights in Rome
Città del Vaticano (Vatican City)
Built above the tomb of A-list apostle St Peter is Rome’s iconic basilica, forming
the epicentre of the Vatican complex that incorporates Michelangelo’s world-
famous Sistine Chapel frescoes and an exhausting feast of art in its adjoining
museums.
Piazza San Pietro mv.vatican.va
00120 Vatican City
Italy
Tel: +39-06/69 88 46 76
Museo e Galleria Borghese
If you only have time for one art museum make it this one, housing the heavenly
private collection of bon vivant Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577-1633).
Piazzale del Museo Borghese Opening times:
00197 Rome Tue-Sun 0830-1930
Italy
Tel: +39-06/ 84 13 979 www.galleriaborghese.it
Musei Capitolini
The world’s oldest public museum, the Capitoline is crammed with Rome’s finest
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classical statuary as well as paintings by Titian, Tintoretto and Rubens. The iconic
She Wolf, depicting the city’s suckling twins Romulus and Remus, is shown in the
Palazzo di Conservatori.
Piazza del Campidoglio 1 Opening times:
00186 Rome Tue-Sun 0900-2000
Italy
Tel: +39-06/06 08 www.museicapitolini.org
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Still home to the aristocratic Pamphilj family, this 15th-century palace is lined with
masterpieces, which you can tour with a free audio guide narrated by resident
Jonathan Pamphilj, who will fill you in on all the palace scandal.
Via del Corso 305 Opening times:
00186 Rome Daily 0900-1900
Italy
Tel: +39-06/67 97 323 www.doriapamphilj.it
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
Wander amid a painted garden of climbing roses and pomegranates and sample
the good taste of Roman burghers Augustus and his wife Livia Drusilla who
commissioned these outstanding frescos.
Largo di Villa Peretti 1 www.coopculture.it/heritage.cfm?id=58
00187 Rome
Italy
Tel: 06 3996 7700
Palatine Hill
This gorgeous hillside shaded by towering pines was the Beverly Hills of ancient
Rome. The chosen suburb of emperors and celebrities, its ruined villas and
gardens make for a wonderful wander with atmospheric views over the Forum.
Via di San Gregorio 30 www.coopculture.it/heritage.cfm?id=4
00186 Rome
Italy
Tel: +39-06/39 96 77 00
Via Appia Antica
This cobblestone highway, which once linked Rome with the Adriatic port of
Brindisi, is lined with creepy Christian catacombs. Tour them to see the graves of
16 pontiffs and faded frescos of saints Peter and Paul dating back 1,600 years.
Via Appia Antica
Rome
Italy
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Despite its bombastic baroque makeover, this gleaming cathedral is Rome’s oldest
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basilica, founded by Constantine in the 4th century. It’s full of surprising treasures
including a fabulous Cosmati tiled floor.
Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano 4 Opening times:
00184 Rome Daily 0700-1830
Italy
Tel: +39-06/69 88 64 33
Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma (MACRO)
MACRO’s combination of industrial and contemporary architecture provides the
perfect showcase for post-war Italian and international modern art.
Via Nizza 138 Opening times:
00198 Rome Tue-Sun 1030-1900
Italy
Tel: +39-06/06 08 www.museomacro.org
Trastevere
Hop over the Tiber to sample Rome’s ‘left bank’ counter culture amid the cobbled
alleys, galleries and bars of Trastevere. It’s less about blockbuster sights here and
more about soaking up the vibe.
Piazza di Santa Maria, Trastevere
00153 Rome
Italy
Shopping in Rome
Shopping in Rome
Key Areas
Via Condotti is Rome’s designer strip, with similarly upmarket tributaries running
off Piazza di Spagna. For something more authentic, check out the independent
boutiques along Via del Governo Vecchio in the historic centre and in the Monti
district. Antique and art stores line Via Margutta, Via dei Banchi Vecchi and Via dei
Coronari, the latter famous for its antiques fair, while high-street labels concentrate
on Via del Corso and Via Nazionale.
