Rome, the 'Eternal City', is the capital of Italy and of the Lazio (Latium) region. It's the famed city of the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita, the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain. The Historic Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand

Situated on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the "Eternal City" was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today it remains the seat of the Italian government and home to numerous ministerial offices. The metropolitan area is home to around 3.3 million people.

The abbreviation "S.P.Q.R" is ubiquitous in Rome, short for the old democratic motto "Senatus Populusque Romanus" (Latin) or "The Senate and People of Rome" (English translation).

For two weeks in August, many of Rome's inhabitants shut up shop (literally) and go on their own vacations; many stores and other amenities will be closed during this time. The temperature in the city centre at this time of year is not particularly pleasant. If you do travel to Rome at this time, be prepared to see Chiuso per ferie (Closed for holidays) signs on many establishments. Even in these weeks the city is very beautiful and if you are looking for a less overcrowded vacation in Rome, this is not a bad time.

History

Rome's history spans over two and half thousand years, starting as a small Italian village to the center of a vast empire, to the founding of Catholicism to the capital of today's Italy. Rome's history is long and complex; below is merely a quick summary.

Rome is traditionally thought to have been founded by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus, who were abandoned as infants in the Tiber River and raised by a mother wolf before being found by a shepherd who raised them as his own sons. Rome was founded as a small village sometime in the 8th century BC surrounding Palatine Hill, where the Roman Forum is currently located. Due to the village's position at a ford on the Tiber River, Rome became a crossroads of traffic and trade.

The settlement developed into the capital of the Roman Kingdom, led by a series of Etruscan kings, before becoming the seat of the Roman Republic at around 500 BC, and then the center of the Roman Empire from 27 BC on. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the largest, wealthiest, most powerful city in the Western World, with dominance over most of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Even after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Rome maintained considerable importance and wealth.

Beginning with the reign of Constantine I, the Bishop of Rome (later known as the Pope) gained political and religious importance, establishing Rome as the center of the Catholic Church. During the Early Middle Ages, the city declined in population but gained a new importance as the capital of the newly formed Papal States. Throughout the Middle Ages, Rome was a major pilgrimage site and the focus of struggles between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy.

With the Italian Renaissance fully under way in the 15th century, Rome changed dramatically. Extravagant churches, bridges, and public spaces, including a new Saint Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, were constructed by the Papacy in order so that Rome would equal the grandeur of other Italian cities of the period. The corruption of the popes (which was partly responsible for the extravagance of their building projects) during this period led to the Protestant Reformation and, in turn, the Catholic Reformation.

In the 19th century, Rome again became the focus of a power struggle with the rise of the Kingdom of Italy, who wished to see a reunification of Italy. The Papal States remained in control of Rome under French protection, but with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, French troops were forced to abandon Rome, leaving it clear for the Kingdom of Italy to capture. Rome became the capital of Italy, and has remained such ever since.

Rome today is both a contemporary metropolis and reflects the many periods of its long history - Ancient times, Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. With the rise of Italian Fascism following World War I, Rome's population grew. This trend was stopped by World War II, which dealt relatively minor damage to Rome. With the dismantlement of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic following WWII, Rome again began to climb in population and grew into a modern city. The city stands today as the capital of Italy and a major tourist destination.

History

Rome's history spans over two and half thousand years, starting as a small Italian village to the center of a vast empire, to the founding of Catholicism to the capital of today's Italy. Rome's history is long and complex; below is merely a quick summary.

Rome is traditionally thought to have been founded by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus, who were abandoned as infants in the Tiber River and raised by a mother wolf before being found by a shepherd who raised them as his own sons. Rome was founded as a small village sometime in the 8th century BC surrounding Palatine Hill, where the Roman Forum is currently located. Due to the village's position at a ford on the Tiber River, Rome became a crossroads of traffic and trade.

The settlement developed into the capital of the Roman Kingdom, led by a series of Etruscan kings, before becoming the seat of the Roman Republic at around 500 BC, and then the center of the Roman Empire from 27 BC on. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the largest, wealthiest, most powerful city in the Western World, with dominance over most of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Even after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Rome maintained considerable importance and wealth.

Beginning with the reign of Constantine I, the Bishop of Rome (later known as the Pope) gained political and religious importance, establishing Rome as the center of the Catholic Church. During the Early Middle Ages, the city declined in population but gained a new importance as the capital of the newly formed Papal States. Throughout the Middle Ages, Rome was a major pilgrimage site and the focus of struggles between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy.

With the Italian Renaissance fully under way in the 15th century, Rome changed dramatically. Extravagant churches, bridges, and public spaces, including a new Saint Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, were constructed by the Papacy in order so that Rome would equal the grandeur of other Italian cities of the period. The corruption of the popes (which was partly responsible for the extravagance of their building projects) during this period led to the Protestant Reformation and, in turn, the Catholic Reformation.

In the 19th century, Rome again became the focus of a power struggle with the rise of the Kingdom of Italy, who wished to see a reunification of Italy. The Papal States remained in control of Rome under French protection, but with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, French troops were forced to abandon Rome, leaving it clear for the Kingdom of Italy to capture. Rome became the capital of Italy, and has remained such ever since.

Rome today is both a contemporary metropolis and reflects the many periods of its long history - Ancient times, Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. With the rise of Italian Fascism following World War I, Rome's population grew. This trend was stopped by World War II, which dealt relatively minor damage to Rome. With the dismantlement of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic following WWII, Rome again began to climb in population and grew into a modern city. The city stands today as the capital of Italy and a major tourist destination.

Getting there

One general warning: In Italy timetables and similar information is "just a suggestion" (Quote from the fellow Italian traveler). Do not put too much faith into any information you read or get - just get used to it, you will enjoy your stay much more if you do.

By plane

Rome has two main international airports:

• Leonardo da Vinci/ Fiumicino International Airport (Rome Fiumicino, code FCO) - Rome's main airport is modern, large, rather efficient, and well connected to the center of the city by public transportation, but consider not arriving late in the evening in Rome to have the most transportation options to downtown.

• Ciampino International Airport (Rome Ciampino, code CIA) - Located to the southeast of the capital, this is the city's low-cost airline airport, serving Easyjet, Ryanair and Wizzair flights, among others (see Discount airlines in Europe). This small airport is closer to the city center than Fiumicino but has no direct train connection. There are plans to move the low-cost airport much further out of Rome, but this is unlikely for some years. Note that at Ciampino cash machines are available only in the departures area. Please note that this is a small airport, really only a step above a regional airport. And despite its status as an "international airport" it does close. The last buses from the city are around 12:00am which means arrival at the airport is around 1am, an hour after the airport closes. You will be locked out of the airport until it opens again for the first check-in around 4:30 or 5am, be prepared to wait. Flying into Ciampino try to sit on the right of the plane, which will fly just to the east of the centre of the city. Reaching Rome you first see the River Tiber and then the Olympic Stadium, Castel Sant' Angelo, St Peter's and the Vatican and the Colosseum. Before touchdown you fly parallel with the old Appian Way, the tree-lined road on a slight incline about 1km from the flightpath.

Public Airport Transportation

From Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino airport, there are two train lines to get you into Rome:

• Leonardo Express trains leave every 30 minutes to the central train station Roma Termini (35 minute trip). Trains from Roma Termini depart from Track 24 on the right. Tickets cost €11 and are available at the counter as well as the Termini news stand. Tickets sold at the departure platform are more expensive. You can't buy a ticket for a specific train; it's just a general ticket for a specific route (Termini), but it's good for any time. Get your ticket stamped in a yellow validation machine just before using it. The ticket will expire 90 minutes after validation.

• The Metropolitan train does not stop at Termini. Get off at Tiburtina Station or at Ostiense Station to connect to Line B of the Rome Metro, or get off at Trastevere Station and from there take the '8' tram (direction 'Argentina') to go to Largo Argentina and Campo de' Fiori. Tickets are €5.50, plus €1 for a metro/tram ticket. The extra cost of the Leonardo Express is for the convenience of a direct ride to Termini. If you are going somewhere else on the Metro, Tiburtina and Ostiense are as convenient. Get your ticket stamped in a yellow validation machine just before using it.

COTRAL/Schiaffini operates buses from both airports to the city. Don't forget to mark your ticket after getting on the bus; if the machine doesn't work (which is fairly common), you have to write your name, birth date and current date & time on the ticket.

If you arrive or depart after hours at Fiumicino (Unlike some airports that close down completely, there are a few flights in the early hours, although these tend to be charters for Italian holidaymakers), the airport shuttle () is probably your best bet. They charge EUR 25.00 per passenger and are pretty reliable. Phone 0642013469 or 064740451. Advance booking essential. Taxis should charge the fixed price of EUR 40.00 for the ride into town at nighttime, but they often try to charge more.

From Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino, the bus stop is located outdoors at ground level, at the bottom of the A Terminal (Domestic Arrivals). You can buy tickets at the tobacco shop in the A Terminal baggage area, with the blue sign (Tabacheria). Lines from Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino are:

• Aeroporto-Termini-Tiburtina (€3.60) The schedule for Aeroporto-Termini-Tiburtina is: :from Fiumicino: 1:15, 2:15, 3:30, 5:00, 10:55, 12:00, 15:30 :from Tiburtina: 0:30, 1:15, 2:30, 3:45, 9:30, 10:00 (Sept. 2009 -- The night Fiumicino timetable is not kept very well. The bus may be half an hour late or not arrive at all. Perch on the bus stop, do not give up, it will probably come ,eventually.)

