RomeTraveller.info

Rome City Guide

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:18:36 +0000

There is probably no other city on earth as steeped in history as Rome. At the end of every winding cobbled passageway is another awe-inspiring monument, another beautiful piazza or another breathtaking view.

The men are chic. The women are beautiful. The driving is as crazy as a Ben Hur chariot race.

For thousands of years this has been the cradle of western civilization. More recently, for a couple of millennia, it is has been the second most important center of Christianity after Jerusalem.

Fortunately the city went to extravagant efforts to celebrate the 200th anniversary two years ago and the effects of the clean up can still be enjoyed after the worst of the crowds have gone. That does not mean Rome is tourist free. They have been coming since well before Julius Caesar was a boy.

None of those tourists can have failed to be overawed by the Eternal City. And none can have left without the feeling that there was more they never had time to see.

You will never see it all, and neither should you try. But there are some sights that you should not miss.

Spring and fall are the seasons when the climate and scenery are at their best. Some may find summer unpleasantly hot, although it’s no worse than Chicago or New York. Many restaurants close in August as Roman office workers leave town.

Winter can be chilly, but less tourists means lower prices and fewer crowds. Holy Week is the hardest time to find a room as the faithful head for the Easter celebrations. Really though, there is no bad time to visit Rome.

Mercantino dei Partigiani

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:33:21 +0000

The Ponte Milvio market is renowned for being the stage for Rome’s best antique markets, whilst the Mercantino dei Partigiani is a small flea market is held in the basement of a garage and sells furniture and objects from 1940s and 1950s. The prices are really low, a style Italians refer to as modernariato. The Underground is a relatively new flea market that is held in a huge 4-floor garage between Piazza del Popolo and Via Veneto. Open every second Saturday and Sunday of each month, there is a bit of everything to be found here, but prices vary and are often on the high side.

Location: Piazza dei Partigiani, Rome
Opened: 1st Sunday of the month, except August

Porta Portese market

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:30:19 +0000

The Porta Portese market is the biggest and the most popular market of Rome,as the flea-market in Paris and the Portobello Road in London. Everything can be found both new and old clothes, shoes,leather, food, bric-a-brac and old taps and even a few rare pieces of antique furniture to be ristored for very cheap prices.It’s only open Sundays mornings, sunrise to 1.30pm. Try to get there before 9.00 to avoid the worst crowds.

OPEN: Porta Portese is only open Sunday mornings, sunrise to 1.30 pm.

HOW TO GET THERE: Termini bus 64 to Largo Argentina and tram 8 to Piazza Ippolito Nievo from the Vatican bus 23 leaves Piazza Risorgimento, get off at Piazza G.Belli then catch tram8.

Trastevere

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:24:02 +0000

Located just over the river Tiber the Trastevere district of Rome takes it’s name from “across the Tiber” - a bohemian spirit grips Trastevere and you will take great pleasure in getting lost in it’s many winding streets. See the outdoor food market in Piazza San Cosimato… This is a great chance to watch local trasteverians buying and bargaining with local Roman vendors. The market starts about 7:00 a.m. and close at 2:00 p.m.

Consider also visiting the typical Trastevere shops:

Decò lamps (Vicolo del Cinque no. 48)
Mad sculptural footwear creations by Joseph Debach (Vicolo del Cinque no. 19).
Chocoholics: take note of the delicatessen shop selling fine chocolate and books (Vicolo del Cinque no. 11A)
At no 24 of Vicolo del Cinque, on your left, you will find Jacche Calzature selling shoes all priced at 36 €.

Via del Corso

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:19:44 +0000

Via del Corso (the ancient via Lata), commonly known as the Corso, is the main street running through the historical centre of Rome, Italy. It is remarkable for being absolutely straight in an area characterized by narrow meandering alleys and small piazzas. It is also wider than most streets in the centre of Rome, but still only has barely room for two lanes of traffic and two narrow sidewalks. The northern portion of the street is a pedestrian area. The length of the street is roughly 1.5 kilometres.

The Corso runs in a roughly north-south direction. In the north it ends at Piazza del Popolo between Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto. The southern terminus is at Piazza Venezia. There are no major tourist attractions along the street itself, but the nearby area has them in abundance. Major sites near the Corso include the Ara Pacis, the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Fontana di Trevi, Il Vittoriano and Forum Romanum.

Piazza di Spagna

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:16:18 +0000

Piazza di Spagna - Spanish Steps - Via dei Condotti.

This street is one of the richest streets in Italy and one of the best streets for shopping in Rome. The via Dei Condotti sports designer stores such as Armani, Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci and other well-heeled notables. This is also the street where the shop owners used to charge you just for walking in the door! Thankfully these days all of the shops sport a “ingresso gratuito” sign which means you can go in and have a poke around without any obligation to buy.

Antico Arco

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:11:59 +0000

In the mid-nineties, three friends got together and formed an authentic Italian restaurant that has only grown in popularity. The risotto with Castelmagno cheese is a favorite starter, while the duck breast in raspberry sauce is a popular entree. Reservations are required. BUS: Via Carini.
Address: Piazzale Aurelio 7, Rome, Italy 00152
Phone :+39 065815274

Antica Pesa

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:10:11 +0000

In the XVII Century the customs office of the Papal State was located in Via Garibaldi in Trastevere. It received the taxes for grain, and the customs officer also decided to establish an old-time “snack bar” which would provide bread and wine for the many peasants who came to the office. The curious name “l’Antica Pesa” is thus explained. It was given at the end of the XIX Century, when it’s original function of customs office was superseded by it’s present purpose of an inn. Very soon the inn became famous throughout Rome, thanks also to a wonderful “bowling alley” where the best players of Trastevere challenged each other, and which now, one century later, has been transformed into a splendid garden where summer evenings are spent.

Address: via garibaldi, 18 Roma
phone +39 065809236
www.anticapesa.it

Maccheroni

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:08:47 +0000

Italy’s most popular dish worldwide, is also the name of this distinctive restaurant at Piazza delle Coppelle, in the heart of one of Rome’s most ancient neighborhoods and just a stone’s throw from piazza Navona and the Pantheon. The restaurant has maintained and emphasized the delightful details of its rustic structure, for an ambience that is inimitably welcoming and warm. Maccheroni’s menu offers true, traditionally homemade Roman cuisine, as well as Italian regional specialities. Its wine list includes house wine, Chianti, and Italy’s finest labels.

Address: piazza delle coppelle, 44
Lunch: 13.00 - 15.00 Dinner: 20.00 - 24.00 Open every day
+39 0668307895
www.ristorantemaccheroni.com

Agata e Romeo

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:07:32 +0000

This stylish restaurant is well known throughout Rome. Although not cheap, it offers classic Roman and southern Italian dishes, stylishly prepared by Agata, who always uses the best ingredients possible. Her husband, Romeo, seamlessly manages the elegant dining room. The restaurant offers a wide choice of both international and domestic wines from its cellar and fish lovers, carnivores, as well as vegetarians are all catered for by a menu that frequently changes. If, after your main meal, you still have room left, try Agata’s gorgeous homemade millefoglie, a light puff pastry filled with almonds and cream.

Address: Via Carlo Alberto 45, Rome. Tel: +39 06 44 65 84 27 / +39 06 44 66 115.
Metro A: Vittorio Emanuele.
Open: Monday - Saturday; 1.00pm - 3.00pm and 8.00pm - 11.30pm.
Closed: Sundays.
Booking in advance is recommended and most major credit cards accepted.
www.agataeromeo.it