Entries from January 2008 ↓

The Rome film festival is perhaps one of the more controversial celebrations in Italy in a long time. The reason the Cinema Festa Internazionale di Roma as it is known in Italian is so controversial is that this takes place just soon after the Venice film festival. Because of this there is some rivalry between the cities now.

The Cinema Festa Internazionale di Roma takes place between October 13th to October 21st and three major prizes are awarded for the best film, best actor and best actress. Now you have to keep in mind that these awards are given based upon a viewing of about 80 films in total.

Since this film festival is so new it is debatable if major stars and studios will pay it much attention until it grows in popularity and weight in the industry. This film festival has some
serious uphill battle in order to be considered a player in the international stage of cinema. However with a budget of anywhere between 7 to 9 million Euros it is certainly well funded. There is not much history to this film festival since it is so new. However that is not to say that there is not much to write about as the squabbling mayors of Venice and Rome certainly keep the Italian press busy.

I seriously doubt that you will see too many top notch Hollywood stars attend this event until there is some sort of news worthy event that will cause a lot of press to descend like vultures. Until that happens this will be like other local film festivals that are given in other cities around the world.

For savvy travelers, like my readers, the normal everyday routine is not enough. Nor should it be as the normal routine is usually followed by sheep who are too scared to try something different. In seeing Rome there are many standard ways to go about touring the city. This is about trying something just ever so slightly off kilter and different so that a unique experience can be created.

For many true travelers photography is a passion. And this is for good reason as you want to capture your memories on film or digital media so that they can be preserved for later posterity. For these wanderlusters I would recommend a photography tour in Rome by a famous National Geographic photographer. If you ever wanted to learn the ins and outs of taking really spectacular pictures then a tour with Anthony Boccaccio. Anthony has a company called Imaging in Italy and the recommendations speak for themselves.

If you want to splurge a bit then the next alternative I would recommend would be to hire a driver in Italy. This is well worth it as my family experienced this firsthand. Run by an American who moved back to Italy this company caters to the North American market and has some really good English speaking drivers who will give you a private tour of the city. These drivers are full service meaning that they will help you get into the attractions such as the Coliseum and the Forum without you having to wait in line. That alone is worth the price itself. Plus since many of these drivers grew up in the city they know all of the best local places to eat. The advice they give is priceless and can really save you a bundle.

Of course you can take advantage ot the various “hop on hop off” tour buses that travel all through the city. This is the best option if you just want to see a portion of the city and do this at your own pace. Moving at your own pace is really great for the newlyweds and also the older generation as they have more of an ability to catch their breath or to just absorb the city like a local.

 Group tours would be the last and worst option as these move at a glacial pace and you view many things that perhaps to you do not seem important. For me I am sick to death of the group tour unless it is a very small group that is geared towards a specific topic. I like to be focused on my travels so that I can get into some depth and not just gloss over something I consider really important.

One option that may be available to some is to contact your local University and see what travel options they have. Since many of the anthropology and archeology programs are not the best funded programs they usually put together a more unique experience then the average tour company. You want to make sure you are trying something different and new here as this is the only way to grow as a person.

Rome has perhaps some of the best attractions to see in the entire western world. Since this is the capital of what is largely considered the foundation for most other western societies the history is rich as is the culture and traditions. With this wealth of culture comes layers upon layers of fabulous architecture and art that is literally around every corner.

In order to get a true feel for the city of Rome you must embrace the present as well as the past. Many tourists go to see the ruins of Rome and the surrounding areas. However this negates all of Rome’s present atmosphere. I believe that some of the best advice given to me once was “be present” meaning to soak up all that is around you and try to be aware of the surrounding world and not caught up in your own head. While it may be nice to imagine Rome in earlier times, and this should be done at some time, it is better to also be aware of the people that surrounds you at the moment.

This being said I have a list of things that in order to get a feel for the city should be accomplished at least once. This list is in no particular order as I am not big on ranking experiences.

Eating a slice of pizza in Rome is one of the best things you can do while you are visiting the city. While many may argue that the pizza in Rome is not the best I would argue quite differently as this is perhaps one of the best ways to really soak up the culture as everyday locals are more than likely to be around you.

Going to see the Coliseum would also be ranked high in things to do while in Rome. While this is slowly turning into a tourist trap this structure still represents some of the best engineering of the time. This is the place where the capital of a large empire entertained many of its inhabitants.

