A Quick Travel Guide To Rome

Rome is an enchanting place that has been attracting tourists for its rich cultural heritage and brilliant historic monuments. In the ratings of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2004 Reader’s Choice Awards, Rome grabbed the coveted second spot on the list of top ten European cities.

Some quick helpful facts about traveling to the city. You need to have a valid passport to enter Italy though you do not need a visa if the duration of the stay is less than 90 days. However, there is an exception to this rule for some specific countries. Since the summers are hot and dry, you should visit Rome between October and March. Book yourself at a hotel that is close to the historic district. The ideal place would be Hotel de Russie, situated between the Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps that are worth seeing.

Plan your itinerary well in advance, especially the places you definitely want to visit. The ideal mode of discovering Rome’s heritage is on foot, as it gives you the flexibility of covering the locations at your own speed. The other option to save cost is to use the Tram Bus system that links the entire city and also the nearby areas. And if you are looking at convenience, you can always opt for a private tour. Make sure you have taken a pair of comfortable shoes. Carry minimum weight while going around the city. The city has many eating joints around the tourist attractions so you can appease your hunger pangs any time you want.

The city is full of tourist attractions and it is a real tough task to decide which of them are a must see. Your local sightseeing plan for a given day could look like this. Start with the Coliseum that is a popular tourist attraction. Since the visiting hours change through the year, make sure that you confirm the timings beforehand. To make this awesome experience more realistic, they have an hourly conducted tour by guides in the guise of gladiators. The next important stop, the Roman Forum or Foro Romano, is just across the street. The Roman Forum, the heart of the Roman Empire, is standing tall even after 2000 years! You would be fascinated by the involutions of the Roman architecture. There is no entry fee here and you can also avail the facility of guided tours.

The next stop, The Pantheon or ‘The Temple to all Gods’, was built around 125 AD and is one of the best-preserved buildings in Rome. Built by Emperor Hadrian, many famous personalities like Vittorio Emmanuel II and Umberto I (the kings of Italy) and the one and only Raphael are buried here. There is a nine meter opening in the concrete dome which the only source of light in this monument. It takes you back in time to the glorious days of the Roman Empire and you cannot stop imagining being a part of the Romans, as it existed then. You would get goose bumps dreaming of the kind of clothes they would have worn, their language, gestures etc. You can have this extraordinary experience through the year except Christmas when the Pantheon is closed.

By the end of the day, there is just one more place to see that cannot be missed. You can easily spend three hours visiting The Vatican and its collection of artifacts that chronicle the Catholic Church’s history. If you have time, you should let Michelangelo’s Pieta, which is housed in St Peter’s Basilica, amaze you. The Vatican museum has even more splendid antiques, including the Egyptian mummies. You should not miss Sistine Chapel that has The Bible painted on the ceiling by the legendary Michelangelo himself.

Well, whatever you chose to do, get to befriend your hotel concierge first since he can be the best source of updated information.

An Essential Guide To Rome

Rome is an enchanting place that has been attracting tourists for its rich cultural heritage and brilliant historic monuments. In the ratings of Conde Nast Travelers 2004 Readers Choice Awards, Rome grabbed the coveted second spot on the list of top ten European cities.

Some quick helpful facts about traveling to the city. You need to have a valid passport to enter Italy though you do not need a visa if the duration of the stay is less than 90 days. However, there is an exception to this rule for some specific countries. Since the summers are hot and dry, you should visit Rome between October and March. Book yourself at a hotel that is close to the historic district. The ideal place would be Hotel de Russie, situated between the Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps that are worth seeing.

Plan your itinerary well in advance, especially the places you definitely want to visit. The ideal mode of discovering Romes heritage is on foot, as it gives you the flexibility of covering the locations at your own speed. The other option to save cost is to use the Tram Bus system that links the entire city and also the nearby areas. And if you are looking at convenience, you can always opt for a private tour. Make sure you have taken a pair of comfortable shoes. Carry minimum weight while going around the city. The city has many eating joints around the tourist attractions so you can appease your hunger pangs any time you want.

The city is full of tourist attractions and it is a real tough task to decide which of them are a must see. Your local sightseeing plan for a given day could look like this. Start with the Coliseum that is a popular tourist attraction. Since the visiting hours change through the year, make sure that you confirm the timings beforehand. To make this awesome experience more realistic, they have an hourly conducted tour by guides in the guise of gladiators. The next important stop, the Roman Forum or Foro Romano, is just across the street. The Roman Forum, the heart of the Roman Empire, is standing tall even after 2000 years! You would be fascinated by the involutions of the Roman architecture. There is no entry fee here and you can also avail the facility of guided tours.

