Entries from March 2008 ↓

Rome can be said to be built on world trade. Many goods traveled to and from Rome and that is one of the reasons that all roads lead to Rome. This shopping tradition continues on today. However for the budget conscious Rome is not the best place to shop as it is more expensive then Milan or Florence.

There are four major retail networks in Rome and these are La Standa, Upini, Coin and La Rinascenta. La Standa deparment stores have the reputation as being the cheapest of the four and La Rinascenta is the most expensive of the lot so plan accordingly. You can always find goods of the most outstanding quality in these department stores however if you want to save a little money it is a good idea to hit some of the smaller shops in the area.

The most expensive streets to shop in Rome are Sistina, Gregoriana, Frattina and Borgognona where stores such as Armani, Gianfranco Ferre, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentine, Rocco Barocco andTrussardi are usually found. However if you are looking to negotiate or find a bargein on any of these streets do not bother as you simply will not be taken seriously.

The central shopping district for the entire city of Rome is Via del Corso and many of the common brands that you will find in America can also be found here as well. To continue your shopping experience you should also check out Via del Tritone, Via Barberinini, Via Vittoria, Via Nazionale and Via Cola di Rienzo as many of these streets are shopping havens.

If you are looking for a bargain then be sure to check out the shops near the Termini station as the people who live around that area are not the richest and the shops cater to the locals more then the tourists. I am sure you will find a bargain in this area. A note of caution though is that this area is frequented by beggars and thieves so always be careful and do not travel alone or at nighttime when you can get easily disoriented.

A great place to find whatever you may be looking for is the Rome flea market which takes place at Mercato delle Puici and is only open on Sunday mornings so this option is not the best for the hurried tourist or traveler that is just passing through.

The most shopped for items in Italy are leather goods and men and women’s clothing. Designer goods of Italian origin are not cheap but they are the cheapest in Italy and if you can find a good discount store you might walk away with a bargain. Shopping can be a fun way to spend part of your vacation. Just keep in mind that it is always best to keep safe in this city and keep watch of those around you because where ever there are tourists there are sure to be thieves and beggars.

For those history buffs out there this is for you. I consider myself a bit of an armchair archeologist and would love to spend some quality time with these ancient sites. You could say that the western world was formed in these sites as many famous events or people came from each and every one. History is dripping with each of these sites and I am sure that if you are at all interested in ancient history you will not be bored with what these top 10 ancient ruins in Rome have to offer.

The Coliseum in Rome is perhaps one of the best known sites in all of the world. I dare you to show a picture of this site in almost every country and someone is bound to know what is was and some of the legends of this ancient ruin. I have been to this site myself and have to tell you that it is well worth the visit if you go inside and take the tour.

Second to the Coliseum in Rome is the Pantheon or the temple of the Gods. The root of the ancient religion that founded modern western society this site contains so many relics it will take your breath away. It is now a converted church and one of the best preserved sites from the ancient time period.

The Roman Forum was the center of the ancient city of Rome. Here this place contained temples, markets, basilicas, and arches. One of the benefits of visiting this site is that the admission is free so be sure to take your time walking around and exploring what was once Rome in its earliest days.

Piazza Navona was originally built as a stadium for ancient athletic contests. It now contains some of the best fountains and cafes you will find in the city.

If you want to see where the ancient Roman emperors ruled then be sure to check out Palatine Hill. The Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana were built as the home to the emperors and served them for over 300 years. Remarkably these structures still stand today. With admission to this ancient site  you can also view the Palatine Museum as well so I guess you get a better deal if you visit this site.

Back in ancient Rome taking a bath was a social event and this took place at the Baths of Caracalla. This huge complex could hold up to 1600 Roman bathers believe it or not! This was also a place to buy food and drink and get a workout as well as this building contained a gym as well.

The world’s oldest shopping market or Trajan’s market is definitely worth checking out as well. Built over several floors this building contained marble floors and an extensive library as well.

If you wish to view ancient catacombs and explore how the people of Rome are buried then be sure to check out Via Appia Antica and Catacombs. Via Appla was the ancient road that lead to Rome and was started in 312 B.C.E. and on this road you will find many tombstones of ancient Roman Christians.

Finally the ancient port of Ostia Antica should also be on your list. Without this port of commerce Rome could have never survived as Rome existed on the surrounding areas in order to get enough goods to supply the city. This is a truly huge complex and in order to get the most out of y our trip be sure to plan for an extensive stay, perhaps a half day would be recommended.

These ancient sites represent the foundation of the city and of the culture of Rome. Without these sites many of the ancient history of Rome could not have occurred. You cannot consider yourself a history buff until you have visited all of these sites personally.