Getting there

Rome is located approximately in the middle of Italian country. The capital is well connected to the rest of the world.

• By plane: Rome's main airport is Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" (FCO) with local and international flights. The airport is located in the sub urban area (almost 30KM from the city centre). The airport is connected to Rome by a special train (Leonardo Express) or by a metropolitan train. The train will takes you to Roma termini station or Roma Tiburtina station. Termini station is the main railways station of the capital and is centrally located. Between 11.30pm and 5am there is a night bus line (Co.Tral) linking Fiumicino to Stazione Termini and Stazione Tiburtina. A shuttle bus connects the parking with arrivals and departures from terminal A, B and C. otherwise you could take a taxi cab , medium cost for the transit is € 40,00 to the city centre. There are private transfer companies which provides the service, you can find them at the arrivals. Ciampino (CIA) is the second airport of Rome and is mainly used by low-cost airlines. To get to the city you must first take a Cotral bus (every half hour) and then subway A from Anagnina station. Also available is the Terravision Shuttle in conjunction with main low cost air companies.
• By car: Rome is circumscribed in its entirety by a ring road (G.R.A.) . from there is possible to take the main highways to north, south or east direction. Please remember that highways speed limit is 130 km/h and payment is requested.
• By train: you can reach the Capital by train from all over Italy and other countries. Fastest train is the Eurostar.

History

753 B.C. - The founding of Rome. The legend goes with Remus killed by his brother Romulus, the first of the seven kings of Rome, and founded Rome on the Palatine hill.
Rome grew up and become a powerful city. Romans invented lots of the most important inventions, aqueducts, buildings, social structures.
With the arrival of the Republic, Rome increased its expansion policy and after the Punic Wars, Carthage, Corsica and Sardinia were all annexed to the Republic.
in 82 b.c the emperor Silla become dictator and the Republic was over.
The dictator Caius Julius Caesar oversaw a period of heavy expansion overseas. He was assassinated in 44 B.C.
The Emperor Octavius Augustus brought Rome to its "golden era": a lengthy period of peace and stability, which was celebrated with monumental works of art.
Under Traianus, the empire enjoyed its period of maximum expansion.
The roman empire ruled a huge part of the known world, form the middle part of Europe to Egypt to the East.
The spreading of the Christian message, caused lots of changes. The emperor Costantinus stopped the persecutions of the Christians in 313 d.c .
With the passing of the years, the city became increasingly Christian, while the empire fell into a period of difficulty. The Pope became more and more powerful, and determined the birth the Holy Roman Empire (800 A.D.).
Between 1300 and 1600 the Roman Church sponsored the construction of the most important Churches adorned by magnificent frescoes by Renaissance artists such as Raffaello and Michelangelo.
A struggle for the unification of Italy will be lead in the late 19th by Savoia monarchy. Rome was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1870, which set up its official centre in the city soon after.
Starting from 1920, the rise to power of Fascism, that culminated in the pact made between the Italian Government and Nazi Germany, changed the lifestyle in the Capital. After the Second World War, a referendum held on June 2nd 1946 sanctioned the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the Republic.
In the sixties Rome become the favourite destination for Hollywood actors and VIP and the landscape of the "dolce vita".
Today Rome is one of the most important travel destination of the world, an amazing city that registers millions of visitors every year.

The must seen

Churches

• St. Peter’s Basilica – St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church in the world. The seat of the Pope and the door of the smallest State of the world: Vatican City. The huge façade of the Basilica overlooks the square worldly known for the perfection of the colonnade by Bernini. Piazza San Pietro itself is a masterpiece of arts and architecture. Inside the Basilica you can find some of the most important work of art: the Pietà by Michelangelo, The Wood Altar and the Dome. Often, in high season, there’s a long line to queue. To skip the line is possible to enjoy an organized tour of the Basilica and the Vatican Museums. The Sistine Chapel commissioned by the Pope Sixtus V at the end of the 14th century. The chapel is located inside the Vatican Museums, is an astonishing masterpiece, decorated by painters such as Botticelli and il Ghirlandaio. In the 16th century, the vaulted ceiling was decorated by Michelangelo’s Universal Judgment.
• Santa Maria Maggiore – This is the Basilica named to the Holy Virgin. The legend about its foundation is delicious.
• San Giovanni in Laterano – This is the second church after St. Peter’s. built on the first settlement of the 313 b.c is now on of the biggest and worldly known basilica of the world.