• Aeroporto-Roma Cornelia (metro A) (€2.80) (schedule )

• Aeroporto-Roma Magliana (metro B) (€1.60) (schedule )

• Aeroporto-Ostia Lido (€1.00) (schedule )

• Aeroporto-Fregene (€1.00) (schedule )

• Aeroporto-Fiumicino (città) (€0.77) (schedule )

A good choice from Fiumicino is to take the bus to EUR Magliana (stops directly at the metro station, which belongs to line B) and then take the Metro. It's the cheapest way to get to the centre (€2 bus + €1 metro). The sign on this bus reads "Fiumicino-Porto-Magliana" number 771.

From Ciampino airport, you can take the bus from the stop located outside the terminal building to Metro Line A Anagnina station (ticket: €1.20). A metro ticket to central Rome costs another €1. There are also buses at the same price to Ciampino local train station; from there there is a train to Rome Termini station (ticket: €2). The buses operate roughly every hour or 30 minutes during the Italian work day (8-12 and 16-20), and you should count on at least 45 minutes travel time for either route. The Metro can get very crowded. Timetable booklets are available in some information booths.

There are a few direct bus services from Ciampino, all of which go to the Termini in Downtown Rome:

• Sit bus shuttle runs a line that costs €6 one-way or 10€ with return (approx. 40 min, with about 25 services a day).

• Terravision . Please note that this is a dedicated airport-city transfer only for the major low cost airlines. The price is €6 one-way or €12 return when booked online (approx. 40 min, with a service every 30 min). It is advised that passengers on the return trip from Termini to board the bus 3 hours before their flight's departure time.

• COTRAL's direct line costs €5 one-way (approx. 40 min), but has far fewer departures than Terravision. These buses are not mentioned on the airport website yet, but you can find them on Schiaffini's own site. This bus may be useful if you arrive at a time when the Metro is closed.

A shared airport shuttle can be hired for around €15 per person to take you from Ciampino airport. However, since the shuttle is shared, it may take longer to reach your destination if other customers are dropped off before you are.

• Travel Rome Italy

Private Airport Transportation

Taxis in Rome are white. There are fixed fares from downtown to the airports. City center to Fiumicino and vice-versa cost €40. City center to Ciampino and vice-versa cost €30, as it is to any destination within the city walls. For other destinations fares are not fixed. Do NOT negotiate the price for the city center with anyone and be sure your driver activates the meter (all regular taxis have a meter) when he starts driving to any other destination. Fee for luggage is around €1 for each piece. Be aware of unlicensed taxi drivers or limousine drivers (dark cars) that approach you at the airports: A drive with them could reach as high as €80. Go directly to the taxi stand and ignore touts.

Be aware that both airports are outside of the city limits, this implies that the fare for the first part of the journey is higher (a number 2 appears on the meter): the driver is supposed to change the fare to number 1 once he hits Rome's ring motorway (G.R.A.) and enters the city limits. The quality of Rome's taxis is very variable. You may get a brand-new Mercedes or you may get a 10-year-old Fiat with no shock absorbers and no luggage space. But the fare will be the same!

Rental cars are available from all major carriers at both airports. Providers can be reached easily in the Arrivals Hall at Fiumicino and in the airport terminal at Ciampino.

By train

Rome's main railway station is Termini Station. Like any other train station, it is not very safe at night. It is also locked up between 00:30 and 04:30, when the only people hanging around outside are taxi drivers and the homeless. Most long-distance trains passing through Rome between these times will stop at Tiburtina station instead.

Other main stations include Ostiense, Trastevere, Tuscolana, Tiburtina.

By car

Driving to Rome is quite easy; as they say, all roads lead to Rome. The city is ringed by a motorway, the GRA. If you are going to the very centre of the city any road leading off the GRA will get you there. If you are going anywhere else, however, a GPS or a good map is essential. Signs on the GRA indicate the name of the road leading to the centre (e.g. Via Appia Nuova, Via Aurelia, Via Tiburtina) but this is useful only for Romans who know where these roads pass.

By boat

Most cruise ships dock in Civitavecchia, to afford their passengers opportunity to visit the area and/or Rome. Many ships arrange a shuttle bus to and from the port entrance. From there you can walk 10-15 minutes to the Civitavecchia train station. Purchase of a B.I.R.G. round trip train ticket for Rome costs just 9 Euros (as of Fall 2008), and also entitles you to unlimited use of Rome's Metro/underground and bus lines. Trains for commuters leave every hour or so, and take about 80 minutes. You can get off near St. Peters, or continue to the Termini station right downtown, where countless buses and the Metro await. At some ten times the cost, ships often offer bus trips as well, taking 2 hours or so to reach Rome.

• Grimaldi Lines . Provides ferry service to/from Barcelona, Tunis, Toulon (France), Porto-Vecchio (Corsica).

• Moby . Provides service to/from Olbia, Sardinia.

Now it is possible for modest-sized cruise ships to dock in new Porto di Roma, Ostia, located a few kilometers from Rome and linked by train and metro.

Traveling around

Roma Pass

If you'll be staying in Rome for at least 3 days, consider purchasing the Roma Pass (http://www.romapass.it). The cost is 23 euros and entitles holders to free admission to the first two museums and/or archaeological sites visited, full access to the public transport system, reduced tickets and discounts for any other following museums and sites visited, as well as exhibitions, music events, theatrical and dance performances and all other tourist services.

By car

In a nutshell: Don't do it. Well, some people actually enjoy it. Roman traffic is chaotic, but it is possible to drive there. However, the roads are not logical and the signs are few. It will take a few weeks to understand where to drive, to get where you want to go. When driving in Rome it is important to accept that Italians drive in a very pragmatic way. Taking turns and letting people go in front of you is rare. There is little patience so if the light is green when you go into the intersection and you are too slow they will let you know. A green light turning to amber is a reason to accelerate, not brake, in part because the lights usually stay amber for several seconds. If you brake immediately when the light changes you are likely to get rear-ended. Parking is scarce. Rome is plagued with people who demand money to direct you to a space, even on the rare occasions when there are many places available. While in Rome, it is far better to travel by bus or metro, or (in extremis) take a taxi.

By taxi

Taxis are the most expensive way to get around Rome, but when weighed against convenience and speed, they are often worth it. Roman taxis within the city walls run on meters, and you should always make sure the driver starts the meter. Taxis will typically pick you up only at a taxi stand, which you will find at all but the smallest piazzas, as well as at the main train station or when called by phone. Flagging down a taxi (like in London) is possible but quite rare as the taxi drivers prefer to use the stands. When you get in the cab, there will be a fixed starting charge, which will be more for late nights, Sundays and holidays. Supplements will be requested for bags that the driver has to handle, typically €1 per bag. So, if you have a limited amount of luggage that wouldn't need to go in the trunk, you may decline when the driver offers to put your bags in the trunk. Drivers may not use the shortest route, so try to follow the route with a map and discuss if you feel you're being tricked.

Be warned that when you phone for a taxi, the cab's meter starts running when it is summoned, not when it arrives to pick you up, so by the time a cab arrives at your location, there may already be a substantial amount on the meter. You can get a taxi pretty easily at any piazza though, so calling ahead is really not required.

A trip completely across the city (within the walls) will cost about €11, a little more if there is heavy traffic at night or on a Sunday. From Ciampino airport the flat rate is €30 to anywhere in the historic centre, that is inside the Roman walls, while from Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) airport the flat rate is €40 to anywhere in the city also inside the roman walls, and this is set by the city council. Outside the walls you pay according to the distance. Drivers at the airport may try to talk you into more, saying that your destination is 'inside the wall' or 'hard to get to'. State clearly before you drive away that you want the meter to run. If they try to overcharge you, say that you are looking for a policeman. They will probably back down. Taxi drivers can often try to trick customers by switching a 50 euro note for a 10 euro note during payment, leading you to believe that you handed them only 10 euro when you have already given them 50 euro. The main taxi companies may be called at 063570 and 065551.

Rome also has several taxi cooperatives:

• La Capitale, Tel 064994

• Roma Sud, Tel 066645

• Cosmos, Tel 0688177

By foot

Once you're in the center, you are best off on foot. What could be more romantic than strolling through Rome on foot holding hands? That is hard to beat!

Crossing a street in Rome can be a bit challenging. There are crosswalks, but they are rarely located at signaled intersections. Traffic can be intimidating, but if you are at a crosswalk just start walking and cars will let you cross the street. While crossing watch out for the thousands of mopeds. As in many European cities, even if the cars and trucks are stationary due to a jam or for another legal reason, mopeds and bikes will be trying to squeeze through the gaps and may be ignoring the reason why everyone else has stopped. This means that even if the traffic seems stationary you need to pause and look around into the gaps.

By public transport (ATAC)

Tickets must be bought (from a 'Tabacchi' - look for the big 'T' sign, these shops are plentiful), before you board the bus, Metro, or tram. Metro stations will have automated ticket kiosks, and major Metro stations will have clerked ticket windows. Many trams have single ticket machines as well. Tickets for regular ATAC buses, Metro, and trams are the same fares and are compatible with each other. Options as of March 2009 are the following:

• a single ticket ride ('Biglietto') - €1.00 - you can change buses or into and out of the metro on one journey (valid for 75 minutes)

• Integrated Daily Ticket ('Biglietto Giornaliero') - €4 (Valid until midnight).

