Entries from March 2008 ↓

The Coliseum was the largest amphitheatre in Rome. The construction of the Coliseum started under the reign of Emperor Vespasian in around 70-70 AD and completed under the reign of Titus in 80 AD. The Coliseum was further customized and modified under the emperor Domitian. This was the first permanent amphitheatre to be built in Rome between the Esquiline, Caelian, and Palatine Hills.

An Iconic Symbol

The Coliseum is seen as an iconic symbol of imperial Rome. It held the capacity to accommodate about 50,000 spectators and has eight entrances. The amphitheatre is 50 meters high and 185 meters long. The Coliseum was built for gladiatorial contests and various public spectacles like, classical dramas, mock sea battles, and animal hunts till the early medieval period. Later, it was used for other purposes like a Christian shrine, a fortress, for housing, and for conducting workshops. Presently, the building has suffered damages as a result of earthquakes and the work stone robbers but it is still among the most famous tourist attractions in Rome and arguably the whole world.

Major Tourist Attraction

The Coliseum is known for its great works of architecture and engineering. It also reflects the grandeur and cruelty of the Roman World. The monument is famous for its grand size and the efficient organization of a large crowd viewing the different spectacles. This makes it one of the greatest works of the Roman period. Tourists from all over the world visit it. A museum is also built on the upper floor of the outer wall building, which is dedicated to Eros. The Coliseum also has a lift to the first floor. This makes the monument easily accessible to people with a handicap and children. Other facilities at the site are toilets, bookshop, and souvenir shops.

Tickets, Cards, and Passes

The tickets for the Coliseum can be bought at the site, online, or also booked through a telephone. The normal price of a ticket is 9 Euros (liable to change). The entry is free for EU citizens who are under-18 years and over 65 years. An archeologia-card is also available for 20 Euros, which is valid for a period 7 days for visiting 9 sites in Rome including the Coliseum. A Roma pass is also valid for a period of 3 days for visiting the Coliseum and other famous museums and archaeological sites of the city. The price of the ticket, card and pass may vary during Coliseum exhibitions. One can also book a guided tour conducted by professional guides.

How to get there

The Coliseum is located in the center of Rome. The monument can be reached using a bus, taxi, shuttle, trams or trains. It is located near Piazza Venezia and is close to the Forums. Another rapid form of transportation that you can use is the Metro. After reaching the Metro station, one can get a taxi parking and bike rental outside the station. On Sundays, bicycles and stroller are also allowed on roads as a means of transportation.

Best Time for Visiting
There are few months in a year, which are best suited for your Rome visit. These are –
1.    October- This is the best month of the year to visit. The temperature in this month is very pleasant.
2.    January- After the New Year, there is a gradual fall in the tourists visiting here. This is a suitable time for tourists who want to avoid crowds.
3.    Easter Week- This week may fall between mid-March or mid-April and the city is overcrowded with pilgrims and tourists.
4.    July and August- These are the peak months for tourist’s season. These seasons have comparatively less rain and are a bit humid.
The Coliseum was the only stone structured amphitheater built during the grandeur days of the Roman Empire.

Today, the Coliseum is partially in a ruined state but still remains one of the most renowned architectural monuments of the Roman period. The monument still holds the same brand integrity and respect after so many years of its construction.

If you are regular follower of this blog then you know that I do not recommend driving in Rome. It is certainly not necessary because in the city you have many options of navigating the city. However for those that want to visit the countryside or go on a short trip to Naples or a longer trip to Venice then a car is certainly worth it. A car will offer you the freedom to travel when and where  you want to some extent in Italy.

Driving in Rome is perhaps the most exciting experience you will have in an automobile. If you are a fan of race car driving you can brush up your skills by driving around the city because it always seems like all the drivers are trying out for Formula One driving or something. However there are some key facts  you must be aware of before you take the plunge and get in the drivers seat.

International Driving Permit

The International Driving Permit is something I believe every visiting driver in Rome should have. This permit not license is required by law but since it is a permit only you should also carry your drivers license from home as well. It is very important to have both if and when you are stopped by the police. Most likely you will not be stopped but do you really want to waste time speaking to Italian law enforcement when you could be out having fun in the city? I didn’t think so. So carry it with you please. You can get one of these permits from your country’s Automobile Association which ever that may be. In the United States this would be the AAA auto club that I am sure almost everyone from the States is familiar with.

What are the types of roads in Rome?

There are four types of roads in Rome. The first the Autostrada is very similar to the Interstate system in the States. The Autostrada roads are very fast moving and have plenty of space on all lanes. Autostrada roads are mostly the roads connecting major cities or even other countries. The second type of road is the major road where there are two lanes of traffic that moves at a very fast pace. This types of road usually connect a larger city with a smaller city such as the road connecting Florence with Siena. On the map you can identify this road due to its color which is red as opposed to an Autostrada which is black on the map. The third type of road is the slow and winding type of road that you will find typically on the coast such as the road connecting Naples to Sorrento. This type of road can be easily found on the map as they are usually colored yellow. Lastly the final type of road is the road which occupies most of the Italian countryside. These are the dirt roads connecting the smaller cities to the various farms and other attractions you may find in and around Tuscany or other more rural areas. Knowing what type of road you are on is key to staying out of trouble with the police or the locals. You do not want to create  a traffic accident when there are various tour buses whizzing by, that certainly would not be fun.

