Overview:
The eternal city of Rome, constructed of ruins and in whose name
the Caesars sought to claim the world, opens for the visitor as a
living museum. The centuries peel back with each new vista in this
great city of gladiators, lunatic drivers and well-rounded pasta
posteriors. Vespas, nippy little Fiats and red sports cars speed
past trendy sidewalk bistros and nightclubs, revealing the Rome of
Fellini's
La Dolce Vita. The chillingly stark facades of the Stadio
Olimpico complex bring back Mussolini's attempts to reinvent the
architecture of the Caesars.
For a taste of the Baroque, visitors need only climb the famous
Spanish Steps, walk through the Piazza Navona or toss a coin into
the beautiful Trevi Fountain. Renaissance splendour is perhaps best
revealed in the Pope's residence, the Vatican Palace, or in
Michelangelo's efforts on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. From
early Christian Basilicas to the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and the
Pantheon, the sequence of history trails back to the height of the
Roman Empire.
It may sound like a city of contrasts, but Rome's timeless magic
lies in its ability to blend the old with the new. Empires have
risen and fallen, old gods have been replaced with new ones, but
Rome remains.
Getting Around:The historic centre of Rome is compact and
manageable on foot and most of it is closed to normal traffic.
Driving in Rome is an experience to be avoided so if arriving by
car it's best to park it and use public transport to get around.
The network of buses, trams, metro and trains covers the whole city
from 5.30am to midnight (metro to 11.30pm) and night buses take
over until about 5am covering the main routes. The metro only has
two lines, but is the easiest and fastest way to get around and is
convenient for several attractions. The bus service is cheap and
reliable, albeit slow due to traffic congestion. Tickets cover all
forms of transport and must be pre-purchased and validated at the
start of every journey; there are daily tickets valid for unlimited
rides, or standard tickets valid for one metro ride or 75 minutes
on buses. Taxis are notoriously expensive and display a list of
surcharges; they are difficult to find on the streets or even at
taxi stands and are best ordered by the hotel concierge or at
restaurants. Note that the meter gets switched on immediately so
the time it takes to arrive is added to the bill. If hailing one on
the street use only the official yellow and white taxis, make sure
the meter is on and have small change handy. The 110 Open is a bus
service that stops at all the city's main sights, departing from
Termini Station square every 20 minutes.
Nightlife:The nightlife in Rome is laid-back, in true Italian
style. People like to sit at cafés or restaurants taking their time
with lots of food, wine and coffee. Campo dei Fiori, the Piazza
Navona area and Trastevere are some of the best places for bars and
cafés, while the Testaccio and Ostiense districts are better for
nightclubs. Roma C'è and TrovaRoma (free with La Repubblica
newspaper) have information on nightlife in Rome.There are many
wine bars and cafés near Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona and Via
della Pace. Bar del Fico is good for cocktails and Zest at Es Hotel
has a lovely poolside bar. The Vineria, in Campo de' Fiori, is very
trendy and frequented by moviestars. Freni & Frizioni in
Trastevere was a former car workshop, its name translates to Brakes
and Clutches. Cafés in Trastevere attract visitors to see Piazza di
Santa Maria's fountain and 12th century church lit up at night, as
well as occasional guitar performances.Party with the rich and
famous at Gilda, close to Piazza di Spagna, or watch paid dancers
at Alien, on Via Velletri. In Ostiense, hear some great DJs at Goa,
or visit Classico Village for good Italian pop, rock and jazz
concerts. There are also various ristodiscos, where both eating and
dancing are enjoyed. When the clubs close for summer, there are
numerous outdoor venues around town and near Ostia; outdoor
festivities on Via di Monte Testaccio, in Testaccio, take centre
stage and include food stalls and markets.The Teatro dell'Opera is
home to the Rome Opera Ballet and opera is performed at the Baths
of Caracalla's open-air ruins in July and August. Rock bands often
perform at Stadio Flaminio and the Palazzo dello Sport.
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