• Integrated Tourist Ticket ('Biglietto Turistico') (3-day) - €11

• Integrated Weekly Ticket ('Carta Integrata Settimanale') (7-day) - €16

• Monthly Pass ('Abbonamento Mensile') - €30

• Annual Pass ('Abbonamento Annuale') - €230 When you board the bus or metro you should validate it ('convalidare') in the little yellow machine. The last four passes on the list must be validated the first time you use it only. On the whole, the integrated passes are not economical. Unless you take many rides spread all over the day, the single ticket ride option is preferable. Calculating if a pass is worthy is easy since a single ticket ride costs €1. For example, for a daily ticket (€4) to be worthy, you would have to make 5 or more trips at intervals greater than 75 minutes apart on a single day. The common daily case for most visitors is walking through the city in one direction and taking a single ride back.

ATAC polices the buses, Metro, and trams for people riding without tickets. Inspectors can be rare on some buses, although they tend to increase their presence in the summer. Inspectors are present on the Metro as well, and you should keep your validated ticket throughout your journey as proof-of-payment. If you don't have sufficient money on you to pay the fine, they will actually escort you to an ATM to pay the fee. If you don't have an ATM card to withdraw money, you will be asked to pay by mail, and the fee goes up to €140. Inspectors can also fine you for getting in and out of the wrong door, even if the bus is empty! The entrances are the front and rear doors and the exit in the middle. Many Romans ignore this distinction.

Bus

Roman buses are reliable but crowded. They are the best way to get around the city (except walking).

Free maps of the bus system are available. Others for purchase (3.5 euro at Termini). Bus stops list the stops for each route. Ask for assistance. (In Rome, there is always somebody nearby who speaks English.)

• One of the most popular and useful lines is the 40, which arches from the Termini station through the historic center and then up to the Castel Sant'Angelo, near the Vatican. It is considered an express route, so its bus stops are spaced about 1/2 mile (2/3 km) apart; but it is also very frequent, very convenient for most places that the Metro does not go to, and very fast moving, especially compared to other routes.

• The 64 also goes from Termini to the Vatican. Beware, it is a favourite with pickpockets.

• The 116 and 117 are little electric buses which winds through the Centro Storico.

• The metro is quick and efficient, especialy 'Linea A' (the 'red' route). It goes South to Anagnina, from where busses leave every half-hour or so to Ciampino airport. (Ticket on this bus costs EUR 1.20 - but on the bus.)

• Night buses should be useful due to the closing of the Metro stations at 23:30 and the stop of regular lines of buses and Trams at midnight. During the summer (until 23rd September) and on Fridays and Saturdays, the frequency of the rides is halved, which can vary among 10, 15, 30 and 35 minutes depending on the line, and of course, the particular pace of the city. In any case they are much more punctual than during the day, as traffic is much less jammed. This makes the drivers drive at high speeds, allowing passengers to experience a strange mixture of adrenaline and (the city's) classical views. Hubs of the night buses are Termini and Piazza Venezia.

Hop on / Hop off Buses

A popular alternative to city and pre-planned tour buses are the hop-on/hop-off, open-top double-decker buses. In the last few years there has been a veritable explosion in the number of such tours and at the last count there were seven different companies. An all-day ticket runs about 18-20 Euros, can be purchased as you board at any stop, and provides unlimited access to available seats (upper deck highly preferrable in good weather) and earbud phones to plug into outlets for running commentary on approaching sights. Commentary is offered in nearly every European language. Most companies follow more or less the same route, starting at Termini station but there are also two different tours of "Christian Rome" and the Archeobus, which will take you to the catacombs and along the Appian Way.

Tram

The Tram routes mostly skirt the historic center, but there are stops convenient for the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Trastevere area. The number 8 does run into the center to Largo Argentina, not far from the Pantheon. If you want to catch a soccer game at one of the stadiums in the north of the city, catch the tram (2) just north of the Piazza del Popolo. Number 19 links the Vatican with Villa Borghese.

Metro

There are two lines, crossing at Termini station. Line A (red line) runs northwest past the Vatican, and south. Line B (Blue Line) runs southwest past the Colosseum and northeast. In 2008 Line A stops running at 11:00 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays the last trains of Line B leave from the stations at 1:30 am and the line closes at 2:00 am to re-open at 5.00. The Metro is the most punctual form of public transportation in Rome, but it can get extremely crowded during rush hour. See safety warning in the Stay Safe section.

By commuter rail

There is a network of suburban rail lines that mostly connect to smaller towns and conurbations of Rome. However, most of Rome is well covered by the ATAC buses, Metro, and trams.

On a moped

There is the possibility to hire motor bikes or scooters. Motorbikes are not particularly safe in Rome and most accidents seem to involve one (or two!). Nevertheless, Roman traffic is chaotic and a scooter provides excellent mobility within the city. Scooter rental costs between 30 and 70 euros per day depending on scooter size and rental company. The traffic can be intimidating and the experience exciting but a bit insane.

Some of the main rental shops:

Scoot A Long noleggio scooter via Cavour 302 00193 Roma (RM) tel: 06 6780206

Centro Moto Coloseo strada statale Quattro, 46 tel: 06 70451069

Eco Move Rent Via Varese 48/50 00185 - Roma 06.44704518

Rent & Rent 00184 Roma (RM) 33, v. Capo d'Africa tel: 06 7002915

On a bicycle

There is the possibility to hire any kind of bike in Rome: from tandem, road bikes, children bikes to trekking bikes. Some shops are even specialized only on high quality ones while street stands will hire you cheaper and heavy ones. Bicycling alone can be stressful because of the traffic. The best way is to discover first how to move around and avoid traffic and stress with a guide thanks to one of the tours offered by almost all rental shops. There are different itineraries offered from the basic city center, panoramic Rome, tour to the Ancient Parks (from 29euro for 4h). The experience is well worth it and you would reduce also your impact on the city environment and on the traffic which is the biggest problem of the capital.

Some of the many rental shops:

Punto Informativo via Appia Antica 58/60 From Monday to Saturday from 9.3am to 1.30pm and from 2.00pm to 5.30pm (4.30 in wintertime) and on Sundays and holidays from 9.30am to 5.30pm non stop (4.30 wintertime). Price: 3 Euro/hour and 10 Euro/day (info tel. 06 5126314)

Comitato per la Caffarella (Largo Tacchi Venturi) Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Price: 3 Euro/hour and 10 Euro/day (Info and reservations tel. 06 789279)

Catacombe di San Sebastiano every day except Sundays; Price: 3 Euro/hour and 10 Euro/day (Info tel. 06 7850350).

TopBike Rental & Tours Via Quattro Cantoni 40 (between Termini Station and the Colosseum) Everyday from 9.30 to 19 nostop (For info or reservations tel. 06 4882893)

Bici & Baci Via del Viminale, 5 (Termini Station) Tel. 064828443

Collalti Via del Pellegrino, 82 (Campo de’ Fiori) Tel.0668801084

Romarent Vicolo dei Bovari, 7/a (Campo de’ Fiori) Tel.066896555

Bikeaway Via Monte del Gallo, 25 A ( Stazione FS S. Pietro) Tel.0645495816

See

Italians are very fond of their landmarks; in order to make them accessible to everyone one week a year there is no charge for admittance to all publicly owned landmarks and historical sites. This week, known as "La settimana dei beni culturali", typically occurs in mid-May and for those 7 to 10 days every landmark, archaeological site and museum belonging to government (including the Quirinale presidential palace and gardens, the Colosseum and all of the ancient Forum) are accessible and free of charge. For more information and for specific dates see or .

You are able to buy full day passes for €10(not up to date) or a standard Colosseum + Palatine ticket at €12 or a 3-day pass for €23(not up to date). This pass gets you in to the Colosseum (Colosseo), Palatine Hill (Palatino Hill), the Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla), and the catacombs as well as the Terme di Diocleziano, Palazza Massimo alle Terme, Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Altemps, Villa dei Quintili, Tomba di Cecilia Metella. If you don't want to cram it all into one day, get the pass. Plus, it is nice to buy a slice of pizza and eat in the gardens of Palatine Hill. The Colosseum and Palatine Hill are not much more impressive from the inside than they are from the outside. If you're not into ruins, save yourself the two hours and the €12 entrance fee.

Ancient Rome

The main area for exploring the ruins of ancient Rome is in Colosseo either side of Via dei Fori Imperiali, which connects the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia. Constructed between 1931 and 1933, at the time of Mussolini, this road destroyed a large area of Renaissance and medieval buildings constructed on top of ruins of the ancient forums and ended forever plans for an archeological park stretching all the way to the Appian Way. Heading towards the Colosseum from Piazza Venezia, you see the Roman Forum on your right and Trajan's Forum and Market on the left. To the right of the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine and the beginning of the Palatine Hill, which will eventually lead you to ruins of the Flavian Palace and a view of the Circus Maximus (see Aventino-Testaccio). To the left, after the Colosseum is a wide, tree-lined path that climbs through the Colle Oppio park. Underneath this park is the Golden House of Nero (Domus Aurea), an enormous and spectacular underground complex restored and then closed again due to damage caused by heavy rain. Further to the left on the Esquiline Hill are ruins of Trajan's baths.