The speed limits in Italy

As with all things there are laws to govern the roads. In Italy this is also the case even though it may seem like no one really obeys the traffic laws. Since Italy is part of Europe and Europe follows the metric system all of their speed limits are in kilometers and not miles per hour like the United States. While the adjustment may be painful to start I am sure almost everyone can adapt.

Here are the speed limits that I know of so far:

In the city you can only drive 50 kph
Outside of the city you can drive 90 kph
Highway driving is limited is 110 kph
Autostrada driving is at 130 kph

Also note that you should never have more than one glass of wine or one beer two hours before you set out driving in this country. The police are extremely tough on drunk drivers and seeing a close up of a Italian jail cell is something I am sure is not part of everyone’s plan. Please always keep your lights on while driving on the Autostrada as that is the law to make it easier to see the cars on the road.

Driving in Rome is certainly going to either endear you to Italians or make you absolutely hate them. There really is no luke-warm experience you will have while traveling in and around the city. For me this had to be the best primer to the chaotic lifestyle of many Italians.  Do not be too daunted by what I have stated here. Given enough time you can adapt to life in Rome. However the struggle will be trying to change your bad habits that you will take on while driving in this country.

Finding the best restaurant in any city is certainly a passion of mine. I have a certain affinity for the pizza as well. It is one of the best street foods that Italy has ever invented. Originally created from a small restaurant in Naples, Italy this dish rapidly spread throughout the country and the rumor has it that a full one quarter of the restaurants in the country are pizzerias. Since there are so many pizzerias in the country it is important to eat at the better pizza restaurants if not the best pizza restaurants in the country. But how do you find these places? By asking friends or family that live in the area. That way you will get the best advice. If that is not available for you then it is vital to visit some well trusted travel forums that give unbiased advice.

Fortunately for my readers I have already scoured the travel forums and asked some of my friends in Rome as to what is the best pizza restaurant in Rome. For many the choice was unanimous to be Remo which is in the Testaccio district of Rome.

Since this restaurant is known all around to be the best it is always best to be early when eating here. Otherwise you will most likely have to wait in line. This place offers some outdoor eating and captures the spirit of the city through the dishes, people and of course food. There is one major drawback however as this restaurant is closed during all through the month of August. So if you are visiting the city during this time I am sorry but you will be out of luck.

Below you can find the details about this restaurant.

Remo
Piazza Santa Maria Liberatrice 44
Rome, Italy
Tel: 06-5746270

Open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 pm to 1 am.

If you are planning a trip to Rome it is always a good idea to make sure that there are no major events planned for the city that might interfere with your vacation plans. It is always a bad idea to plan on staying in a major city such as Rome when there is an international sporting event. Such events like this can snarl up traffic and make finding a table at a restaurant almost impossible! Also the locals do have a tendency to get a bit on the edgy side when there are too many “tourists” in their city and they are trying to just go about their lives.

So for your benefit I have broken down some of the more important events that occur each year in Rome. Every month is covered and this post may be subject to updates as I learn of more activities that occur in Rome. Of course I will try to keep you up to date on this blog in regards to the local happenings of the city but I will probably miss something so please be sure to check other resources to make sure you do not plan a vacation during one of the more hectic times of this city.

January

News Years Day

Following the nights celebrations there is a fair for the children that is sure to attract many families. Clowns, fire eaters and other street performers that are child safe perform at this time at the Piazza del Popola. Please be sure to avoid this area if you do not like kids as I am sure there will be many of them here. 

Underground Antiques Market

This takes place in an underground parking lot near the Via Sistina. This market is mostly for art collectors and is not a flea market of any kind so please keep this in mind.

Roman Purim

A Jewish holiday the Moed di Piombo goes back as far as 1793 A.D.  where the Jewish temple is lit at night and the rabbi goes through an explanation of this Jewish holiday.

February

Rome Film Festival 

The most important event in Rome during the month of February is the Independent Rome Film Festival where 40 films are shown from 25 different countries. If you want to be part of this event it takes place at the Cinema Pasquino and the Cinema Roma and also some events are held at the Ripa Hotel

March

Eurochocolate week is perhaps a great attraction to many chocolate lovers from all across Europe. In this week everything chocolate is celebrated with over 500 stands that serve the sweet substance. Definitely if  you have a sweet tooth then it would be worth your hile to check out this celebration.

April

Rome’s Good Friday Celebration

This celebration is a reenactment of the procession of Jesus Christ as he carried his torture device throughout the city of Rome. This procession goes from Via Crucis and up to Monte Palatino. For the religiously inclined perhaps this would be a time for you to visit Rome.

