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| Rome, Italy |
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Make the Most of Your Opportunity to Enjoy Rome's Treasures
Visiting Rome is about enjoying the greatest of everything. From delicious food and fine wine to stunning art, Rome offers vacationers the best. Rome is also home to many of the world's architectural masterpieces, and it's certainly one of the richest intellectual, cultural and spiritual centers in the world.
Accommodations in Rome
Since there is so much to enjoy in Rome, it is wise to pick a hotel close to the attractions and activities that interest you the most. If you are interested in archaeological attractions, choose a hotel in the Colosseum or Roman Forum area. If you are interested in wandering medieval streets and exploring restaurants and bars rather than ruins, consider booking a hotel in the Centro Storico.
For a more cosmopolitan stay in Rome, hotels near the Spanish Steps or Piazza di Spagn offer easy access to shopping thoroughfare Via del Corso and its chic boutiques and upscale cafes. If you want convenient access to transportation to and from Rome, the convenience of the Termini area is a less picturesque, but practical option.
Because Rome is such a popular travel destination, accommodations must be booked well in advance. There are all sorts of hotels available in Rome, from palatial luxury hotels to inexpensive hotels ideal for those on a tight budget. Hotels located in the historic center of Rome charge a premium price, despite facilities that don't always live up to their high price tags. If you take your time to explore mid-range priced hotels in Rome and book well in advance, you can avoid over-paying or settling for less than ideal accommodations.
Eating and Drinking in Rome
Practically anywhere you stay in Rome, you'll be in easy reach of a variety of restaurants. A ristorante in Rome is a more formal restaurant that offers a wide selection of dishes, while a trattoria is a smaller, privately owned establishment that features traditional or local fare. You can enjoy much more at a Pizzerie than delicious pizza, as they often serve pasta, antipasto and meat and vegetable dishes, too. A fourth option for a meal in Rome is an osteria, or Inn that serves a limited menu of local fare and plenty of wine.
Tourist restaurants are conveniently located and often provide lovely views of the city, but they are usually overpriced. Although the food may be adequate, you are likely to enjoy a much less expensive, more impressive meal a short distance from main tourist zones. Explore the side streets to find your own favorite trattoria and you'll be amazed at the difference in the service, atmosphere, wine and cuisine.
Restaurants in tourist areas may serve dinner starting at 7:00 pm, but 9:00 pm is a more traditional time for the evening meal. This means a later night out and there are plenty of bars and clubs to carry you into the early hours of the next morning if you're so inclined. In city centre and Testaccio, you can enjoy almost any style of bar and atmosphere from techno to romantic, and live music is featured at a variety of venues.
Rome's Attractions
As if enjoying the best food, drink and fun Rome has to offer during a magical night out isn't enough, there are the seemingly endless daytime attractions to visit the next day. Museums and galleries are just the beginning, as there's Roman architecture, the Vatican and countless other sights to see and enjoy, too.
The Colosseum is one of Rome's most famous and impressive attractions. Roman Emperor Vespasianin began construction of the amphitheatre in roughly 70 AD, and the Colosseum was completed approximately a decade later under Titus. It is difficult to fathom the size of the Colosseum until you are in its presence, but consider its 50,000 person seating capacity for an idea of its scale.
Another attraction you won't want to miss on your trip to Rome is the Vatican. As the capital of the Catholic Church and home of the Pope, the Vatican is one of the most heavily visited attractions in Rome. The Vatican features museums, monuments, basilicas and paintings by the greatest of the Roman masters and much more.
Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel at the Vatican is spectacular, but if you can maintain your stamina, explore the impressive collection of works in both the Gregorian Egyptian and Etruscan Museums, too. The Vatican Palaces are included in the tour of the Vatican Museums, and serious art and history lovers will require much more than one visit to explore all there is to see at the Vatican.
Tours and Travel in Rome
Sightseeing in Rome can be exhausting, and if you want to avoid wearing yourself out concentrate on enjoying more of less attractions. If you insist on a speed-tour of many attractions, consider taking a guided tour of the city's centre. A condensed but comprehensive approach to several of Rome's major attractions will provide valuable perspective and allow you to understand and enjoy more of what you are seeing.
Whatever your destination in Rome, the underground Metro system is probably your most easy and affordable option next to walking. Driving and cycling in Rome is ill advised, and car hires are notoriously overpriced. In addition to the Metro, Rome's buses offer convenient and affordable transportation throughout the city. You need only one ticket to ride Rome's buses, metro and trains, which you can purchase at shops and vending machines throughout the city. |
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