The Forum is another one of those ancient sites that should also not be missed. This is the place where many Roman emperors consulted with the Roman senators and much political intrigue and deceit was accomplished here. This area of government transformed most of western Europe with its rulings and degrees. Surely this must be worth a visit!

If you are an art lover then the Galleria Borghese is one of the best places to view Belini sculptures plus many other notable artists of the Renaissance. Here you will see many outstanding examples of great talent by mankind. True expression of passion and feeling is expressed through these many works of art.

Eating gelato after a good evening meal is perhaps one of the best ways to spend your time at night in Rome. If you are with a group this is perhaps one of the best ways to explore the city with your pals. Besides Italian gelato is far less fattening than ice cream.

If you are lucky enough to get a ticket to a local football game I would definitely go. There is no other sport that Italians take so passionately like football. This is known in America as soccer and unlike America is insanely popular in Europe. Since Italy won the world cup in 2006 I would say that there is a certain level of pride that Italians take with their football.

Be sure to have some espresso in the morning before you venture out. This is one of the common customs that many Italians take part in almost everyday. In a coffee shop you can rub shoulders with the busy locals as they rush into work. Perhaps for some this may not see like an attraction but I am sure you will not forget the experience. Also I would like to point out that no self respecting Italian would order Capuccino in the afternoon so if you do not want to be see as some hopeless tourist follow this custom.

IF you want to soak up the Roman city and watch the world go by I would go to the Piazza Navona. This is perhaps what is considered by most as the center of Rome and it is one of the best places to people watch and talk over a cup of coffee or espresso.

While there are so many things to see and do in Rome I believe that these activities and places capture the heart of Rome in the past and present. It is truly difficult to capture a true feel for a city if you are planning on just staying a short period of time but if you can squeeze most of these things in I am sure that you will have a more well rounded experience.

This blog is all about the city of Rome. Originally I started a blog on Venice Italy but now I am venturing out and writing about more Italian cities. I hope to add some more in the future as these blogs become more and more successful. This blog is geared towards the savvy traveler and not necessarily the common tourist.

What is the difference between a tourist and traveler? A tourist is one who takes common routes and does not take much risk when going to someplace new. My goals of this blog is to educate and enlighten all those that have been or want to go to Rome. This blog is also a sister site of my A Month In Venice blog which has a completely different mission all together.

Fortunately I have already written much of the content for this blog so the start should be free of interruptions. A steady stream of useful information I believe is what keeps readers coming back to any blog.

One of my main hobbies and interests is in ancient cultures so part of this blog will cover the history and background to some of the sights you may want to visit. And of course going out and having fun is necessary when traveling or living abroad so that should be covered as well.

Basically the mission of this blog is to make visiting Rome one of the most appealing things you can do in your life. If you have any tips or tricks for my readers please leave a comment and I am sure to either write a post about it and give you credit for your idea. Also if you have a travel website in Europe please let me know as I believe that the best blogs out there work within their niche so we can help each other out.

Coming off a long 9 hour plane trip to Rome can be quite exhausting. However it is always wise to keep your eyes open and to take it all in. Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the entire world. It is called the eternal city for a reason and one of those reasons is that this city has lasted over many generations and still grows in character and charm each and every day.

There is so much to do and see in Rome that you should not be bored. As a major metropolitan city of commerce many foreigners move there on their home country’s behalf. Because of this you have a mixture of cultures and attitudes that give the air in Rome a certain unique quality you will not find anywhere else.

Rome is the foundation for most of Western European culture and you can see this as you look upon the seven palatine hills that make up this city. Since its foundation Rome has been characterized by the surrounding hill sides that make up the valley that is the center of Rome.

What is perhaps the most symbolic part of Rome is the Coliseum and this is a sight that should not be missed. Many spectacles were shown here and this building entertained Romans of every economic stature for over several hundred years before its eventual decay.

If you just arrive in the morning I would make it a point to step into a local coffee shop and grab yourself an espresso. You will see many Romans doing the same as they head to work or school as this is a common custom. You can select from many different pastries to eat with your coffee to help fuel your exploration of the city.

Rome should be viewed with as clear of a mind as possible so get your rest and then go out and explore this fantastic city and all it has to offer.