Hotel Bolognese

Roma

by Sambawalk

"Roma 2009 Christmas"

I made a 2-week trip to Italy during Christmas 2009 and New Year 2010. Since this was the 3rd trip I made to Italy, I focused on the Southern Italy, i.e. Naples and Sicily. Originally I planned to visit Malta from Sicily, but due to work commitment, I had to curtail my trip and skipped Malta. The itinerary was as follows:

Day 0: Singapore to Roma via Bangkok by Thai airways (900 Euro).
Day 1: Roma - Oriventa - Assisi (O/N Hotel Trattoria Pallotta 40 Euro)
Day 2: Assisi - Roma (O/N Hotel Bolognese 35 Euro). Christmas eve.
Day 3: Roma - Naples (O/N Mercure Napoli Garibaldi Hotel 44 Euro)
Day 4: Naples (Day trip to Sorrento and Positano)
Day 5: Naples (Day trip to Pompeii, am. Mt Vesuvius crater, pm)
Day 6: Naples (Day trip to Herculaneum, am, Naples city, pm). Overnight ferry from Naples to Palermo, Sicily (sleeping cabin 50 Euro, and luckily I got the whole cabin myself)
Day 7: Palermo (Day trip to Monreale) O/N Hotel Regina 19 Euro.
Day 8: Palermo (New Year eve).
Day 9: Bus from Palermo to Catania (2:30 hrs for 14 Euro). Stayed few hours in Catania then took evening bus from Catania to Siracusa (Bus 1:30 hrs 5.2 Euro) O/N Siracusa (Affitta Camere Populus 30 Euro).
Day 10: Siracusa (Day trip to Noto) Train ride 30 mins (3.2 Euro) Return bus (40 mins 3.2 Euro).
Day 11: Siracusa. O/N train to Roma first class excelsior solo cabin 185 Euro.
Day 12: Roma - flight back to Singapore.

Torre di Babele - Italian Langauge School

by mariocibelli

Torre di Babele is an excellent Italian langauge school located in the heart of Rome. Classes are held all year, and generally one can begin group courses every Monday depending on one's level. Naturally private instruction is also offered.

The center also arranges accommodation for it's students as well as organizes cultural and social activities.

Torre di Babele"
Italian Language School with courses in Rome
Via Cosenza, 7
00161 Rome Italy
Tel. +39 06 44252578
Fax +39 06 44251972
info@torredibabele.com

Alfresco Bar for people watching

by sue_stone about Bar del Fico

Bar del Fico is located in a small square, not far from Piazza Navona.

We had a couple of drinks here before dinner one night. Drinks were reasonably priced and there were plenty of free bar snacks!

There is a large outside terrace which is a great place to relax and do some people watching.

Avoid Tourist Traps!

by msemler about trattoria

To get a great meal at a fair price in Italy, don't go to a "ristorante" or any place where the maitre d' is wearing a tux. Go where the Italians go when they want to eat out - a trattoria! Not all trattorias are excellent but most are very good, and you won't get charged an arm and a leg.

Also, if you like wine, just order "the house wine" and you'll be happy. No need to spend more for some label. Fresh vegetables with pasta.

Cat lovers Rome

by helenmellor

If you are a cat lover, head for the Largo del Torre Argentina to visit the cat sanctuary amongst the ruins of the place where Julius Caesar was assassinated, known as the Area Sacra. There are over 200 very happy cats roaming around in what must be cat paradise, right in the centre of Rome! You can visit the sanctuary's shop and infirmary (between 12 noon to 6pm I think) which is manned by the lady volunteers and lots of feline helpers and there is a guided tour of the ruins at 4pm most days (we didn't manage that, but would go back another time).