In Old Rome you must see the Pantheon, which is amazingly well preserved considering it dates back to 125 AD. There is a hole on the ceiling so it is an interesting experience to be there when it is raining. If you are heading to the Pantheon from Piazza Venezia you first reach Largo di Torre Argentina on your left. Until 1926 this was covered in narrow streets and small houses, which were razed to the ground when ruins of Roman temples were discovered. Moving along Corso Vittorio Emmanuelle and crossing the Tiber river into the Vatican area you see the imposing Castel Sant' Angelo, built as a Mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian. This is connected by a covered fortified corridor to the Vatican and served as a refuge for Popes in times of trouble.

South of the Colosseum are the Baths of Caracalla (Aventino-Testaccio). You can then head South-East on the old Appian Way, passing through a stretch of very well-preserved city wall. For the adventurous, continuing along the Appian Way (South) will bring you to a whole host of Roman ruins, including the Circus of Maxentius, the tomb of Cecilia Metella, the Villa dei Quintili and, nearby, several long stretches of Roman aqueduct.

Returning to the Modern Center, the Baths of Diocletian are opposite the entrance to the main railway station, Termini. The National Museum of Rome stands in the South-West corner of the Baths complex and has an enormous collection of Roman scultures and other artifacts. But this is just one of numerous museums devoted to ancient Rome, including those of the Capitoline Hill. It is really amazing how much there is.

Catholic Rome

If you aren't familiar with Roman Catholic churches, take a look inside of any one of these. You'll find the richness and range of decor astonishing, from fine classical art to tacky electric candles. Please note that some churches in Rome deny admission to people who are dressed inappropriately. You will find "fashion police" at Rome's most visited churches. ("Knees and shoulders" are the main problem - especially female ones.) Bare shoulders, short skirts, and shorts are officially not allowed, but long shorts and skirts reaching just above the knee should generally be no problem. However, it's always safer to wear longer pants or skirts that go below the knee; St. Peter's in particular is known for rejecting tourists for uncovered knees, shoulders, midriffs, etc. (You also generally won't be told until right before you enter the church, so you will have made the trek to the Vatican and stood in a long security line for nothing.) The stricter churches usually have vendors just outside selling inexpensive scarves and sometimes plastic pants. Few other churches in Rome enforce dress codes. You can wander into lesser known churches like Sant'Ivo and Sta Maria in Trastevere wearing shorts, sleeveless shirts, or pretty much anything without problems. It is, however, good to keep one's dress tasteful, as these are still churches and houses of prayer for many people. (Older Romans might comment on attire and perhaps harass you if it is particularly revealing.)

The Seven Hills of Rome

To the modern visitor, the Seven Hills of Rome can be rather difficult to identify. In the first place generations of buildings constructed on top of each other and the construction of tall buildings in the valleys have tended to make the hills less pronounced than they originally were. Secondly, there are clearly more than seven hills. In Roman days many of these were outside the city boundaries.

The seven hills were first occupied by small settlements and not recognized as a city for some time. Rome came into being as these settlements acted together to drain the marshy valleys between them and turn them into markets and fora. The Roman Forum used to be a swamp.

The Palatine Hill looms over Circus Maximus and is accessed near the Colosseum . Legend has it that this was occupied by Romulus when he fell out with his brother, Remus, who occupied the Aventine Hill on the other side of the Circus. Also clearly recognisable as hills are the Caelian, to the southeast of Circus Maximus and the Capitoline, which overlooks the Forum and now hosts the Municipality of Rome. East and northeast of the Roman Forum are the Esquiline, Viminal, and Quirinal hills. These are less easy to distinguish as separate hills these days and from a distance look like one.

Among other hills of Rome, not included in the seven, are that overlooking the Vatican; the Janiculum overlooking Trastevere, which provides excellent views of Rome; the Pincio on the edge of the Borghese Gardens, which gives good views of the Vatican and the Monte Mario to the north.

Museums

If you are in Rome for the Arts there are several world class museums in the city, the natural starting point is a visit to Villa Borghese in Campo Marzio, where there is a cluster of art museums, Galleria Borghese houses a previously private art collection of the Borghese family, Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia is home of the worlds largest Etruscan art collection, and Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna is both home of some national master pieces, and international blockbusters like Cézanne, Degas, Monet and Van Gogh. The Capitoline Museums in the Colosseo district opens its doors to city's most important collection of antique Roman and Greek art and sculptures. Visit the Galleria d'Arte Antica, housed in the Barberini palace in the Modern center, for Italian Renaissance and Baroque art.

Rome's National Museum at the Baths of Diocletian in the Modern Center has a vast archaeological collection as does the national museum at Palazzo Altemps, close to Piazza Navona. Further afield, the Museo di Civilta Romana (Museum of Rome's Civilization), in EUR is most famous for a large model of Imperial Rome, but also has a large display of plaster casts, models and reconstructions of statues and Roman stonework.

If you have plenty of time there is absolutely no shortage of other museums covering a wide variety of interests. Examples include the Museum of the Walls (see South), the Musical Instrument Museum and a museum devoted to the liberation of Rome from German occupation in the Second World War (Esquilino-San Giovanni)

Check museum opening hours before heading there. Government museums are invariably closed on Mondays, so that is a good day for other activities.

Just walking around

Much of the attraction of Rome is in just wandering around the old city. You can quickly escape from the major tourist routes and feel as if you are in a small medieval village, not a capital city. Keep your eyes pointing upwards. There are some amazing roof gardens and all sorts of sculptures, paintings and religious icons attached to exterior walls. Look through 2nd and 3rd floor windows to see some oak-beamed ceilings in the old houses. Look through the archway entrances of larger Palazzos to see incredible courtyards, complete with sculptures, fountains and gardens. Take a stroll in the area between Piazza Navona and the Tiber river in Old Rome where artisans continue to ply their trade from small shops. Also in Old Rome, take a 1km stroll down Via Giulia, which is lined with many old palaces. Film enthusiasts will want to visit Via Veneto (Via Vittorio Veneto) in the Modern Center, scene for much of Fellini's La Dolce Vita.

The Piazzas

The narrow streets frequently broaden out into small or large squares (piazzas), which usually have one or more churches and a fountain or two. Apart from Piazza Navona and Piazza della Rotonda (in front of the Pantheon), take in Piazza della Minerva, with its unique elephant statue by Bernini and Piazza Colonna with the column of Marcus Aurelius and Palazzo Chigi, meeting place of the Italian Government. On the other side of Corso Vittorio Emanuele are Piazza Farnese with the Palazzo of the same name (now the French Embassy) and two interesting fountains and the flower sellers at Campo dei Fiori, scene of Rome's executions in the old days. All of these squares are a short distance from each other in Old Rome. The enormous Piazza del Popolo in the North Center, which provided an imposing entrance to the city when it represented the northern boundary of Rome, is well worth a visit. A short walk back towards the center brings you to Piazza di Spagna at the foot of the Spanish Steps. Yet another fascinating fountain here. On the other side of the river is, of course, the magnificent square of St Peter's at the Vatican. Further south, in Trastevere is Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, a great place to watch the world go by, either from one of the restaurants or bars that line two sides of the square or, if that is too expensive, from the steps of the central fountain. The square attracts many street entertainers.

Moving back to the Modern Center you have to see the Trevi Fountain, surely a part of everyone's Roman holiday. Visitors are always amazed that such a big and famous fountain is tucked away in a small piazza in the middle of side streets. Take extra-special care of your possessions here. Further up the Via del Tritone we come to Piazza Barberini, now full of traffic but the lovely Bernini fountain is not to be missed.

Things to do

Walk and feel the energy of the place, sights are everywhere waiting to be discovered.

Explore the Trastevere neighbourhood for some great cafes and trattorie, and a glimpse at a hip Roman neighbourhood.

Events

• Estate Romana Festival (Roman Summer Festival) - from late June through early September offers various musical events of jazz, rock, and classical music, and film, sport, theater and children’s fun.

• White Night (Notte Bianca) - in early to mid-September, various events and plus shops and restaurants, museums stay open while the Roman Notte Bianca stages music, dance and theater events. Expect enormous crowds; buses and trams will be packed to the brim; prepare on getting cozy with copious Romans.

• Opera at Caracalla , Baths of Caracalla (see Rome/Aventino-Testaccio), If you are in Rome during summertime don’t miss the chance to experience a lyric opera in the truly unique setting of the Caracalla Thermae. 2009 program included: Tosca, Carmen and Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shows starting at 21.00

Eat

The Trastevere neighborhood and the old Jewish quarter have some of the best trattorie and ristoranti in Rome.

Many of the good restaurants in Rome are hard to find, but a good tip is to go where Italians live and eat. On the top of the green, old mountain (Monte Verde Vecchio) there are some trattorias with authentic Italian cuisine at an affordable price. Rome also has many beautiful spots to eat, so buying some delicacies to bring with you can be a great experience. In Via Marmorata you find Volpetti's which is known for their good picks of cheese, prosciutto and delicous pastries. A more affordable choice is to go to a local supermarket which have also good fresh foods for lunch.