Museums in Rome

• The Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani) – a huge display of masterpieces in few sections: the Egyptian Museum, the Ethnological Museum, the Painting Gallery and the Raffaello hundreds of works of art commissioned and collected by the Popes over the .
• The Capitoline Museums (Musei Capitolini) – this is an ancient museum, founded in 1471 rich of antique sculptures and bas-reliefs portraying .
• Galleria Borghese – This is one of the largest collections in the world. The collection held by the Borghese family was enriched by Napoleon at the beginning of the 19th contains works of art by Tiziano, Rubens, Bernini, Caravaggio.
• Palazzo Massimo – this museum, located close to Termini Station, contains antique collections, statue and carvings from the ancient roman villas, precious mosaics. Monuments
• Castel Sant'Angelo – the Tomb of the Emperor Hadrjan transformed into the Papal prisons, a place where history, legend and sufferings mix together. A castle to be visited especially in the night that offers entertaining shows in the summer, a jump into a medieval atmosphere and a suggestive view of the illuminated Rome.

Squares and fountains in Rome

• Piazza del Campidoglio – located next to Piazza Venezia has been a seat of government since ancient times. Today the Rome City Council meets here. You can find here Palazzo Senatorio, the Capitoline Museum, the "Cordonata" staircase designed by Michelangelo and the copy of the statue of Marco Aurelio.
• Piazza di Spagna – one of the most popular roman site. Background for fashion shows and famous cinema movies. An amazing site in every season, but great in may when the steps are covered with flowers. From here starts the famous shopping streets rich of high fashion brads, Gucci, Prada, Dolce& Gabbana. On the left side of the steps in piazza Mignanelli, you’ll find the Valentino atelier.
• Piazza Navona – a square rich of history, sculptures, fountains and full of life. From the place where the Emperor Domitian built his stadium to the actual baroque face. Visit it day and night. The square changes its mood anytime. This is a place beloved from Romans too especially in the epiphany period (first week of January)
• Piazza Venezia – this square is a crucial point. Characterized by the impotents mass of the Vittoriano, the monument built in honour of the first King of Italy. Located at the end of Via dei Fori Imperiali, Piazza Venezia is the background of Via del Corso too. You’ll pass by Piazza Venezia even if you do not want to.
• Piazza del Popolo – is the masterpiece of urban organization in the 19th century. A monumental place rich of legends and history.
• Campo de Fiori – one of the favourite squares by the Romans. In the morning you can find here a nice vegetable market, in the evening an incredible crowd of youngsters. This is one of the best places for the movida.
• Trevi Fountain – this fountain is a "pearl" made of marble. A huge fountain settled in a little square, a triumph of water and plasticity. This is the fountain where you have to through a coin if you’d like to return to Rome.
• Fontana del Tritone – Built by Bernini, commissioned by the Barberini family, is located in Piazza Barberini.
• Fontana della Barcaccia – located in Piazza di Spagna, at the foot of the Spanish Steps built by Bernini in remembrance of the Tiber flood that hit Rome in 1598.
• Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi – this fountain is one of Bernini’s masterpieces; built in the centre of Piazza Navona it celebrates 4 biggest Rivers of the world known at that time.

