Rome is a city we all feel we know. Rome’s history is taught in most school and its heroes our heroes, thanks to movies which have appeared from time to time.

It’s a city which has seen the rise and fall of an empire, the seat of papacy. Rome is full of architectural wonders, sculptures and painting. It is also a city where you can indulge yourself.

Rome’s historic center is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museums and the monuments attract a large number of tourists

What to see

Rome is full of things to see. Even if you don’t have the time you have to see the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine, the Pantheon , the Castel Sant’Angelo, the Piazza del Campidoglio with the statue of Marcus Aurelus and the Trevi Fountain.

But that’s not all, the Vatican museum and the Sistine chapel are also musts.

When to visit

The good time to visit Rome is in spring and fall. The climate is moderate and its sunny summers can get very hot. If you are visiting in summer, don’t forget the afternoon siesta.

In August many of the restaurants and shops are closed as the owners are on vacation. Winters are mild with a bit of rain.

Where to stay

There are a number of hotels, guest houses and rooms where you could stay. It all depends on your budget and what you are looking for. For instance, are you looking for the wrought iron balcony on which you can have your morning coffee or a 400 year old palace? Yet again do you prefer a hotel chain or a modern boutique hotel, it is all there for you to choose from. Rome’s got it all. Make sure you book ahead, though.

Where to shop

Rome has its own style and class. It is one of the best places to shop for your designer leather handbags and shoes. The three primary fashion hot spots are the Via dei Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina. There are a number of shops near the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza Navona. The number of things you can pick up in Rome are astounding.

What to eat

There are a lot of things you must eat in Rome starting with the spaghetti. Ask for the spaghetti alla carbonara or the gnocchi di semolina alla romana. Then there is the pizza and the ice cream, which you cant miss.

What to wear

Dress according to the weather. If you are in Rome in summer make sure that you have cool lightweight clothes. It could get freezing cold in winter, so pack your warm clothes accordingly. Don’t forget the scarves as it can also get quite windy and you will look chic too.

Local transport

Air: You can fly into Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport from almost anywhere in the world.

Fiumicino is about 30 kms from the city with a direct rail connection to the city center from where you get a direct train link to downtown. The other airport is Ciampino which is 15 kms south of downtown. This airport is now used by the budget airlines and there is no rail connection to downtown Rome.

Make sure that you reconfirm each leg of your international travel! When departing Rome, check with airport about strikes which can commonly delay your arrival at the airport.

Please contact Transport Security Administration (www.tsa.gov) on airport security issues.

Transfers

If you are driving from the airport to downtown Rome, follow the Rome and GRA signs. The car rental will most probably give you a map.

If your hotel is within the Aurelian, taxi drivers in Rome will charge a fixed rate of Euro 40 that includes luggage. If the hotel is outside the walls, then the taxi fare will be Euro 60 and extra for the luggage. Make sure you use only licensed white cab or a yellow one. Do not engage one who greets you in the arrival hall.

There are airport shuttles which you can use. You could also take a train to downtown Rome from Fiumicino. Check with the information counter for train timings. You can buy the tickets at the vending machine or at the ticket counter.

You have to get the ticket stamped at the gate in the airport. At other stations you have to get the ticket stamped at the small red or yellow machine at the gate. If you don’t get it stamped, you will be fined upto Euro 100.

If you have to connect between airports you will have to take a taxi. The train, bus, metro combination transfer would take too long.

Most of Rome’s attractions are in the centro storico and you can walk there. To the other attractions such as the Trevi Fountain, St Peter’s Square and the Vatican Museums you can take the metro. The tickets for the metro can be picked up at a tobacconist.

You can also take the “hop-on, hop-off” buses for sightseeing around the city. There is also an open bus for sightseeing at night. You can book online for these trips.

Banks

ATMs are there in all Italian airports. But to be on the safe side it is better to exchange some money into Euro, because at times the ATMs in the airport may not have cash, especially if you arrive on a Saturday or Sunday . ATMs can be found all over the city and are called Bancomat.

You can change money at any bank; the working hours are 8.30 am to 1.30 pm and in the afternoon from 3 pm to 4 pm. Banks are closed on weekends and on national holidays. You can also change money at any post office. Banks charge a commission of Euro 5; the commission at the post office might be lower.

Pharmacies and Hospitals

There are pharmacies in the airport and in other places in the city. Remember you have to keep the prescription medicine in its original container. Please carry the prescription along with photocopies as well as the generic name of drug. If you become sick, then you can visit the emergency room in the nearest hospital. You can also ask the concierge to recommend a neighborhood doctor.

Tourist office contact

Contact the tourist office at Via Parigi 5, tel.: 36004399, open Mon to Sat 8am to 7pm

Visa info

US citizens can enter Italy without a visa for 90 days but will need a Schengen visa if they are traveling for more than 90 days in Italy. The passport should be valid at least for three months. For further details please contact the Italian Embassy in Washington

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