Pizza

Lots of the better places serve pizza only in the evening, as it takes most of the day to get the wood oven up to the right temperature. Try some of the fried things like baccala (battered salt cod) for a starter, followed by a pizza for a really Roman meal. For one of the most famous places for pizza, try 'Da Baffetto' (Via del Governo Vecchio). Roman pizzas tend to be very thin crusted. Avoid the tourist areas where you'll often pay double the going rate just to get a badly reheated frozen pizza. Instead, head for a pizzeria like 'Pizzeria Maratoneta' in via dei Volsci / via del Sardi, San Lorenzo area, where you'll find a fine atmosphere of families and groups of students, menus in English, and you'll get a good meal with a bottle of local plonk at a very reasonable price. Pizza al Taglio Is a good cheap way to get something to fill you up, and it makes a good lunch. Point to the one you want, indicate if you want more or less than your server is indicating with the knife. It's sold by weight (the listed price is usually per 100 gm) and a good quick lunch or snack.

Ice cream

Look for a gelateria with a big plastic sign with a big 'G' on it outside. This means it has a guild association and will be good quality. Remember that it costs extra to sit inside. You pay for your ice cream first...take your receipt and go fight your way through the throng to choose your flavors. You will be asked "Panna?" when it's almost made - this is the offer of whipped cream on top. If you've already paid, this is free.

There are a few signs to keep in mind: "Produzione Propria" (homemade - our own production), "Nostra Produzione" (our production), "Produzione Artigianale" (production by craftsmen). If the colors seem dull and almost ugly it is probably natural, the bright colors being just a mix. Keep in mind, Italians usually won't queue, but if they are in line for gelato, get in line yourself, you may have hit the jackpot.

Coffee

Italian cafes are great. A latte in Italian is just a glass of milk. If you're expecting coffee in that glass, you should ask for a caffe latte. A latte macchiato (meaning "marked") is steamed milk stained with a smaller shot of espresso. "Espresso" or "normale" is just that, but more commonly just referred to as caffe. Espresso doppio means a double shot of espresso, while espresso macchiato is espresso 'marked' with a dab of steamed milk. Americano — the one to order if you like filter coffee — is espresso diluted with hot water and not drunk much by Italians. Cappuccino is well known outside of Italy, but be warned: it is considered very un-classy, and somewhat childish, to order one after 11am (and certainly after a meal). Decaffeinato is self explanatory, but often referred to by the common brand-name Caffe Hag; it is usually instant coffee and not nearly as good as the real thing.

Vegetarians

Vegetarians should have an easy time. Buffets usually have a good range of delicious vegetarian stuff - eg gratinated roast peppers/aubergines, etc. Vegans should do all right too; pizzas don't always have cheese - a Marinara for example, is just tomato, garlic and oregano.

• Il Margutta RistorArte (Margutta Vegetariano), +39 0632 650 577, +39 0632 650 577, Via Margutta 118 - Roma, Expensive but **amazing** vegetarian and vegan food. Organic & bio-dynamic wines.

Kosher dining

While there is not much choice, at least Rome's Kosher restaurant is truly excellent. "La Taverna del Ghetto" is in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, steps away from the Colosseum.

Pricing

Drink

Regional wines are cheaper and very good. House wines are almost always drinkable and inexpensive (unlike, say in the UK). Most trattorie would not be caught dead serving poor wine. You may often find a bottle of wine on the table for you. Believe it or not: this bottle will be less expensive than a glass would be in the US or UK, possibly only €4 or €5. This does not always apply to those places that look really tourist-trap-like!

Water is free at most designated water fountains. Some of these date to ancient times, and the water is still very good. It's fresh spring water coming from the famous underground springs of Rome and is safe to drink. If you carry an empty bottle, fill it up for the rest of the day. Look for the drinking fountain with constant running water, plug the bottom hole, and cool water will shoot up from a smaller hole on top of the tap. Don't put your lips round the hole at the bottom, as stray dogs tend to like to get a drink.

Before dinner

Pre-dinner drinks (7.00 PM to around 9.00 PM) accompanied with small hors d'oeuvres (aperitivo) are very common for Romans: 1) chic yuppies in their 20s-30s crowd the area around Piazza delle Coppelle (behind the Parliament) and Piazza di Pietra (near the Chamber of Commerce); 2) younger generations sprawl around the square and streets of Campo de' Fiori (behind Piazza Venezia); 3) everyone sits to drink in the narrow streets behind the Pantheon (Piazza Pasquino and Via del Governo Vecchio).

Clubbing & Night Life

Given a heart for exploration, Testaccio is the place to wander for after-dinner partying. Head down there around 11pm (take metro Line B and get off at Piramide station) and listen for music. There are usually loads of people simply walking through the street or looking for parking. Be brave, walk in, meet some wonderful Romans. This area is best in the winter when the dancing moves outside, especially in Ostia and Fregene to towns 30 minutes driving car from Rome, at the seaside. In the summer, many clubs close and you might have to inquire to find out which ones are open.

Young tourists and backpackers like to go on famous Roman pub crawls. The Colosseum Pub Crawl for example, has been throwing parties since 1999.

Not far from Termini Station and near the first University of Rome "La Sapienza" is located the San Lorenzo district, where you will find many pubs and clubs where usually university students and young Romans in their twenties spend their nights. On Saturday night the streets are crowded by people moving from one pub to another. Also near the Termini, near Santa Maria Maggiore Cathedral, are located a bunch of great Irish pubs, i.e. the Fiddler's Elbow , the oldest in Rome, where many English-speaking residents and Italian customers like to sip their pints. It's a good place to meet Romans who speak English. Also nearby are the Druid's Den and the Druid's Rock .

On Via Nazionale there's a huge and beautiful pub called The Flann o'Brien , one of the biggest in Rome. On the same street near Piazza Venezia there is another cluster of pubs including The Nag's Head Scottish Pub . After 22.00 their Dj makes you also dance, unfortunately it's very expensive at night,like a disco. Entrance with first drink costs 13 Euros and drinks cost 8 Euros. Before midnight they could host live music concerts. In the same area, at the beginning of Via Vittorio Emanuele II you can find The Scholar's Lounge Irish pub with nice music. This is definitely worth a look but there is no room to dance. During winter American colleges students residents in Rome end up their highly alcoholic nights here. Also nearby there's the Trinity College Irish Pub but drinks are quite expensive there.

Also on via Vittorio Emanuele, near Piazza Navona, there's the Bulldog's Inn English pub. DJs play very good music there and there's room to dance, although few do. Nearby inCampo dei fiori squarethere are several crowded pubs. Beware, there have been huge and serious fights there. After Piazza Navona, in the narrow streets there are also many places to go. We recommend a visit to the artistic bathroom of Jonathan's Angels in via del Fico. Also the Abbey Theatre Irish pub is a good place in Via del Governo Vecchio.

On the other side of the River Tevere is Trastevere district where there are many places to eat and drink. Also a good place where to enjoy a walk in crowded streets at night. In summer time on Isola Tiberina, the island in the Tiber, are built temporary bars and people crowd happily and restlessly at night.

Far from the center there are some good places also. The Palacavicchi in a small suburban town called Ciampino is a multi-dance room area where they play different kinds of music, mostly latin american. You definitely need to get a cab to get there and that's expensive in Rome. Near the Ice Palace of Rome, in the area called Santa Maria delle Mole, which belongs to the small town of Marino, there are The Ice Palace itself for ice skating, the Kirby's and the Geronimo pubs. All of them are nice places. At the Geronimo pub before midnight there usually are live music concerts with many bands covering different genres. On friday and saturday nights after the concert they play disco music. Entrance is free and you may drink and eat as you feel. Very cool place and for every budget. Unfortunately you need a cab to get there.

Those Romans who speak fluent english usually have a great deal of confidence with tourists, so just offer them a beer and they will be glad to share with you their tip & tricks about night life in Rome.

Discos: Nightlife in Rome is quite expensive, but there are many beautiful discos. Unfortunately the city is huge and it's not very easy to find them, unless you have a very good guide.

The best way to start is from the most established ones: Piper, Gilda, Alien, all of them run by the Midra Srl . Their website is very old fashioned, those discos should deserve a better website, anyway just use it to discover telephone numbers and addresses. Gilda is near the Spanish Steps, and the others not too much far from Termini station. During summer they close to move to the seaside of Fregene (north of Fiumicino and Ostia) where stands the Gilda on the Beach

A pint of beer in pubs usually costs around 6 euros, entrance in discos around 20 euros with first drink included. Drinks in discos cost around 10 euros.

Gay travellers

Friday nights at Giardino delle Rose in via Casilina Vecchia 1 (rather central but reachable only by taxi): a luxurious garden with open-air bars and tables. Two large discos are cramped up with people on Friday and Saturday nights: check out Mucca Assassina (one-nigh party usually held at the disco in via del Gazometro or at Classico in via Ostiense). During the week there is little to do except for meeting after dinner at Coming Out (a bar right in front of the Coliseum where crowds of gay romans and tourists gather in and outside, all year round but overwhelmingly crowded during the summer) or going to late-night clubs such as Hangar in Via in Selci (Metro Line A, get off at Manzoni station). The best sauna (open 24 hours during week ends) is Europa Multiclub in via Aureliana (behind Piazza Esedra, Metro Line A Repubblica station). The meeting spot for gays day and (especially) night is Monte Caprino, the park on the Palatine hill behind the City Hall (Piazza Venezia) with spectacular views over the temples and ruins of ancient Rome.