Monthly Bargain Market

In April there is a bargain market that takes place at La Soffitta Sotto I Portici where Rome basically has a more modern flea market selling collectibles and other memorabilia

May

May Day Festival is celebrated on the first of the month by a world renowned music festival. This celebration is supposed to celebrate the arrival of Spring to the city of Rome and takes place at Piazza San Giovanni.

Spring Antiques Market

The Grande Mercato di Primavera or the Great Spring Market is a time for most antique dealers as many tastes are covered here and much that you cannot find anywhere else will be sold here.

Tennis Masters Series

This is a professional match with over 120 tennis masters arriving in the city to pit their strengths against one another. For the tennis fans this is surely a time for you to visit the city as I am sure you will not be bored.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

This is a walk a thon that is supposed to raise money for breast cancer. For those that want to make a difference in the world perhaps participating in this event would be proper.

June

Dolce Vita Jazz Festival

Here about 60 Jazz musician arrive in the city and participate in this event which takes place at the Palma Club and the Auditorium Parco della Musica. This event normally takes place some time in May and in June so plan accordingly.

Fotograhia

This is a major event for many modern photographers as this is the time to showcase their work to the city.

Estate Romana Festival

This event starts in June but actually ends in September and is a time when there are many jazz musicians and other musicians from all types of music that participate. To be honest I am not really sure what this celebration is all about but it does look interesting.

July

Festival of Latin-American Music & Culture

This is the time when all things Latin American is celebrated in the city of Rome. This festival seems to be geared towards the Cuban immigrants or those of that descent so there is a heavy emphasis on that type of culture in this festival.

Gay Village

This is a celebration of all things gay from late June through August as the Testaccio’s becomes a mecca for all things of this persuasion. The idea is to create a small village in Rome where tolerance of this type of lifestyle is at the forefront.

August

This is a month where both the Estate Romana Festival and the Festival of Latin-American Music & Culture continue their celebrations. There really is no specific celebration offered in this month in Rome which I find interesting since the month of August was named after a Roman Emperor so you would think that there would be some sort of celebration.

September

International Urban Theatre Festival

This is when Rome celebrates theatre of all its kinds and Rome becomes a virtual stage to all of its inhabitants and visitors. If you are at all interested in the theatre then this seems to be the time to come.

White Night

This is a time when all of the shops in Rome stay open later at night and various open air events take place making Rome a virtual stage on which actors can hone their craft.

October

Roman Jazz Festival

In October there is a Roman Jazz festival where a lot of international and well renowned Jazz artists come to play for the city in various venues.

November

100 Painters in Via Margutta

This is  a great time to be an art collector as this is one of the best open air Art markets Italy and If not the world has to offer. All types of artwork are on sale at this time of the year and you should check this out if you are into collecting art of any type.

December

New Years Eve Celebration

This is like most of the world when Italians celebrate the end of the year with Champagne and other alcoholic drinks. Most of the action takes place at Piazza del Poplo where the fireworks and the rock bands perform.

That should be enough for most people to keep busy in Rome regardless of when you actually go. Every month it seems to be packed with events and celebrations of some kind. No matter what your taste the city seems to have an event just for you. I am sure many will not be bored if they visit Rome when one of these major celebrations take place.

Rome is a great city to visit but not so great if you are on a tight budget. Certainly not as expensive as Venice Italy but this city does rank up there as one of the more expensive places to stay in Europe. If you are a college student then this can seem a bit daunting as your budget is probably tighter then most. So therefore you need the best resources to find a cheap hotel and fortunately I have scoured the web to find you the best resources when looking for a budget hotel in Rome.

The first and best resource I would recommend would be nycerome.com as this has the best selection of 3 star hotels that I have ever encountered. It is a great selection of hotels that makes or breaks a site for me and this site is as comprehensive as you can get. I am most impressed by the range of hotels that this website offers. Not only does this website offer hotel listings but it also offers apartments for short or long term rent so that will go along way in helping those that wish to stay a bit longer in this wonderful city.

The close second website I would recommend would be to check out holidaycityeurope.com as they have also a great selection of hotels. What makes this website more unique then the previous one mentioned is the fact that they break down each hotel by price range. I think it is needless to say that this feature is a boon to many budget travelers and those that can spend just a bit more.

Another favorite of mine is Europe-cities.com which is another great website to check out if you are hunting for that elusive deal on your stay ni Rome. This website claims to have more than 2100 hotels listed just for the city of Rome and like the previous website mentioned they also have apartment listings as well.

Whether you are staying for a short period of time or a longer time period these website are the cream of the crop in my opinion to finding the best deal on any hotel in Rome. Even if you are looking for a short term  apartment stay these websites will be able to help you out as well. Hopefully you will also find these resources as useful as I do but if you do not be sure to tell me about it because I would like to keep only the best websites listed on this blog so as to better serve my audience.