This currency exchange for the eurodollar
by josephljtwrk
This trip three out of five family member realized the best way to win over currency fees, percentages, and surcharges, was to exchange as much money positble to last for your trip, only once. This would keep your understanding for their stronger dollar and keep your respect polite.
The Pantheon's Fountain
by unravelau
Fontana del Pantheon in the Piazza della Rotunda -- right opposite the Pantheon is quite a lovely fountain although people don't seem to congregate around it as much as they do around others. I put this down to the 'competition' -- i.e. the Pantheon is always going to be the biggest drawcard there but there are a number of really classy looking restaurants nearby not to mention the best gelato shop up a side street there (wish I could remember the name but yumm). After the Pantheon keeping your back to it pass to the left of the fountain and take the first street left (I think).
How to sort out the city
by steph4867
Arm yourself with a detailed street map, not the general overview handed out free at tourist offices. Most hotels hand out a pretty good version at their front desks.
The bulk of ancient, Renaissance, and baroque Rome (as well as the train station) lies on the east side of the Tiber River (Fiume Tevere), which meanders through town. However, several important landmarks are on the other side: St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican, the Castel Sant'Angelo, and the colorful Trastevere neighborhood.
The city's various quarters are linked by large boulevards (large, at least, in some places) that have mostly been laid out since the late 19th century. Starting from the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, a controversial pile of snow-white Brescian marble that's often compared to a wedding cake, there's a street running practically due north to Piazza del Popolo and the city wall. This is Via del Corso, one of the main streets of Rome--noisy, congested, always crowded with buses and shoppers, and called simply "Il Corso." To its left (west) lie the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori, and the Tiber. To its right (east) you'll find the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Borghese Gardens, and Via Veneto.
Finding an address in Rome can be a problem because of the narrow streets of old Rome and the little, sometimes hidden piazze (squares). Numbers usually run consecutively, with odd numbers on one side of the street and even numbers on the other. However, in the old districts the numbers will sometimes run consecutively up one side of the street to the end, then back in the opposite direction on the other side. Therefore, no. 50 could be opposite no. 308.
Lively crowd, and good food
by Tijavi about Restaurant Al 34
In the midst of Piazza di Spagna along Via Mario dei Fiori among some of Rome's swankiest shopping district (and stinkiest, too), is this gem of a restaurant that boasts good food and a lively crowd. Just ask the friendly Bulgarian couple on the adjacent table who've eaten all their 5 Roman dinners in this restaurant (and it was their last night).
I really liked the pacheri (short pasta) with squid black ink sauce - the pasta was perfect, the squid undeniably fresh; just don't try to smile after enjoying this dish. For mains, I had grilled mixed seafood. Again, the freshness was undeniable, the sweetness of the crustacean mingling beautifully with the buttery, peppery and salty flavors. The dessert did not disappoint either. The panacotta with wild berries was luscious, creamy with the berries offering a contrasting tangy boost. Service was attentive and friendly.
Catocombs
by warzx
I went to visit the Sebastian Catocomb, it's out of the usual city area, but it's worth a visit. It's very cold in there, but it is not air-conditioned. It's basically a tunnel pple build to bury dead pple and to hide pple. A good history u wud hear from the guided tours. The admission tickets are tied to the guided tours. No pictures to be taken in there though.