Travel destinations: Rome, Italy – Part 1

Last Spring I boarded a 4 hour flight with two of my closest friends and headed for the fantastic city that is Roma! My best friends parents had bought us the holiday as an 18th birthday present and instantly i couldn’t wait to go. I had studied Italian for 4 years at school and I was already dying to try out what I had learned to see how it matched up to the Italians. Suffice to say I didn’t last very long speaking Italian but what a city.

From the moment we arrived the smell was overwhelming. You could almost smell the culture and history of the city. I’d seen pictures of Rome before but nothing can prepare you for the real thing. The first day we arrived we wandered around the old cobblestoned streets just marveling in the glorious sounds and smells. People talking , the faint sound of Italian words being mumbled, the noise of the mopeds so many Romans favored and the fantastic sound of the breeze blowing as we walked made the holiday one I’ll always remember. During the day the weather was hot but tolerable. There was a light breeze which kept us cool and we’d learned early on that carrying water was an essential. We’d spend our days browsing through stores, standing in awe as we walked along the Via Condotti and laughing with each other by the Trevi Fountain. Our hotel was a small quaint little place just off the main street in Rome , close to the main train station which meant we where central to everything we needed. We visited the most amazing sights – the trevi, the Spanish steps,the Vatican , a million and one art galleries, gathering and breathing in as much history as we could. We couldn’t quite believe how beautiful the city was.

The Roman people where like no others id met. So welcoming and friendly. And so uniquely proud of their glorious city. Why shouldn’t they be? Its the place where civilization began? Their heritage was literally sprinkled all over the city in interesting tourist spots , which made Rome as fascinating as it was. The most fabulous part of Rome was how the city changed at night. The street lights twinkled against the night sky like a million stars lost in the darkness. The city really did come alive at night. The fondest memory i have of Rome is sitting by the Trevi Fountain late at night eating gelato and laughing uncontrollably. The feeling of such intense relaxation was amazing. The city truly does sparkle. I’d recommend Rome to anyone for a holiday – I’m no history buff but even i couldn’t help but be moved by the intensity of the history of Rome. And you can see it all around – the streets, the people, the sights – its all magical. And without a doubt being inside the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican…the center of the Catholic Church was the most poignant moment in my life so far. I’m not a religious person but you can instantly feel your in the presence of somewhere truly spectacular the second you enter the church. The high ceilings painted my Michelangelo are stunning, breathtaking views that will be forever imprinted in my mind. There really is no more beautiful place in Rome than right there , inside the Chapel marveling at such beautiful pieces of art.

Sadly our holiday ended all to quickly , before long we where home. But I’m definitely visiting Rome again , this time for longer. Its a shame to spend a short time in such a vastly significant city. Not to mention a truly beautiful holiday destination.

Travel destinations: Rome, Italy

Considered to be one of the most historical cities in the world, Rome is also the most unique of all European cities. Considering the number of sightseeing attractions contained within the walls of Rome one can be certain about one simple fact Rome cannot be seen completely in a single trip or a short stay in the city.

Centro Storico marks the centre of Rome, and is bordered in the east by the River Tiber and on the west by Via del Corso. The main hub of the city spreads in an easterly direction from the city centre to the district of Spagna, and in a southward direction to the Colosseo, and northward to the Villa Borghese. To the west of the city centre is the Vatican City. Vatican City is one of the serene and calmer parts of Rome when compared to other places and is best reached by bus. Although Rome and its history are best seen when on foot buses provide the much needed relief when you are tired.

Sightseeing Attractions

There are literally too many sightseeing attractions in Rome and it is virtually impossible to name all of them. However, a few of them are a must visit when you travel to Rome and deserve special mention. The largest of the attractions is the Pantheon, situated in Rome’s central district. Rome’s attractions of historical significance further extend to Colosseo which is south of central Rome. Colosseo is home to Coliseum, the Arch of Constantine, Palantine Hill and the Roman Forum. Spagna which is east of central Rome is home to the Spanish Steps and the Mausoleum of Augustus. Towards the west is the Vatican City which houses Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Piazza, and the Vatican Museum. Fori Imperiali is a wonderful attraction because tourists can climb to the top for a spectacular view of Vatican City. There are also other churches and museums which appeal to most tourists. The Capitoline Museums, Palazzo Massimo, Galleria Borghese, and the Villa Giulia Museum deserve special mention. The churches are an integral part of Rome and are spread throughout the city and each one has something to its credit.

Nightlife

Shopping, Dining and Drinking are integral to a visit to Rome. Rome’s nightlife is an experience unparalleled elsewhere. The nightlife of Rome is as significant as its history and architecture. For a night out on the town, a good place to go to is the district of Testaccio. Many bars and clubs are spread across the streets of this district, most offering either live music or a DJ. In the summer, Roman clubs move their parties outdoors, and, in the winter, many clubs are closed for the off-season.

Traditional Italian cuisine can be found literally in every nook and corner of Rome, though Roman restaurants also offer many worldly cuisine options. But of course who wouldn’t want to eat like the Romans while in Rome? The city’s centre and its surrounding regions are usually buzzing in action and are the best places to find ample shopping, dining, and drinking adventures.

Travel To Rome, Italy

For new travelers who never been to Rome before could find out that it is very hard to imagine how Rome looks like and how to prepare themselves before visiting Rome. There are already plenty of this kind of information but this one probably the in-dept one that you are looking for. There are some good tips about what kind of attractions that you should visit when you are in Rome as they are particularly interesting even some of them may not be the highlighted attractions.

