No Early Bird Specials in Rome
by jungles
Most Italians do not eat dinner until around 9pm, and it is not uncommon for people to linger over a meal until after midnight. Consequently, it's almost impossible to find a restaurant that opens before 7pm, and many don't open until 7:30 or 8pm. It's best to adjust your schedule accordingly and, you know, do as the Romans do. If a restaurant looks empty or if the only people eating there are tourists, this is not necessarily a sign that it's a bad restaurant; it could just mean that the local crowd hasn't arrived yet.
Also, be aware that most restaurants close one day a week. The most common closure day is Monday, right after they've made a lot money on the weekend. Restaurants will usually have a sign out front (in Italian) stating when their closing day is.
VIA APPIA ANTICA
by globetrott
VIA APPIA ANTICA -
is situated south of todays towncenter and in some parts it looks still the same as in roman times.
There is a very small part (about 1 Km) completely restricted to pedestrians, but the rest is still used as normal street by lots of cars.
If possible, go there on sunday - as all the street is a pedestrian area then.
Airport Train to Central Rome: Leonardo Express
by Lacristina
Updated April 08
Take the Leonardo Express for a quick ride into Rome. It stops at Roma Termini, the main train station in Rome and cloest to the historical center.
A ticket costs 11E, the trains usually leave from Track 2 at the airport., and they usually arrive at Track 24 in Rome, which is a good thing, as 24 is much closer to the exit than the old Track 26. Saves about 10 minutes of walking.
The train is easy and there's no chance of getting caught in Rome's infamous traffic. Follow signs in the airport to the station (Stazione), find the small vending machines, select the direct train to Roma Termini, insert your credit card, and 5 seconds later, you've bought your 11 euro ticket to Rome. Don't forget to time-stamp your ticket in the yellow machines on the platform.
The Leonardo Express usually leaves at :05 and :35 after the hour and takes 31 minutes. There's only one stop - Roma Termini. Keep a watch on your luggage and belongings.
Departure announcements are made in English. If you have time, walk to the last car as it will be the closest to the entrance when you arrive in Rome. There's a "left luggage" service at Termini near Track (Binario) 24.
If your hotel is too far to walk to, grab a taxi from the official line under the covered sidewalk in front of the main entrance. DO NOT accept a ride from anyone who comes up to you and offers you a taxi.
RETURN TRAINS: They leave for the airport at :22 and :52 after the hour. For an up-to-date schedule, check out the website below. Enter "Fiumicino Airport" and "Roma Termini." Look for the trains with a "D" for direct.
If you're looking for the CHEAPEST way to get into town, try the regional train (Ferrovia Metropolitana 1 or FM1) to Tiburtina Station (5.5 E), and from Tiburtina, take the Metro to Termini (1 E). Tiburtina is 5 k's east of the historical center. Other stops fairly near the historical center include Trastevere and Ostiense/Piramide.
Large Portions
by suubi
Tasty food hasn´t got to be all that dear. This applies to locations beyond the city or just a few blocks away from main tourist streets. We soon discovered a nice traditional restaurant near our hotel in Cefalonia with a wide choice of original tasty dishes. What amazed us most were the extremely big portions. Pasta with salmone!
Colosseum
by Aphrodite21
Before all other monuments this is what I wanted to see first. For me the colosseum has always represented Rome. I've studied this building to death in my three years at university and one really has to appreciate the labour that went into this. It was originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre after the family that built it but it gained the nickname the colosseum after the colossal statue of Nero that stood nearby. It was begun in 70 AD by the emperor Vespasian using spoils from the Judaean war and his son Titus dedicated it in 80 AD. Titus' brother Domitian completed the building in 94 AD. The materials used were travertine for the main piers, tufa for the spaces in between, and concrete for the vaulting. In fact approximately 100,000 m(cubed) of travertine was used for the Colosseum. The dimensions of this amphitheatre are 188m x 156m and it's 50m high. It held 50,000 people. The facade had rows of arches flanked by half columns in the Tuscan, Ionic, and Corinthian orders.
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Casina del Lago
S.Maria Maggiore, Marian Column, Roma, May 2007
Villa Doria Pamphilj
Coffered Dome, Pantheon with Rose Petals, May.2007