Sleep

The best choice for a first-time visitor is to stay downtown (like near the Pantheon): most attractions are walking distance from there, it will save much time from transportation and leave more for enjoying the city. Hotels in the downtown are costly, but a good apartment is a decent alternative, especially for couples and if you don't mind cooking yourself from time to time: it will save even more of your budget.

Being as it is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, there are tons of choices for where to stay, and you will have the choice of whatever type of accommodation you wish.

Note Hotel listings can be found in the appropriate districts, and should be added there too:

Apartments

Offering of short term apartment entals is enormous. Many apartments can be booked directly through the owner, but most make arrangements via rental agencies, both large and small. Please note that this list is heavily edited by the business owners themselves, and you shouldn't consider any of the entries below, as endorsed or approved by anyone.

• Feel Home in Rome , +39 33 5528 8908, +39 33 5528 8908, Via delle Mantellate 16, About 100 properties in Rome available for short lets. Linens and towels as well as weekly cleaning service provided. More frequent maid service on demand. Working hours 9AM-1PM, 3PM-7PM.

• House and the City (House and the City) , +39 06 686 062, Via della Rotonda 41, Rents out around 50 properties in Rome, mostly apartments but also a few villas.

• Rome Sweet Home (Rome Sweet Home) , +39 06 69924833, +39 06 69924833, Via della Vite 32, 300 apartments in the heart of Rome , Daily , weekly and monthly rentals. Office hours: 10.00AM/6.30PMA

• Leisure in Rome (Leisure in Rome) , +39 06 6830 0335, +39 06 6830 0335, Via Metastasio 11, 150 apartments all located in Rome city center, Linen included. Office hours: 10.30AM/7.30PMA

• Rental In Rome (Rental in Rome) , +39 06 9905199, +39 06 9905199, Via dei Riari 55, Over 600 apartments all located in the city center, available from 3 days to 1 year. Office hours: 9.30AM-7.30PM

• Rome Loft , +39 06 9761 9064, +39 06 9761 9064, Via della Scala 31, About 50 centrally located apartments.Linens are included. Final cleaning (mandatory) of the apartment is 50€, while extra cleaning service is available on request (35€). Office hours: 9AM-6PM

When looking for a hotel or an apartment in Rome, take note that the price of accommodations varies significantly from month to month, depending on typical amount of tourists—always check prices at your accommodation for your specific dates.

Camping

There are at least three campsites near Rome, they are:

• Camping Tiber, 06 33610733, Via Tiberina Km. 1400, Prima Porta, On Rome's ringroad, take exit No 6 Via Flaminia. If arriving by public transport, take the ground-level Roma-nord Subway leaving from Piazza Flaminia towards Prima Porta. From there, there's a free shuttle service to the Camp site, On the bank of the river from which it draws it's name is to the north of the city proper. There's a minimarket, a pool, a restaurant and a bar.

• Happy Valley, 06.33626401, In the Hills north of the city at Via Prato della Corte 1915, Prima Porta-Cassia Bis, Roma Take exit no 5 from Rome's ring road and head towards Cassia-Veientana. If you get there by public transport, take the ground-level Roma-nord Subway leaving from Piazza Flaminia towards Prima Porta and wait for the free shuttle bus service. , It has a pool, a bar, a restaurant and a minimarket.

Buy

Main shopping areas include Via del Corso, Via Condotti, and surroundings. The finest designer stores are around Via Condotti, whilst Via del Corso has more affordable clothing, and Via Cola di Rienzo, and the surroundings of Via del Tritone, Campo de'Fiori, and Pantheon is place to go for the cheapest items. Upim is a good shop for cheap clothing of workable quality. Some brands (like Miss Sixty and Furla) are excellent, some are not as good - be sure to feel garments and try them on. There are also great quality shoes and leather bags at prices that compare well to the UK and US. But when shopping for clothes note that bigger sizes than a UK size 16/US 12 isn't always easy to find, and Children's clothing can be expensive - basic vests (tank tops) can cost 21 euro in non-designer shops. Summer sales begin around July 15th.

If you want to spend a day in a large shopping mall, there's the Euroma2 with about 230 shops (mainly clothes and accessories) and restaurants near EUR district. Take Metro B line from Termini to EUR Palasport station, cross the road and take the frequent free bus (ride takes ca 15 minutes) to the mall. In addition to many shops and food, the conditioned air and free toilets may be helpful for a tourist.

There are lots of fake plastic 'Louis Vuitton' bags on sale from immigrants. Make sure you haggle; unsuspecting tourists pay up to 60euro for them. Be aware, that buying of fake products is criminalized in Italy. Fines up to €1000 have been reported. It is possible that having a receipt helps even if the product is fake - this is, however, quite uncertain.

Factory Outlets

• Castel Romano, near Rome, along the Pontina regional highway, . A very large Factory Outlet with more than 100 branded shops. A car is needed to reach the place but a 30% discount in a designer shop is surely worth the 20Km trip.

• Valmontone, . A little further away from Rome than Castel Romano, you can find Valmontone outlet on the motorway towards Napoli just 50 Km far from Rome. Valmontone itself is a delightful little town - 30 mins by train.

Talk

In Rome, obviously the population speaks in Italian for formal purposes. The road signs are in Italian but it's common to find explanations in English too. Residents in their common life speak their own slang, romanesco, a dialectal form of Italian based on vernacular expressions and particular contractions and vocabulary. Roman slang is not far from Italian language so is easily understood by other Italian people, while for foreigners it can become harder. If they see that you are foreigner, usually they'll speak in correct Italian language. Roman people are very fond of their language. In southern Italy and in the big cities people use dialects. Don't be surprised if you can't understand locals in Naples or Reggio di calabria even if you know Italian quite well. In this situation, politely ask them to repeat.

English is widely spoken in Rome, especially by people working in virtually any touristy areas. But you'll be able to speak English with common people very often, especially with younger persons aged between 14 and 35. English is studied by italian students since lower schools and they often can speak it: if you meet someone who's not skilled, he'll however understand basic questions and will surely try to help you. Older citizens don't know English very well, some of them know little French or German but not so much.

Etiquette

Romans regularly interact with foreigners and tourists; it shouldn't be hard to find friendly help. As for most every place in Italy, just be polite and you won't have much trouble.

If you hit someone with your luggage or shoulder while walking on a street, say "sorry" (Mi scusi): despite being very busy, Rome is not London or New York and going ahead is considered bad behaviour, while a little apology will be satisfactory.

In buses or trains, let older people have your seat if there's no space available. The gesture will be appreciated. Romans, and Italians as well, are very chaotic while in a queue, and often "clump" without any particular order: It's considered unpolite, but they do it anyway. Be careful while driving, as Romans often drive frantically and bend the rules to cope with the heavy traffic.

Safety

Rome is generally a safe place, even for women travelling alone. There is very little violent crime, but plenty of scams and pickpocketing which will target tourists. As in any big city, it is better if you don't look like a tourist: don't exhibit your camera or camcorder to all and sundry, and keep your money in a safe place. Conscientiousness and vigilance are your best insurances for avoiding becoming a victim of a crime in Rome. Remember, if you are pickpocketed or another scam, don't be afraid to shout Aiuto, al ladro! (Help, Thief!). Romans will not be nice to the thief.

Members of the Italian public are likely to be sympathetic if you are a crime victim. Police are also generally friendly if not always helpful. Carabinieri (black uniform, red striped trousers) are military police, and Polizia (blue and grey uniform) are civilians, but they both do essentially the same thing and are equally good, or bad. If you are robbed, try to find a police station and report it. This is essential to establishing a secure travel insurance claim.

Rome is home to two rival Serie A football clubs, A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio, and there is a history of conflict, and even rioting, between the two. If you dare to wear anything that supports either of them, especially during the Rome Derby (when the two clubs play each other), make sure you don't wander into supporters of the other club, or you may be subject to heckling or even confrontation. Play it safe and refrain from openly supporting either club unless you are very familiar with the rivalry. If you are a fan of a foreign team playing in Rome (especially against Roma) be very very careful as a number of supporters have been stabbed over the past few years purely for being foreign.

Pickpocketing

Being the incredibly popular tourist destination it is, a great deal of pickpocketing and bag or purse natching takes place in Rome, especially in crowded locations, and pickpocketers in Rome can get pretty crafty.

As a rule, you should pretty much never carry anything very valuable in any pocket. The front pocket of your pants is one of the easiest and most common targets. Keeping your wallet in your front pocket or in your bag is far from safe. You should consider using a money belt and carry only the cash for the day in your pocket.

Also beware of thieves--one popular technique that they use is to ride by you on a moped, slice the strap with a knife, and ride off. They might also try to cut the bottom of your bag open and pick your wallet from the ground. Others will use the old trick of one person trying to distract you (asking for a cigarette, doing a strange dance) while another thief picks your pockets from behind. Bands of gypsy kids will sometimes crowd you and reach for your pockets under the cover of newspapers or cardboard sheets. It is generally a good idea to be extremely wary of any strange person who gets too close to you, even in a crowd. If someone is in your personal space, shove them away. As one frequent traveller put it, "Don't be afraid to be a dick in Rome." Better to risk coming off as rude than to reach for your wallet and find it missing.