The next stop, The Pantheon or The Temple to all Gods, was built around 125 AD and is one of the best-preserved buildings in Rome. Built by Emperor Hadrian, many famous personalities like Vittorio Emmanuel II and Umberto I (the kings of Italy) and the one and only Raphael are buried here. There is a nine meter opening in the concrete dome which the only source of light in this monument. It takes you back in time to the glorious days of the Roman Empire and you cannot stop imagining being a part of the Romans, as it existed then. You would get goose bumps dreaming of the kind of clothes they would have worn, their language, gestures etc. You can have this extraordinary experience through the year except Christmas when the Pantheon is closed.

By the end of the day, there is just one more place to see that cannot be missed. You can easily spend three hours visiting The Vatican and its collection of artifacts that chronicle the Catholic Churchs history. If you have time, you should let Michelangelos Pieta, which is housed in St Peters Basilica, amaze you. The Vatican museum has even more splendid antiques, including the Egyptian mummies. You should not miss Sistine Chapel that has The Bible painted on the ceiling by the legendary Michelangelo himself.

Well, whatever you chose to do, get to befriend your hotel concierge first since he can be the best source of updated information.

Bucharest: The Paris of the East

Bucharest is the capital of Romania as well as its industrial and commercial center. Established around 1459, it’s not a terribly old city in comparison to other European cities. However, that doesn’t stop Bucharest from being home to many fabulous tourist attractions.

Bucharest sits on the banks of the Dambovita River and contains many lakes, including the small, man-made lake called Lake Cismigiu at the center of the capital. Near the lake are the Cismigiu Gardens, which opened in 1847 and have been visited by many famous poets and authors. The gardens are the main recreational facility in the city’s center.

The Cismigiu Gardens aren’t the only green space within Bucharest. In fact, it is home to many gardens and parks, such as Herastrau Park and the Botanical Garden.

Bucharest is also home to an impressive cultural scene. Its cultural attractions include a wide Array of activities, like visual arts, performing arts, and nightlife. There’s really no defined style to Bucharest’s culture, so there’s something for everyone.

Bucharest has been called “The Paris of the East” and “Little Paris” because its architecture was heavily influenced by the French. Its buildings include everything from traditional Romanian to those created in the French style.

Landmarks within Bucharest are varied. The most well known landmark is the Palace of the Parliament, built in the 1980s when the Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu ruled. It is the largest building in Europe and the second largest in the world. Today, the palace is home to the Romanian Parliament and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Arcul de Triumf, or Triumphal Arc, is also located in Bucharest. It was built in 1935 and modeled along the lines of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.

Bucharest hosts many festivals and cultural events throughout each year. Most of them are held in the summer months of June, July, and August. One popular event is the International Opera Festival, which is organized by the National Opera, and is held annually in May and June.

Because Bucharest is now home to a large Chinese population, the city has begun to embrace many Chinese cultural events. It hosts a Chinese New Year’s Eve Festival each year.

If you’re planning to visit Bucharest to see its many sites or attend its festivals, you’ll have no trouble finding a comfortable place to stay. Bucharest has many hotels and holiday apartments to accommodate its many visitors.

Examples of hotels in Bucharest, Romania are:

The Hotel Opera: This hotel is extremely stylish and designed with particular attention to detail. Pictures of Bucharest from the past adorn the rooms along with silver, china, porcelain, and brass. Rooms come complete with air conditioning, cable and satellite television, high speed Internet service, and a mini-bar.

Howard Johnson Hotel: Located in the city’s centre, this hotel offers exceptional views of the city. It is within a short walk of shopping, nightlife, superb dining, and many of Bucharest’s sights. There are 285 rooms in this 18 floor building. The rooms are designed with relaxation and convenience in mind.

NH Hotel Bucharest: This hotel is brand new and is located in the heart of the financial district. It is also close to museums, restaurants, and bars. There are 78 rooms decorated in a modern style. The hotel also has an onsite fitness room and sauna.

Examples of holiday apartments in Bucharest, Romania are:

Victoriei Apartment Bucharest: This beautifully decorated apartment is within seconds of Victoriei Square where you can see many of Bucharest’s sights. It’s also close to the nightlife and restaurants. It includes a fully-equipped kitchen, cable television, and a large bedroom that sleeps two.

Peoples Palace View Apartment Bucharest: This apartment is on the top floor of a building and overlooks the palace itself. It’s a one bedroom apartment that sleeps two. Includes a terrace, American-style kitchen, cable/satellite television, and Internet access.

Bucharest Commerce Chamber: This one-bedroom, two-person apartment is located in the same building as the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The apartment is decorated in welcoming warm colors and includes a balcony, Internet access, DVD player, and air conditioning.

Whether visiting Bucharest to sight see, to attend one of its many festivals, or a little bit of both, vacationers are sure to find the perfect place to stay to meet all their needs.