Markets
Rome’s biggest and busiest markets are the enormous Porta Portese Flea Market
in Trastevere, the Trionfale food market in Prati and the Testaccio covered market
near MACRO. A smaller, more picturesque market is the Campo dei Fiori food
market in the historic centre.
Shopping Centres
Shopping in Rome is all about small independent stores. Of the few shopping
malls that exist, the art nouveau Galleria Alberto Sordi is the most convenient on
Via del Corso. Otherwise, the enormous RomaEst (romaest.cc) is situated 20km
(12 miles) east of town.
Restaurants
Restaurants in Rome
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Roman cuisine is rustic and earthy, and the city teems with small, family-run
trattorias, wine bars and pizza take-outs.But while old-school flavours still
dominate, new-school chefs are sexing them up with increasingly creative twists.
Glass Hostaria
Trastevere’s foremost dining address combines modern décor and inventive
cooking.
Vicolo del Cinque 58 Price: Luxurious
00153 Rome
Italy
Open Colonna
New Roman cooking in a stunning glass-roofed dining room in the Palazzo delle
Esposizioni.
Via Milano 9 Price: Luxurious
00184 Rome
Italy
Armando al Pantheon
Wood-panelled Armando has been serving traditional Roman dishes for over 50
years.
Salita dei Crescenzi 31 Price: Moderate
00186 Rome
Italy
Palatium Enoteca Regionale
A rich showcase of regional wines accompany artisanal cheeses and trad slow-
roast pork.
Via Frattina 94 Price: Moderate
00187 Rome
Italy
Pizzarium
A gourmet surprise masquerading as a simple takeaway.
Via della Meloria 43 Price: Budget
00136 Rome
Italy
Nightlife
Nightlife in Rome
Rome’s drinking dens range from dressy lounge bars to grungy counter-culture
hangouts. Between 6pm and 9pm most of them offer aperitivo (drinks accompanied
by a free buffet food bar).Later, the scene moves on to clubs in Trastevere,
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Testaccio and Ostiense.
Stravinskij Bar
Impossibly romantic cocktail bar in the celeb-magnate Hotel de Russie.
Via del Babuino 9
00187 Rome
Italy
Lettere Caffè
A bookshop, bar and gallery hosting live gigs, jazz, comedy and new wave DJ
sets.
Vicolo di San Francesco a Ripa 100-
101
00153 Rome
Italy
Tel: +39 06 97 27 09 91
Circolo degli Artisti
Rome’s best club offering top gigs and DJ sets as well as a cool garden bar.
Via Casilina Vecchia 42
00182 Rome
Italy
Conte Staccio
Under-the-stars dancing and gigs featuring emerging groups.
Via di Monte Testaccio 65b
00153 Rome
Italy
Calendar of events
Calendar of events
Natale di Roma (Rome's birthday)
Not every city celebrates its birthday, but Rome does on 21 April each year. It was
Romulus, suckled by a she-wolf as an infant, who went on to found the city in
753BC. Romans today celebrate the event with bands on Piazza del Campidoglio
and fireworks over the River Tiber.
21 April 2019
Venue: Aventine Hill
RomaEuropa Festival
Dedicated to featuring the very best contemporary artistic performances in the
fields of music, theatre, opera and dance, the RomaEuropa festival is a huge
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cultural undertaking. Performances by emerging and leading international artists
are showcased in special locations throughout the city as well as the main arts
centre, the Auditorium Parco della Musica.
September - December 2019
www.romaeuropa.net
Venue: Auditorium Parco della Musica
Rome International Film Festival
A real red-carpet event, Rome’s film festival showcases a varied programme of
international premieres, documentaries, retrospectives, exhibitions, concerts and
live shows. Inaugurated in 2006, it draws a bevy of A-list celebrities such as Martin
Scorcese, Meryl Streep and Susan Sarandon as well as local stars such as
Monica Bellucci.
October 2019
www.romacinemafest.it/
Christmas Mass
One of the largest churches in the Christian world, the 16th-century St Peter’s
Basilica in Rome provides a moving setting for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
Each Christmas Eve the Pope gives Midnight Mass in St Peter’s Square. Attended
by a vast crowd of pilgrims, the speech is broadcast to over 40 countries.