Termini (the main railway station), Esquilino and bus line 64 (Termini to San Pietro) are well known for pick-pockets, so take extra care in these areas. On the Metro, pickpockets are extremely skilled.

Remember that hotel rooms are not safe places for valuables; if your room doesn't have a safe give them to the hotel staff for safekeeping.

You don't have to be totally paranoid, but do be aware of the danger and take the usual precautions.

Tourist scams

Read up on the legends concerning tourist scams. Most of them occur regularly in Rome and you will want to see them coming.

A particular scam is when some plainclothes police will approach you, asking to look for "drug money," or ask to see your passport. This is a scam to take your money. You can scare them by asking for their ID. Guardia di Finanza (the grey uniformed ones) do customs work.

Currently there are two middle-aged men working near the Spanish Steps. They approach you, asking where you are from and begin to tie bracelets around your wrists. When they are done they will charge you upwards of €20 for each bracelet. There are also two men in their early twenties doing the same thing in the Piazza Navona. If anyone makes any attempt to reach for your hand, retract quickly. If you get trapped, you can refuse to pay, but this may not be wise if there are not many people around.

When taking a taxi, be sure to remember license number written on the card door. In seconds your taxi bill can raise by 5, 10 or more euros. When giving money to taxi driver, be careful.

Be careful of con-men who may approach you at tourist sights such as the Colosseum or Circus Maximus. Eg. a car may pull up next to you, and the driver ask you for directions to the Vatican. He will strike up a conversation with you while he sits in his car, and tell you he is a sales representative for a large French fashion house. He will then tell you he likes you and he would like to give you a gift of a coat worth several thousand euros. As you reach inside his car to take the bag the coat is in, he will ask you for €200 for gas, as his car is nearly empty. When you refuse, he could turn angry and now demand money from you, any money, of any currency. Don't fall for such confidence-tricks - if something sounds too good to be true, it is.

Emergencies

In an emergency call 112 (Carabinieri), 113 (Police), 118 (medical first aid) or 115 (firemen). Carry the address of your embassy or consulate.

Districts

Central Rome

• Modern Center — Where the hotels are, as well as shopping and dining galore along the Via Veneto; home to the Quirinale, Trevi, Castro Pretorio, and Repubblica neighborhoods

• Old Rome — the center of the Roman medieval and Renaissance periods, with beautiful plazas, cathedrals, the Pantheon, and plenty of laid back dining; includes the Navona, Campo de' Fiori, and the Jewish Ghetto neighborhoods

• The Vatican — the Papal City State and its endless treasure troves of sights, relics, and museums, as well as the surrounding Italian neighborhood, Vaticano

• Colosseo — the heart of ancient Rome, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Forum of Augustus, the Forum and Markets of Trajan, the Capitoline and its museums

• North Center — situated in the north part of Rome, home to the Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps, and the elegant neighborhoods of Parioli and Salario

• Trastevere — the land to the south of the Vatican, on the west bank of the Tiber River, full of narrow cobbled streets and lonely plazas that served as the inspiration for artists such as Giorgio de Chirico, now arguably the center of Rome's artistic life

• Aventino-Testaccio — off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods of Rome with plenty of surprises waiting for interested travelers, as well as some truly great food

• Esquilino-San Giovanni — south of Termini, with an indoor market, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, and the Cathedral of Rome Saint John in Lateran

• Nomentano — Municipio III, the neighborhoods "behind" the train station

Outskirts

• North — the vast suburban neighborhoods to the north of the center (Municipi 4, 15-20)

• South — home to extensive suburbs and fascist monumental architecture at EUR as well as catacombs and the Appian Way.(Municipi 5-13)

• Lido di Ostia — Rome's beach resort

• Ostia Antica — the impressive ruins of Ancient Rome's harbour.

Itineraries

• Rome like You’ll Never Forget How to have a Hollywood-inspired Roman holiday

Exuding an unbelievable character spun by the legacy of the past mixed with the energetic vibe of the future, Rome is indeed the Eternal City where time does not seem to rule. Both the new and the old find their place in Rome, which is full of timeless and significant monuments that appeal to every tourist’s need for awe-striking things to see. The classic multicultural tourism scene of Rome enjoys an enthusiastic mishmash of cultures and sensations and has made its appearance in popular films through the years.

Start Your Roman Holiday at the Piazza di Spagna

One of the most popular attractions of Rome is the Piazza di Spagna or the Spanish Square, a highly popular meeting place situated in the center of Rome’s historic district. The Piazza di Spagna is a good place to start your vacation in Rome, and the classic 1953 romantic comedy “Roman Holiday” attests to this.

The Piazza di Spagna is a long and spacious square flanked on three sides by three important Roman attractions, and “each, in its own way, is unforgettable,” as Hepburn’s Princess Ann expressed. These attractions are the Spanish Steps, the Barcaccia Fountain just at the foot of the Spanish Steps, and the Trinita dei Monti at the top of the Spanish Steps.

The unique shape of Piazza di Spagna makes it one of the most distinct plazas in the world, and it is surrounded by a rich and colorful Roman baroque environment that distinguished its many attractions, hotels, residences, inns, cafes, and restaurants.

This distinct area of Piazza di Spagna serves as the main setting of Roman Holiday, which was the first film that introduced film icon Audrey Hepburn. She was joined in the film by Gregory Peck and Eddie Albert. The film centered around the secret but carefree Roman holiday enjoyed by Hepburn’s character Ann, a princess who escapes from her official visit to Rome to be able to roam the city by herself. By the Spanish Steps, she meets Joe, played by Peck, who encourages her to try a gelato and loosen up so she can fully embrace her Roman holiday.

Wound Your Way through Rome by the Via Veneto

A few steps away from the Trinita dei Monti lies the Via Veneto, one of the most famous and most expensive streets of Rome. The famous street factors into certain significant scenes in the iconic 1960 film La Dolce Vita or The Sweet Life, an unforgettable film that offered an equally memorable mirage of classic and romantic Rome.

The film, directed by renowned director Federico Fellini, centered around the life of Marcello, a journalist exploring Rome and searching for real happiness and love. In the span of seven days, he meets two beautiful women, Maddalena and Sylvia, as well as an old friend and his father.

Due to the popularity sparked by the film, Via Veneto became a bustling market for the upper classes, and tourists looking for the sweet luxurious life of Rome need only to go to Via Veneto for the best cafes and shops. The street of Via Veneto is lined with trees and flower beds, as well as with famous celebrities from all over the world. The street then branches out into little lanes that lead to the famous trattorias of Rome.

Live the Sweet Life at the Trevi Fountain

The famous film, La Dolce Vita, also made another important Roman attraction, the Trevi Fountain, a world icon. The Fontana di Trevi is undoubtedly the most beautiful fountain in Rome. Fashioned in baroque style, the fountain now serves as an important Roman landmark where three roads and Rome’s ancient aqueducts met. It was commissioned in 1732 and completed in 1762. It was originally designed by Bernini, but the completion of the project was led by Nicola Salvi.

The fountain’s central figure is a statue of Neptune, the god of the sea, while riding on a shell-shaped chariot. The chariot is pulled by two sea horses of differing characters, one calm and the other restless. The site of the fountain is now often overflowing with tourists, and many can be seen tossing a coin into the fountain and envisioning their return to Rome.

This famous fountain was made even more famous thanks to the iconic and controversial scene in Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. In the movie, Anita Ekberg played the role of Sylvia, a Swedish-American movie star Marcello desired. And in the unforgettable scene, Sylvia waded into the fountain and was followed by Marcello. In many reviews, Sylvia was later dubbed as Aphrodite incarnate. The scene fast became a cinematic revolution, and played a role in the fame of the Trevi Fountain.

Celebrate Rome at the Pantheon

Finally, don’t forget to drop by the Pantheon to complete your Roman holiday. The Pantheon is one of the most historically important monuments in Rome. It is considered as the temple of all the gods. It was constructed between 118 and 125 AD and is well-known for its large dome. Wonderfully preserved, the Pantheon provides a glimpse of the unforgettable past. It is now teeming with cafes and a piazza where Roman tourists and residents can mingle and relax.

The Pantheon was recently featured in the Hollywood film Angels and Demons, based on the famous novel by controversial author Dan Brown. In the film, Robert Langdon’s frantic search for the Illuminati led him to the Pantheon, which lies to the north of the Piazza della Rotunda. The Pantheon was already a famous monument prior to the making of the movie, but the recent film once again immortalized the historical story surrounding the ancient temple and celebrated the grandeur of Rome.

To experience the breathtaking history of Rome, book a room at the Hotel Barocco in Rome to make your Roman holiday an even more unforgettable one.

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Viewpoints

With no tall buildings in Rome, views of the city come from climbing the many hills, either the original seven hills of Rome or others that surround them. The two most popular views of Rome are from the Janiculum hill overlooking Trastevere and the Pincio at the edge of the Borghese Gardens. The former, best reached by car, has sweeping views of the center of Rome, as long as the authorities remember to prune the trees on the hillside in front of the viewpoint. Cross over the piazza for an excellent view of the dome of St Peter's. The Vatican is the main sight from the Pincio (metro Line A, Piazza del Popolo, and then a good climb). Less popular, but just as nice, is the orange grove at Parco Savello on the Aventine Hill.

