Colours
by uglyscot
I love the way so many of the Roman buildings are painted in earth tones- terracotta, red and yellow ochre particularly.
These were obviously the colours available to the early inhabitants and have continued to be used by the Romans down the ages.
Sperlonga is another of these...
by 10eke
Sperlonga is another of these small medieval villages. This one is located on a hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean. It really stands out as it is mostly painted white. The narrow alleys with lots of winding stairs open up view after view of the beaches and the sea. It is said to have been a favorite place for pirates, who brought in cash and trade.
Atac
by Marilyn18
It's pretty easy getting along in Rome with the bus and metro system, unfortunately the Italians don't know schedules yet, so you'll just have to wait for the bus you want - but don't worry, eventually the busses come...
A good thing about Atac is that it's cheap. Yet be aware of pickpockets. Mostly small children or elderly people with jackets or newspapers over their arm will try to snatch things from you.
Fares: 0.77€ per ticket that includes a 75 minutes busride and a ride on the metro. Be careful the old tickets (see pictures) can only be used once...!
Still looking for the receipt...
by msmod
Still looking for the receipt from a wonderful family owned restaurant not far from the Spanish Steps with the word Crista or Cristo. There was a birthday party going on and we felt as though we were part of a huge Italian family.
Small Italian restaurant with friendly people. We always looked for small populated places and were very lucky to have feasted on phenomenal gastronomic delights Pasta and wine (is there anything else?)
A return to the Roman era.: Foro Romano
by melissa_bel
The Roman Forum: With Athens' Acropolis, Gizah's Pyramids and Sphinx, the Roman Forum is a member of the Holy Trinity of Antiquity remains. It best viewed first from the overlook of the Campidoglio, where Rome?s city hall is located. If you go behind the building, you will have a complete view of the Forum and further away, the Colliseum. And it is huge. I guess that everybody looking at it is imagining how it must have looked like at the time of Rome's splendour. It was the center of Roman life, a place of trade, discussion and worship. The first thing you notice is the Temple of Saturn, whom according to the myth, after being banished by his son Jupiter, found a haven in the area, and offering its help to the king, made the city so rich that period was to be called the Golden Age and was remembered during the Saturnals, a wild holiday time for Romans. You can also see the Basilica Julia (dedicated by Emperor August to Julius Caesar who was his adptive father), the arch of Septimus Severus. The remains of the temple of Vesta (easily recognized by its round shape) where the flame of the city was kept alive by a cast of virgin priestresses, the arch of Titus where his campaign against the Jews and the sack of Jerusalem is recorded in stone. The list just goes on and on...
If you want to visit the ground, go down the hill and the entrance is on Via dei Fori Imperiali. The entrance is free but if you want a guided tour, it's 3.50 Euros.