The Appian Way
by Paul2001
Probably one of the wilder walks I took while in Rome was from the Baths of Caracalla to the Catacombs of St. Sebastian on what is more commonly known as the Appian Way or Via Appia Antica. The famed road was built in 312 B.C. and led from Rome to the seaport of Brindisi. Much of the road where I walked, especially around the catacombs, was flanked by impressive ancient monuments. Amongst them was a hippodrome, some ancient fortifications and the Tomb of Cecilia Metela. This latter monument was built during the time of Caesar. Cecilia was a wife of one of his more important generals. The tomb is the best preserved of the many tombs along the road. Walking along the Appian Way was a crazy event for me. There are no sidewalks!. Cars wiz by a great speeds. Therefore take the bus. Bus 218 will get you to all the catacombs from the San Giovanni Metro stop. I took this bus back. The Tomb of Cecilia of Metela is virtually across the road from the Catacombs of St. Sebastian.
Street signs
by Jenniflower
No dodgy and cheap Council signage in Rome. No way!
Road and street signs are usually found on the 1st floor of the building at the end of the street. Most are in marble and are in Roman-style text....
When a 'U' is written as a 'V' etc.
Very characterful and just what one would expect in a city such as this! :)
I photographed quite a few of them!
Hour glasses, sun dials, and ancient knowledge!
by Lornabug about Polvere di Tempo
The woman that owns this shop has been doing her trade for 25 years, she told me, which includes hand made hour glasses and sundials. She makes hour glasses in a range of sizes from 4 feet to pendant size for a few euro. Many of them are very fine. She also crafts sundials and has made a unique assortment of them. My favorite was a ring with a knob that slides a piece back and forth which you align so as to let the sun's shadow fall through a hole and onto the inside of the ring where the hour ticks are. You'll never need a watch in Rome with a ring like that!
There were many other very clever designs including one with magic squares of words from ancient Rome or floor plans of the Pantheon, Collosseum, etc crafted into pins, cuff links, wax seals, jewelry, and more. I fell for the octant, an old brass sailing instrument with protractors and moveable lenses and things for my fiancee who loves boats and Leonardo. Needless to say a hand-crafted historical gift like this, hand wrapped with much care and a beautiful wooden box for under 150 euro was a steal and a pleaser.
Stop in here for tons more wonderful curiosities! The website is also wonderful. The sundials are calculated for Rome's latitude.
METRO
by icunme
Unless you are travelling outside the center, you will have not have a real need to use the Metro. It is good for longer distances and if it suits your needs, it's the fastest way to cover large distances.
With only two lines - A & B - intersecting at Termini train station, there are few chances you will ever need the underground in Rome. Some stations oblige you to walk through long tunnels such as the Piazza Spagna Metro stop, only to catch an overcrowded train. If the metropolitana suits your needs, it's the fastest way to cover large distances.
Calculate routes at the ATAC English website below.
Near Spanish steps but...pretty neutral.......
by Paisleypaul about Re Degli Amici
Decent looking pasta, although pizza con tonno & cipolla was positively swimming in oil for some strange reason. Not the worst choice we made in two and a half weeks but far from inspired either!
Breakdown below - 32 Euros - seems expensive for a couple of pizzas without wine Our itemised bill
Cover charge (2) EU4
Pizza with tuna,onion EU8
Pizza Napoletena EU9
Large Peroni beer EU6
coca cola 'light' EU2.50
1 Litre mineral water EU2.50
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
EU32
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Pendulum
Interior
Old map of the walls
Temple of Antonio and Faustina, May 2007