24. December 2019
www.papalaudience.org/papal-mass
Venue: St Peter's Basilica
Hotels
Hotels in Rome
Rome’s outward beauty can often mask overpriced, under-serviced hotels. While
five-star beauties are thick on theground, you’ll need to look harder for good-value
mid-range options and book early, particularly in summer.
Lord Byron
An art deco beauty situated on the north side of the Borghese Park.
Via Giuseppe de Notaris 5 Category: Luxurious
00197 Rome
Italy
Hotel Farnese
Boutique rooms in a neoclassical villa with rooftop views of St Peter’s dome.
Via Alessandro Farnese 30 Category: Moderate
00192 Rome
Italy
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Residenza Domiziano
Sleek, stylish modern digs within walking distance of Piazza Navona and the
Spanish Steps.
Via San Nicola da Tolentino 50 Category: Moderate
00187 Rome
Italy
Domus Colosseo Hotel
Baroque furniture and walls dressed in yellow silk give the Romance Hotel a
gilded sheen.
Via Marco Aurelio 37A Category: Moderate
00184 Rome
Italy
Amica Roma B&B
This friendly B&B provides a home from home in pretty Prati.
Via Antonio Baiamonti 2 Category: Budget
00195 Rome
Italy
GEO Tip
Discover Rome in a Fiat 500
Discover Rome in a Fiat 500
Whenever Alvise di Giulio brings his colorful Fiat 500s out of the basement garage,
he gleans envious glances from locals and tourists alike: The Italian entrepreneur
offers city tours in his small vintage cars (rome500exp.com). His guests take the
wheel and drive past the city’s famous attractions while Alvise explains via walkie-
talkie what can be seen to right and left, although most drivers are busy enough
simply coping with Rome’s traffic. The highlight of the tour is when the drivers
come to circle the Colosseum. For those who prefer to travel on two wheels rather
than four, a similar tour but on vintage Vespas, also run by Alvise, is also an option.
Mehr auf GEO.de
http://www.geo.de/reisen/reiseziele/13612-rtkl-italien-sechs-ideen-rom-anders-zu-
erleben
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Best of...
... modern Rome
imago
Rome’s historical center is included as an ensemble among UNESCO’s World
Heritage Sites. Some 25,000 places of historical and archeological interest are
said to be located within this protected area. Is there even room here for
contemporary architecture? It certainly isn’t easy to find, since plans for modern
additions to the city center are regularly met with obstruction:For one thing,
remnants of Roman and medieval buildings are still hidden in the ground so that
any excavation work can become a costly undertaking, and for another, not only
local political dramas and protests, but also construction and funding glitches can
make ambitious projects quite an ordeal to realize. Obstacles notwithstanding, in
the past 20 years star architects like Richard Meier and Renzo Piano have done
their bit toward creating Rome’s new image. We bring you six spectacular works.
Macro Museum for Contemporary Art
Red and black: A lipstick-red auditorium and a former brewery hall painted matte
black form the core of the new exhibition rooms of the Macro Museum. Parisian
architects Odile Decq and Benoît Cornette used contrasts and color to create
smooth transitions between the museum’s different levels, the old substance of the
industrial building and the new core, the abstract art garden on the roof and the
exhibitions rooms on different floors. The permanent exhibition includes
postmodern Italian art that spans the works of the Forma 1 group to those of the
Nuova Scuola Romana of Piero Pizzi Cannella, Marco Tirelli et al. The museum’s
bathrooms provide an eccentric highlight with washbasins set in a central block of
white plastic and equipped with motion detectors, which not only dispense water
and hot air, but also produce a crazy flashing of red lights.