Rome is very well known among travelers of its attractive building, environment and fascinating culture. One you have a chance to visit Rome, you will be able to find out that Rome is not just a place for vacation and relax but it is also for anyone who wants to learn history and culture because Rome is the city that has very interesting history and diversity of culture. By visiting Rome, there are some tourist attractions that could not be missed.

General description of Rome

Rome is classified by tourists as one of the top destination of the world. This is because the weather in Rome, which climate mild and rainy in winter rather than full of snow, is usually accommodate all kind of vacation and activities, so these reasons make Rome can be visited throughout the year. Moreover, it is very easy to access in terms of immigration as you do not need visa to visit Rome unless you will stay for longer than 90 days period. The best time to visit Rome is anytime that you want but you should be aware of time during between October and March, when Rome in the off-peak months. When you decide to visit Rome, it is strongly suggest that you should find accommodation around the historic district.

However, before you go to Rome, it is also a good idea to make a forward planning of where you are going to visit and check list of what you have to do during the trip as this can help you to save time and money. Planning about transportation is also required, as there are many kinds of transport that you can choose, you may be taking Tram system, that goes around the city and it is strongly recommend for people who want to enjoy sightseeing tour.

There are some highlighted attractions that you just could not miss. They are kind of “symbol” of Rome and people who visited Rome but missed this attractions is considered as they have never visited to Rome. These attractions are Coliseum and the Roman Forum. Coliseum is the ancient stadium and it is the film shooting site of the movie Gladiator. However, the opening times of the Coliseum is not certain, depends on the time of the year, so you may have to check information before you visit. The Roman Forum is the civic center of Ancient Rome where citizen joined and discussed about economic, religious and political activities. You may hire a tour guide to provide more information about this attraction by pay just a little more money to get more knowledge.

The Nightlife Of Rome

It may not be your destination, if you are looking for some really hardcore nightlife however the city of Rome has its own charms of nights. You may not find it the bounciest of the cities at night, but so what! Rome has the beauty that has its own class. You may not find the zippiest of nightlifes in the “eternal city,” but Rome has nightlife of its own genre.

The “City of Love,” Rome, you know, is carved from different material. Rome’s nightlight is much more than carousing and dancing bars and nightclubs. Some of the sites that are attractive during daytime become even more mesmerizing during nights. Rome is bewitching during nights.

The city may not be offering the liveliest of nightlifes, yet those who have will, can find right places of enjoy. Offering quite comely sort of nightlife, the city is not utterly devoid of bars, pubs, and clubs. The city has a number of places for hanging out during nights.

There are some really nice bars and clubs that make Rome’s nightlife really-really expensive. There are plenty of clubs that have dress codes; either require a coat and tie. But hey, never mind, when in Rome do as the Romans do.

The legal age for drinking in Rome (Italy) is 16. Drinking is possible at all hours; most wine-bars and birrerie stay open until 12am in winter and 2 am in summer. The prices of drinks vary from location to location. A glass of wine at a city centre wine-bar can cost anything from €2-7, while a cocktail in a nightclub may cost €12. Half a liter container of beer usually costs around €5. However drinks are always cheaper when taken standing at the bar.

The wine-bars and cafés between Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Navona and Via della Pace are the worth visiting places during nights. Irish pubs are nice places for informal night out fun. These pubs are extremely popular with Italians and other foreigners. Most of nightclubs are constellated in the Testaccio and Ostiense districts. Additionally, the city has a number of bars, pubs, live music venues and opera venues.

The Vineria (Campo de’ Fiori), popular among local celebrities, is nice bar for early evening drinks. Il Nolano (No. 11) is always less packed, yet good for people-watching. Just little away is the Drunken Ship in nice socializing venue for English-speaking foreigners and tourists. Antico Caffè della Pace (Via della Pace 5 close to Piazza Navona) is highly popular, but bit more refined. Caffè di Marzio (Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere 15) is a nice place to enjoy a pre-dinner drink or two.

Gilda (Via Mario dei Fiori 97 close to Piazza di Spagna) is classy club offering a nice feast of fun dominated by Disco. It has a restaurant and a piano bar for private parties. Alien (Via Velletri 13-19) is bold n beautiful featuring sexy hot dancers. Alibi (Testaccio), a nice gay venue in the city, occasionally offers live concerts. Near by, Zoobar (Via Monte Testaccio 22) offers a great blend of rock and new melodies.

Goa (Via Libetta 13) is known for the DJs and techno music. Classico Village (Via Libetta 13) offering two dance floors and a restaurant, features a nice mix of Italian pop, rock and jazz concerts.

Alexanderplatz (Via Ostia 9, near the Vatican) is a famous live music venue in the city. All big wigs love coming and performing at the place. Big Mama (Vicolo di San Francesco a Ripa 18) brings up biggies as well as some good up-and-coming musicians. Fonclea (Via Crescenzio 82A) is nice place offering concerts of jazz, rhythm, and blues. The place has a late-night restaurant, and a bar that serves excellent cocktails and a wide selection of whiskeys. The La Palma (Via Giuseppe Mirri 35) is nice for jazz and ethnic melodies.

Caruso-Cafè de Oriente (Via Monte Testaccio 36) is widely known for organizing shows of the local and visiting Caribbean, Cuban and Brazilian musicians. Brancaleone (Via Levanna 11) is widely known as a live music hotspot. The venue is also known for concerts, films, art exhibitions and club nights. Circolo degli Artisti (Via Casilina Vecchia 42) is your place for an eclectic mix of rap, reggae, cyber punk and grunge.

Gamblers may have little hard time in Rome as gambling is banned throughout Italy with the exceptions of Venice. So you may not find a casino in Rome.