Archaeological/Ancient sites in Rome

• Catacombs – The catacombs were the places where the early Christians celebrated funerals and where they were buried when they died. The catacombs, the oldest of which dates back to the 2nd century, were built outside the city walls.
• Circus Maximus – This enormous structure was used for entertainment events such as the gripping chariot races that were a huge favorite of the Roman people. The area could hold up to 230,000 spectators and is one of the oldest areas in Rome.
• Coliseum – the Flavian amphitheatre, built from the Emperor Flavius and opened in 80 b .c. a majestic construction made for the population with a unforgettable opening ceremony. The ancient version of the modern stadium in which the population attended to the public games, the gladiator battles, naval battles. In order to surprise and entertain spectators, ferocious animals were kept in the underground area and introduced in the arena with special hidden devices.
• Domus Aurea – the rest of the splendid residence of the Emperor Nero. The charme of a building constructed to celebrate the power of a man and destroyed by his successors. This site has recently been opened to the public after years of restoration work.
• Pantheon – This is one of the best-preserved buildings that date back to ancient Rome. A living presence in the heart of the city. A pagan building that became a Christian place. The pantheon really assisted to the passing of times. What’s amazing is the dome.
• Roman Forum - the centre of social and political life in Ancient Rome. Now is an archaeological area rich of history and fascinating.

Palaces, Villas and Gardens

• Palazzo Spada - in this building you can find a perspective of great effect.
• Palazzo del Quirinale – This has been the President of the Republic’s residence since 1948. sometimes, at authority discretion, the magnificient gardes are opened to public. Palazzo Montecitorio – designed by Bernini and commissionated by the Pope Innocenzo III it became the seat of the Lower House of Parliament.
• Palazzo Chigi – this is the seat of the Council of Ministers. A magnificent building which belonged to one of the aristocratic families of the Capital.
• Palazzo Madama – since 1871 this is the House of the Italian Senate. A jewwl of civil architecture in the heart of the renaissance and baroque Rome.
• Villa Borghese – This is the largest public park and the favourite of the Roman people. Built from the powerful family Borghese. Come here to enjoy a delicious natural environment and to take a rest in the hottest daily hours.
• Villa Pamphilj – a corner of paradise in the city. This villa is rich of pine trees avenues, little lakes and rivers, an enchanting english garden and a wonderful woodland.
• Pincio – This garden stretches out above Piazza del Popolo form here you can enjoy one of the best panoramic view of the city.
• Gianicolo - Passeggiata del Gianicolo is very romantic and charming and a perfect place from where to admire Rome from above. From here it is possible to see the entire city and every day at noon a cannon fires a blank shot that echoes all over the city. Do not miss it.

Eating and Drinking in Rome

Traditional Roman cooking is made up of simple ingredients, that follow the seasons.
A typical Roman menu begins with the bruschetta as starter (a slice of toasted bread with tomatoes, garlic and peperoncino).
Taste the pasta course: spaghetti alla carbonara (spaghetti with bacon, egg and lots of pepper), bucatini all'amatriciana (a kind of spaghetti with spicy tomato sauce and bacon), bucatini cacio e pepe (spaghetti with cheese and pepper) or gnocchi alla romana.
Typical meat course includes: coda alla vaccinara, saltimbocca alla romana, costolette d'abbacchio.
Do not miss the artichokes "alla giudia", a typical way of cooking artichokes from Jewish-Roman traditional cooking.
The best coffee in Rome? Everywhere! But the famous one is in Sant’Eustachio cafè.
The best Gelato in Rome? Taste it at san Crispino.
The best Pizza in Rome? Do you like Neapolitan or Roman style? Roman is thin ("Dar Poeta – Trastevere"), Neapolitan style is higher and smoother ("Zio Ciro" – in several zones).
Supplì – what is it? this is a delicious fried rice (with tomato and meat sauce) cylinder with mozzarella cheese inside... do not forget to taste one of this extremely high calories specialty (buy on at "Il supplì" – Trastevere).
If you’d like to save money and do not have time to wait to be served at the restaurant have a "panino" a sandwich with roman bread and everything you’d like inside.
Every bar in the city centre offer the opportunity to have a light lunch on the way.
If you don’t have breakfast included in your hotel don’t worry, in Rome there are thousands of bars that makes cappuccino every time.
Italians usually do not have breakfast at home, they usually have their cappuccino and croissant at the bar.
If you love the American or the English breakfast you can choose a pub.
Smoking is not allowed inside bars, restaurants and public locals in general with exception for those that clearly indicate to have a smoking area inside.