Related Rome Favorites Tips

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Favorite thing: Over two trips and 10 days in the city, we've rarely taken public - or any other type - of transport and not because it's inconvenient, expensive or complicated. On our feet, we could wander into narrow rustic streets, up ancient back stairways and into lush green spaces that we would have missed had we taken taxi, bus or Metro. On foot, we were often surrounded by more Romans than tourists, and the music that is Italian conversation. Rambling the backstreets you can smell the aromas of roasting meat and simmering sauces from the kitchens of weathered, cantalope-colored flats, hear children at play in postage stamp-sized courtyards, see the riot of flowers that spill from window boxes and tiny terraces, and experience little corners of the Rome that is home to thousands of people.

Here are a couple areas that have been particular favorites (so far):

• Trastevere: considered by its population to be "authentic" Rome. Very rustic, very beautiful; take a wander to Santa Maria in Trastevere, see the church and explore at least the 5-6 block area surrounding the piazza.

• Via Giulia: a roughly 10-block stroll of 16th - 18th-century pallazi, churches and antique shops, it's included in many guidebooks but there were almost no tourists around when we were there

• Any of the routes right along the Tiber - especially in the evening and early morning

• Villa Borghese and bits of Parco Colle Oppio

• Portico d'Ottavia area in the Jewish Ghetto: Roman ruins, medieval and renaissance buildings

• Aventine Hill

• Ponte Sant'Angelo

• Anywhere on the Appia Antica

Fondest memory: A favorite memory is of walking to the Capitoline very early on our first morning in Rome: the slow-moving Tiber reflecting Bernini's angels on the Ponte Sant'Angelo, passing shuttered shops along quiet, cobbled streets and trading buon giornos with a few locals on their way to work. Too early for the museums to be open, we wandered into a virtually deserted Forum to marvel, in the grey mist of a light rain, at the crumbled, silent remains of what was once the center of the most powerful empire on earth.

Favorite thing: I would like to offer just one piece of advice. Spend as much time as possible to prepare before you go. Decide on the places you want to visit then read and read. This time will be well worth it as you look at "one more piece of rock or on more sculpture" and see not this but the purpose and history of each piece and the difference in every stop you make. It will come to life for you and open itself up for you.

Fondest memory: I miss the surprise around each corner.

Favorite thing: Unfortunatly, I have heard numerous stories about people who have had their cameras stolen. Not only were they upset because of the loss of their camera, but also about all the pictures that were on the memory cards as well. Some people said they had 1300 photos on their 2 gig cards and now they are all gone because their camera was stolen. My suggestion is to invest in more of the smaller cards. You can buy 3 or 4 2gig cards for the price of one 10 gig card. You can carry these in your pocket and change when the card is full. This way you protect the pics you have already taken. I use 2 gig cards most of the time. I can get about 500 pics on them at 9.0 megapixels. If your camera has less megapixels you can fit more, if it has more you will fit less. I also download all of my pictures every night to my laptop or ipod. This way, if my camera is lost or stolen, I have only lost 1 days worth of photos and not an entire trips worth. I do have a 10 gig card and will certainly use it on my next trip, but I will still download it at night. Protect those photos!!!!

Favorite thing: I think you have to weigh the Pros and Cons of buying a Roma Pass. For EU$25, you gain free entry to the first two museums and/or archaeological sites, then discounted entry to all other museums and/or archaeological sites, free use of the city's public transportation network, discounted tickets to exhibitions or events, a map and few other items. It's valid for three days from their validation date.

We didn't end up buying the Roma Pass. And, I don't think it cost us too much more by not buying it. Their are many places you can visit for free. Look at your itinerary, the cost of just the transportation ticket (various prices for different time frames) and see if the cost makes sense to you.

Link: http://www.romapass.it/?l=en

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Favorite thing: The city of Rome is divided into 22 "rioni" and each of it has its own coat of arms. Rione originates from the Latin word REGIO, meaning for region, and is term to name the district of Rome according to the administrative divisions established in the Middle Ages but used even today.
The first division into the city regions started in times of Servius Tullius, sixth King of Rome. After the Republic collapsed the first Emperor Augustus created the 14 regions of Rome.
In case this borrowed picture is too small to be read, this are the rioni of Rome: Monti, Trevi, Colonna, Campo Marzio, Ponte, Parione, Regola, Sant'Eustachio, Pigna, Campitelli, Sant'Angello, Ripa, Trastevere, Borgo, Esquilino, Ludovisi, Sallustiano, Castro Pretorio, Celio, Testaccio, San Saba, Prati.

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Favorite thing: EUR is both residental and business district in Rome located in the southern part of the city, it is first what one can see of Rome if arriving by the road or from the airport. Actually, EUR was idea of Benito Mussolini in order to expand the city towards south-west and sea.
The construction of the complex started in 1930 and was planned to be the home to a World Fair. It was planned to be open in 1940 to celebrate 20 years of Fascism.
The idea of Mussolini was to built the city in classical forms of ancient Roman architecture, I guess world is lucky that it never occured.

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Favorite thing: In its long history Rome was open city area, welcoming all people of good will. During many centuries the town wasn't surrounded by any walls at all, but then around the third century A.D. Barbarian thretenigs become more evident and the Empire decided to protect the city from invasions. A line of city walls was built between 271 and 275, it is what we know today as The Aurelian Walls. The walls enclosed all seven hills of Rome and the full circuit run for over 19 kilometres......

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Fondest memory: Palazzo Farnese is named after Alessando Farnese, a member of minor noble family who was appointed cardinal in 1493 at the age of 23 only. Later on in 1534 Cardinal Farnese became Pope Paul III and comissioned Antonio de Sangallo the Younger to enlarge his private small palace which stood on this spot. Sangallo redesigned palace to reflect the change in status of its owner. After Sangallo's death the palace was yet to be completed and Michelangelo was asked by the pope to take over.
Michelangelo modified Sangallo's project in the design of the first floor windows and in the overall height of the building. The cental window is in particularly beautiful and the coat of arm of the Pope Paul III above it.
After pope's death his heirs entrusted Il Vignola and later on Giacomo della Porta with the completion of the palace.