A city of columns
by tompt
All over Rome you will encounter columns. Some are made by order of an emperor, mostly to honor him or his great acts. Others are much older and brought here from countries that were conquered by the roman empire.
The highest can be found at the Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterno. It is 31 meters high and built in Thebe 15th century BC. It was brought to Rome in 357 as ordered by Constantine II and was placed in the Circus Maximus.
Some columns are beautifull decorated with stories of the victorious romans. A good example is standing at the Piazza Colonna. (see picture) This column was made in 180 after Marcus Aurelius died and depicts his victories over the barbaric tribes. The column is restored in 1588 and the statue of the emperor on top was replaced by a statue of St Paul. The column is almost 30 meters high and 3.7 meter in diameter.
Lakes
by baronedivandastad
Too hot in Rome? most people will head to the seaside in Ostia, but if you want my humble opinion that's nothing to die for.
The lakes are a much better choice instead.There's plenty of them within 1h drive from Rome, and almost all of them make for a special and quite unique (if quieter) swimming and sunbathing venue.
The largest lake is Bolsena, but that's a bit far away for a day trip, so I recommend Bracciano to the North and Albano to the South.
Nemi and Martignano are much less known and harder to get to, but will pay back with excellent views.
All the lakes lie in former volcano craters, andh thus are of almost circular shape. No danger now, as all these volcanos are long extinct.
See also my travel pages for Bracciano, linked below.
Transported
by gilabrand
We used a company called Easy-Shuttle to get from Rome airport to our hotel, which was quite a drive outside the city (42 kilometers). The price was reasonable - EUR 55 for two - and the driver was waiting at the airport holding a sign with our name on it. Believe me, that can be reassuring when you step off the plane into a foreign country and you don't really know your way around.
Now, I like a bargain as much as the next person. and the idea of taking the airport bus or getting on the train to save a buck is always tempting, but you have to weigh the options. If your hotel is tucked away in some residential neighborhood or on the outskirts of Rome, you will probably need another bus/taxi/tram/subway to get where you are going. So do the math. The final tally may not be much higher.
A shuttle takes you straight to the door and saves you sore arms from dragging your luggage up and down flights of stairs, and across Rome's cobblestone streets. Better save your strength for later. You will need it. Don't believe the guidebooks that say Rome is small and easy to navigate. They are pulling your leg (and your leg muscles).
On the way back, we called the driver himself, Serafino, who speaks some English (speak slowly). He has his own fleet of cars. His number is 3479417380 or 3398965580. You can bargain with him (up to a point).
small restaurants I
by tompt about F.lli Crisciotti
This restaurant is a small typical italian restaurant in a neighbourhood where many hotels are located. So the people visiting are mostly tourists. Most of the waiters in this restaurant are past the age of retirement, but that has its charme..
Food was good and reasonably priced.
It is closed on sunday.
A day of luxury!
by kristine_bc
If anyone is looking for a place to relax after some long days of shopping and sightseeing in Rome, then Alta Care Laboratoires is the place to go. I was in Rome with two of my girlfriends for a week. Our hotel told us about these Beauty Centers of Alta Care Laboratoires, which are highly recomended. After 4 long days of walking we thought it was the perfect place to go for a little luxury. The clinic was combined with one of the most popular hairdressers in Rome. Really beautifull treatment rooms, highly professinal beauty therapists and an amazing variety of treatments. They have different machinery for each treatment with a great variety of products. I tried a facial where they used a machine called "Dermastir Oxy Cleanser". This machine uses ultra sounds, which combined with an "Dermastir ampule" of collagen, give a lifting effect on the skin. My friends tried some great treatments for the body. One was called "Body Shaper". Just the name explains the effect! She had to wair this suit that was soaked in salt water and elastin, and then wrapped around the suit there were the electrodes, which with galvanic current have a strong effect against water retention in the body. After all those days of walking this treatment did miracles. The other was an anti cellulite treatment with this machine called "Cellulogy", which gives a strong body massage with a roller that produces a vacum suction on the skin. This treatment was combined with essential oil of "Dermastir".
After we finished the treatments we got a drink called "Altadrine thallaso drink" which had a purifying effect on the body. My girlfriends both got some patches after their body treatments, which were to prolong the effects of the treatments. One was called Venalta, which was for water retention in the legs and the other was called Altadrine slimming patch, which is an anti cellulite.
This was one of my best experiences in Rome, and I would highly advise you to take a little quality time and try it yourself when you get there.
Kristine Christiansen
Aurelian walls near San Giovanni in Laterano
Via Coronari
Giant sculptures next to the Monument
I liked especially much this crying angel