Rome for kids

If you are planning some serious sightseeing then leave the kids with their grandparents! They don’t take kindly to being dragged from ruin to ruin and church to church. A common sight in Rome is miserable looking kids traipsing after their parents. Also, push chairs/buggies are difficult to use because of the cobbled streets. If you are a family, do not try to do to much. It will be a big strain on kids and in the end everyone will be tired.

Apart from the major attractions Rome has relatively little to entertain kids. If you noticed a big Ferris wheel on your way in from Fiumicino Airport, think again. Lunapark at EUR was closed down in 2008. A few of the other ways to bribe your kids, however, are:

• Children's Museum. Via Flaminia 82. Just north of Piazza del Popolo. Controlled entrance at 10.00, 12,00, 15.00 and 17.00 for visits lasting 1 hour 45 minutes. Closed Mondays and for much of August. Best to check the web site for up-to-date info and to book in advance. Hands-on science, mainly for pre-teens, housed in a former tram-car depot.

• 3d-Rewind , 9.00-19.00, Via Capo D'Africa 5, just behind the Colosseum, provides a three-dimensional look at what the Colosseum and the Forum were like in the days of the Romans. Kids really like it but parents beware that you have to brave a large .

• Bioparco. The renamed Rome Zoo. On the edge of the Borghese Gardens. From 09.30 to 17.00 or 18.00 depending on the month. They try hard, but San Diego this isn't. If you are a regular zoo-goer you will be disappointed.

• The Time Elevator. Via dei Santi Apostoli, 20 on a side street between Piazza Venezia and the Trevi Fountain. Daily 10.30 to 19.30. "Five-dimensional" shows on the Origins of Life and on the History of Rome, plus "The House of Horrors". Not for the faint-hearted: your seats move all over the place. Kids love it.

• Rome's Wax Museum. 67 Piazza di Santi Apostoli, next to Piazza Venezia. Few good reports about this museum. Comments invited.

• Planetarium at EUR. This also has an excellent astronomy museum and is conveniently next to the Museum of Rome's Civilization .

• The Vatican is, by and large, not a great idea for kids although they often enjoy is the Sistine Chapel and are impressed by the beauty and the fact that it was all done in just four years. However, the Sistine Chapel is very crowded and getting there through the corridors of the Vatican Museum is even worse. It is easy for families to get separated so determine a meeting point. The best part of St. Peters Basilica is that kids can go to the top of the dome. It is 500 steps but you can take the elevator up to the third floor. From there there are another 323 exhausting steps. So it is fun for older kids who can both climb up all the stairs and walk down as there is a huge line for the elevator.

• Zoomarine. Dolphins, sea lions, exotic birds, splashy rides and swimming pools, some 20km south of Rome near Pomezia. A good day out, but is this really why you came to Rome? Free transport from EUR and Pomezia railway station. Check web site for details.

Learn

Rome is replete with foreign language and cultural institutions. Of course, learning Italian is a worthwhile activity while in Rome.

Be a good guest if you do not speak Italian. Being extra polite will keep you out of trouble.

• The regional government and two historical societies are offering free Latin classes to tourists. .

• The Historical Group of Rome runs a gladiator school. 18 Via Appia Antica. ph 00396 51607951. , .

Work

If you want to work during the tourist season, ask around at the hostels, hotels and restaurants with that touristy feel. It is quite easy to get a job, and it is a lot of fun even if it does not usually pay well. There are differing views on how easy it is to get a job out here. There is high unemployment and most jobs seem to go on a family - friends - other romans - other Italians - white EU - other foreigners pecking order. Italian helps. And be wary about making any financial commitments before you've actually been paid -- late and non-payment is common here, and you may find as a non-Roman you are more likely to be seen as an easy target for this. You will also need a permesso di soggiorno, whether or not you are an EU resident. Legally, you are required to have a working visa, although it is very easy to work and live without one.

Cope

• Police. At pl Lorenzo is where to report theft.

• Left Luggage Termini. You can leave luggage at Termini but they have a lot of security and only one X-ray machine so there can be a +100 people queue. It costs about €3.40 per bag(of any size) for the first 5 hours, €0.80 per bag for each hour thereafter. There's a sign limiting bags to 20kg each, but no facility for weighing them (that I saw) so it's probably not enforced.

• Splasnet laundry, internet, left luggage, Via Varesi 33, 100 m west of Termini. €2 per luggage left (and 15 min of internet included).

Embassies and consulates

• Australian Embassy , +39 06 85 2721, M-F 8:30AM-4PM, Via Antonio Bosio 5

• Austrian Embassy , 068440141, M-F 9AM-noon, Via Pergolesi 3

• British Embassy , +39 06 4220 0001, +39 06 4220 2603 after hours, M-F 9AM-5PM, Via XX Settembre 80

• Bulgarian Embassy , +39 06 322 46 40, +39 06 322 46 43, +39 06 322 46 40, +39 06 322 46 43, M-F 9AM-5PM, Via Pietro Polo Rubens 21

• Chinese Embassy , +39 (0)6 8413458, Via Bruxelles 56

• Canadian Embassy , +39 06 44598 1, Via Zara 30

• Croatian Embassy , +39 06 363 07650, +39 06 363 07650, M-F 09.30-12.30, Via Luigi Bodio 74/76

• Danish Embassy , +39 06 9774 831, +39 06 9774 831, M-F 8AM-5:30PM, Via dei Monti Parioli 50

• Dutch Embassy , +39 06 3228 6001, +39 06 3228 6001, M-F 8AM-5:30PM, Via Michele Mercati 8

• Estonian Embassy , +39 06 844 075 10, +39 06 844 075 10, M-F 9AM-5:00PM, Ambasciata di Estonia, Viale Liegi 28 int. 5

• Finnish Embassy , +39 06 852 231, +39 06 852 231, Ambasciata di Finlandia, Via Lisbona 3

• Greek Embassy , +39 06 853 7551, +39 06 853 7551, Ambasciata di Grecia, Via S. Mercadante 36

• Indian Embassy, +39 06 4884642/3/4/5, Via XX Settembre, 5, 00187 Rome (Italy)

• Maltese Embassy, +39 06 6879990, Lungotevere Marzio 12

• Embassy of Malaysia, +39 06 8415764, +39 06 8415764, 09.00am-16.00pm (no lunch break), Via Nomentana, 297

• New Zealand Embassy , +39 06 441 7171, +39 06 441 7171, Via Zara 28

• Norwegian Embassy , +39 06 571 7031, +39 06 571 7031, Via delle Terme Deciane 7

• Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro , +39 06 320 07 96, +39 06 320 08 90, +39 06 320 09 59, +39 06 320 08 05 (all night), +39 06 320 07 96, +39 06 320 08 90, +39 06 320 09 59, +39 06 320 08 05 (all night), Via dei Monti Parioli 20, telex 616-303

• Russian Embassy, 06/4941680, 06/4941681, Via Gaeta 5

• Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore, +39 06 4875 9510, +39 06 4875 9510, Via Nazionale, 200,00184 Rome

• South African Embassy , +39 06 85 25 41, M-F 8AM-4:30PM, Via Tanaro 14

• Spanish Embassy, +39 06 684 04 011, Palazzo Borghese, Largo Fontanella di Borghese 19

• Turkish Embassy, +39 06 445 941, 28, Via Palestro 00185

• US Embassy , +39 06 4674 1, 8:30AM-5:30PM, Via Vittorio Veneto 119/A

• Especially if you have a rail pass, making Pompeii a day trip, while it is a very full day, is very doable. To reach Pompeii from Rome will take about 3 hours.

• Explore the Etruscan sites of Cerveteri, Tarquinia and Vulci.

• Head to Frascati, one of the historic hill towns to the South East of Rome known as the Castelli Romani. This town has been a popular destination for centuries away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, and this is still true today. Famous worldwide for its white wine, Frascati is a relaxed hill town with a slower pace of life. Just 21km from Rome, Frascati is accessible by bus or train. Trains run from Roma Termini approximately every hour, take about 30 minutes, and cost around € 2. Also in the Castelli is Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope. The town overlooks Lake Albano, a popular weekend trip for Romans in the summer. Also accessible by bus and train but there are several interesting towns and villages in the Castelli so hiring a car for the day would be well-rewarded.

• Head to Ostia Antica, the ancient harbor and military colony of Rome. It is accessible by tube every 30 minutes from Stazione Piramide (near the Piramid). It is a monumental area a bit like the Roman Forum. But in Ostia Antica you can get an impression how a Roman city looked.

• Consider a day trip to Tivoli to see the Villa d'Este with its famous and glorious fountains. Check out the Emperor Hadrian's Villa while you are out there. Hourly trains from Tiburtina; fewer on Sundays.

• Understand the Second World War in Italy by visiting the Anzio beachhead area and Monte Cassino.

• Go to Ischia and Capri - the famed islands in the Gulf of Naples.

• Discover the papal city of Viterbo, well-known medieval and thermal destination (about 1 and half hours from Rome)

• Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, is the point of arrival and departure of hundreds of ships, cruises, ferries travelling all around the Mediterranean. From here it is possible to reach Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Spain, France, some other small islands, and even north Africa. A good transportation system links the port to the Eternal City.