Via Nizza, 138-140 www.museomacro.org/
00198 Rome
Italy
MAXXI National Museum of XXI (21st) Century Arts
Is it the art or the building in which it is housed that’s the star of the show at the
MAXXI museum? Visitors to the museum are initially fascinated by the
passageways, corners and loops formed by the concrete inside the building. The
Romans call it “tagliatelle” because the building designed by Zaha Hadid
(seemingly) features the same lack of order as a plate of pasta. Beginning in the
foyer, staircases wind upward, walls curve, light channels flow along ceilings. After
recovering from the impression of the foyer, visitors enter the first of the five
galleries intended for architectural exhibits. Ramps and stairs lead into the other
galleries, which offer ever-new spaces and corners for artworks. The high point of
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the museum is gallery number 5, nearly 23 meters up, which extends out over the
piazza and affords fascinating views. Tip for people who enjoy a sense of vertigo:
There’s a window set into the floor through which you can see down into gallery
number 3.
Via Guido Reni, 2 www.maxxi.art/en/
00196 Rome
Italy
Jubilee Church Dio Padre Misericordioso
Light comes from a divine source, but few modern buildings use it to such virtuosic
effect as the Dio Padre Misericordioso church, or “Jubilee Church.” The American
architect Richard Meier built it in the Tor Tre Teste district on the outskirts of Rome
as one of 50 new churches in a millennium project sponsored by the Archdiocese
of Rome. By day, the church’s interior is flooded with natural light that enters
between three pure-white concrete sails – representing the Holy Trinity – and
illuminates the altar of white Roman travertine. From the outside, the building is a
magnificent sight, especially at night, when the interior is illuminated and its
sculptural lines are accentuated. So whatever time of day you choose to visit, your
lengthy journey will certainly be rewarded.
Largo Terzo millennio 8 www.diopadremisericordioso.it/
00155 Rom
Italy
Museum Ara Pacis
The new museum building designed by Richard Meier encloses the Ara Pacis
Augustae, the Emperor Augustus’ altar dating from the year 9 B.C.E., which is
dedicated to Pax, the Roman goddess of peace. Fragments of the altar had been
scattered across the world since its discovery in the 16th century C.E. It was not
until Mussolini commissioned it – for propaganda purposes – that the fragments
were pieced together again and the altar was exhibited, starting in 1938, in a
specially created building on Piazza Augusto. Of that structure only one wall
remains. Like those of Meier’s new building, it was made of Roman travertine (a
type of limestone). The building with its glass facade 13 meters high and 50 meters
long and floor space of 4000 square meters was for a long time one of the most
controversial construction projects in Rome. The question of whether it disfigures
or enhances the historical old town sparked many a heated debate.
Lungotevere in Augusta en.arapacis.it/
00186 Rom
Italy
Eataly Center
When Italy was chosen to be the host country for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, a new
rail connection had to be created between Fiumicino Airport and downtown Rome.
Spanish architect Julio Lafuente was commissioned with the design of an
extension to the terminal train station Ostiense. What he created was the Air
Terminal, the name and look of which recall an airport building. But the rail link
concept was not viable in the long run resulting in the station being incorporated
into the subway network. The elegant terminal building stood empty for some time,
but since 2012, not only has the train station has been rediscovered, for long-
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distance services, but also the neighboring four-story terminal building. The slow-
food chain Eataly opened a gourmet temple for regional produce there, with small
theme restaurants, an in-house brewery and specialty stores selling Italian
delicacies. The choice is huge and the shopping convenient, especially when you
consider that the Romans have always traditionally bought their groceries at small
inner-city delis.
Piazzale 12 Ottobre 1492 www.eataly.net/it_it/negozi/roma/
00154 Rom
Italy
24 hours in ...
Ancient Rome
© Mauritius images
09:00 a.m. – Hotel Art Rome
Hotel bookings in Rome often come down to sheer luck since hotel ratings are just
one of the mysteries of the Eternal City. For those who dislike noisy night-time
disruptions and want a break from the hustle and bustle of the ancient sites and
artworks of Rome, this boutique hotel, with its modern and colourful interior design,
is the perfect choice. The hotel offers spacious rooms and is exceptionally quiet by
Roman standards. Another plus: The walking tour of the city starts (almost) at its
doorstep.
Via Margutta 56 www.hotelartrome.com/
00187 Rome
Italy
Tel.: +39-06/32 87 11
10:00 a.m. – Piazza di Spagna
After a short stroll from the hotel, you’ll find yourself at the Piazza di Spagna with
the Scalinata delle Trinità dei Monti (English: Spanish Steps). The set of steps
leads from the square and the babbling Fontana della Barcaccia to the Trinità dei
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Monti church. Later in the day, the steps are a popular meeting and vantage point,
so much so that their beautifully curved structure is almost totally obscured.
Piazza di Spagna
00196 Rome
Italy
12:00 p.m. – View from Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill)
The tour now takes you southwards by bus or on foot to the large Piazza Venezia.
From this busy traffic junction, you can head either in the direction of the Piazza del
Campidoglio with the town hall, the Senatorial Palace and the Musei Capitolini, or
the terrace with the monumental Monumento Vittorio Emanuele II, which offers a
stunning view over the Fori Imperiali.
Piazza del Campidoglio
00186 Rome
Ital
01:00 p.m. – Forum Romanum and Palatino (Palatine
Hill)
On the way up the Palatine Hill you leave the Forum Romanum behind you to your
left before being greeted by the view from the hill to the Forum. Take a moment to
appreciate the impressive size of this location, which once formed the very heart of
the Roman Empire. The hottest hours of the day can be spent quite pleasantly
among the gardens and ruins of the Palatine Hill.
Piazza Santa Maria Nova
00186 Rome
Italy
03:00 p.m. – Colosseum
At the Colosseum, near the entrance to the metro station, you can find one of over
2,000 Roman nasoni, public drinking fountains where any passer-by can help
themselves. If you’re starting to feel hungry at this point, there are plenty of cafés to
choose from in the side streets of the Via di San Giovanni in Laterano. The
Colosseum, once the scene of gladiator fights, is considered the largest structure of
ancient times – so to view the enormous amphitheatre, you will need to get your
strength up.
Piazza del Colosseo
00184 Rome
Italy
05:00 p.m. – Parco del Colle Oppio
If visiting the Colosseum is a bit too much for you, simply take a short detour to the
Parco del Colle Oppio. Its location on the Monte Esquilio may not be the most
beautiful in Rome, but it certainly boasts the best views of the Colosseum. In it, you
will find the ruins of Emperor Nero’s Domus Aurea (Golden House), the largest and
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most lavish of the ancient palaces.
Viale del Monte Oppio
00184 Rome
Italy
06:00 p.m. – Visit to a gelateria
It’s now finally time to treat yourself to some real Italian gelato. Near the impressive
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, you will find what is reported to be the oldest ice cream
parlour in Rome, Gelateria Fassi. One thing is certain: it is one of the most popular
in the city. The gelateria was founded in 1880 and is still under family ownership.
All its products are homemade, just as they were back then.
Via Principe Eugenio 65-67 www.gelateriafassi.com/
00185 Rome
Italy
08:00 p.m. – La Cena (Dinner)
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a restaurant in Rome serving dinner before 8 pm. In
fact, most people dine even later. Early birds, however, will have better chances
finding a table, for example at Checchino dal 1887, one of the most well-known
venues for classic, local cuisine. This traditional restaurant, still owned by its
founding family, serves dishes just as they were in the late 19th century, when the
old abattoir next door was still in operation. Since then, the menu has been
diversified with modern and vegetarian dishes; and the wine list is as excellent as
ever.
Via di Monte Testaccio 30 www.checchino-dal-1887.com/
00153 Rome
Italy
Tel.: +39-06/57 43 816
11:00 p.m. – Nightlife in Monte Testaccio
A practical tip: The restaurant, Checchino dal 1887, is located in one of Rome’s
most prominent nightlife districts. The classic amongst the clubs there is Radio
Londra in Via di Monte Testaccio 67, and is particularly popular with the younger
crowd. If you are not in the mood for enclosed spaces, do as the Romans do and
go for an evening passeggiata. This leisurely stroll for both seeing and being seen
might even take you to the Circo Massimo metro station, from which you can return
to the Piazza di Spagna.
Monte Testaccio
00153 Rom
Italien
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