Viva Rome!

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 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.

Rome is perhaps chaos personified. The hussle and bussle of the city make it a vary vibrant and interesting place to visit and live. Every waking moment seems to be awash in cars, pedestrians and the all so popular vespers that occupy the streets of Rome. If you are visiting this city or the first time this experience can be a bit daunting to say the least. So therefore it is vital that before you visit this city that you become aware of how to get around.

By Subway

Perhaps one of the best ways to explore Rome is through the Metropolitana and can be found through the signs that display a big red M at most entrances. For a ticket to ride the subway it is relatively cheap only 1 Euro. These tickets can be purchased at all of the tabacchi or tobacco shops. You can also find tickets to the subway at many newsstands and most stations sell them as well so it should be easy to obtain a ticket to ride.

By Bus and Train

The Roman bus system is operated by the Azienda Tramvie e Autobus del Comune di Roma or ATAC. A ticket also costs 1 Euro and is valid for 75 minutes of use where you can get on and off as many buses that you wish. You may also use the subway with this ticket as well so it is actually quite a deal. Getting around Rome by bus is slow and painful as most buses are very crowded.

Also try to avoid the “wallet eater” or route number 64 which is very popular with tourists and pickpockets . Because many tourists travel on this route there is a greater chance that your wallet or purse will be stolen and that would certainly ruin your vacation.

For those that are staying for a longer period of time there are several options for you. There is a one day pass which costs 4 Euros and a weekly pass which costs 16 Euros and these tickets can be purchased at Stazione Termini. There is even a tourist pass which lasts for three days nd costs 11 Euros. Obviously you want to pick what ever option is best for you and how long you are going to be staying.

In order to get the routes that the busses take the best and only way that I know of is to pick one up at the bus information center at Piazza dei Cinquecento. Now you must keep in mind that these routes change all the time and most likely the map will be out of date but it should give some idea on how to navigate the city. The only routes that maintain pretty consistent are numbers 75 and 40 as these routes are also frequented by the many tourists that come.

By Taxi

Do not even bother with hailing a taxi as they will not come to your beckoning. Rather the best way to get a taxi is to have your hotel call you one or you can call one of these numbers yourself which is 06-6645 or 06-3570 or 06-4994. Either number will get you a taxi to arrive where ever you are located be it a restaurant, hotel or even a famous landmark if they can get close enough.

By Car

I would not recommend driving in Rome under any circumstances as the drivers are a bit wild and I honestly think you need to be born there to be able to withstand the traffic. Although recently some laws have been proposed to make the driving a bit safer I would still stay away from it. If you do choose to rent a car I would try to pick one up on the outskirts of the city and only drive in the countryside where the traffic is a bit saner.g etting around Rome can be very easy if you know what you are doing and how to get around. otherwise the traffic and people can be very overwhelming especially if you are not all accustomed to big city living.

Rome like most cities in Italy is not known for its nightlife. Italians it seems like to take things at a bit easier pace then other European cities. A typical night out would be with a group of friends having dinner together until midnight. Now I am not saying that this is the case all the time and certainly not the case for some in the city of Rome. I am just warning you that if you expect a kicking nightlife here you may be a bit disappointed.

However if you do insist on going on and tearing up the city these are just a few of the places that I would check out.

Alexanderplatz
Via Ostia 9, Rome, Italy 00153 •
Tel 06-39742171
This is one of Rome’s oldest jazz clubs. The crowd here is both local and foreign as many world famous jazz musicians play here. This club is also equipped with a full restaurant and bar  so you are sure to enjoy yourselves here.

Allen
Via Velletri 13, Rome, Italy 00198 •
Tel 06-8412212
This is one of the best places to dance the night away. This club is one of the longest running and most well run discos in the whole city. For those that are interested there is mostly house music, ambient or hip hop that is played here so be prepared for that experience.

Caruso Café de Oriente
Via di Monte Testaccio 36, Rome, Italy 00153
Tel 06-5745019
This is the place for all your salsa dancing needs and this club definitely attracts all of the locals as well. Much of the music is live Latin American music with some DJ’s mixed in the week.

Salotto 42
Piazza di Pietra 42, , Italy 00186 •
Tel 06-6785804
This club is unique in that it is located directly across from Hadrian’s temple. The walls are decked out with old books and art work and the place is filled with comfy sofas and chairs which makes it ideal as a cocktail bar. The crowd that attends this club is in the thirty something range so please keep that in mind before you decide to go. This place does have a bit of reputation of being a bit high brow for most people.

Romans do not share the love of the nightlife that many other European cities and countries might be known for. Rather I have found that because of the hectic pace of the city during the day that the city seems to take it easier at night. This is both a good and a bad thing depending on how you want to spend your vacation.

Italy is world famous for producing some of the best food that has ever been conjured up. Rome is perhaps the apex of this statement and because of this it is very easy to spend far more than you have budgeted for your stay. It is just so easy to indulge in all of the fine food that is served in this food that you can easily lose your entire budget in this one city. However with some planning and some of my tips you should be able to save your wallet some money and still enjoy yourself as well.

When having your morning coffee or any coffee for that matter make sure you are always standing up. It always seems to cost more if you choose to sit down while eating at your local café. Also a great tip would be to make your own lunches and breakfasts for the day by visiting the local alimentary or food store. Catering yourself a meal can save you a lot of money and you still have the benefits of eating the great food that comes from the same farms that are served at the most expensive restaurants.

 You can choose to eat lunch at a trattoria if you wish but the cheaper alterative would be to visit a local wine bar. A wine bar serves small sandwiches and appetizers that will definitely help fill your stomach while saving your wallet. You can even pick up a cheap slice of pizza in Rome as Italy is well known for producing the best pizza in the world. This will save you lots and will certainly enhance your experience in Rome. Also make sure you make lunch your primary meal of the day because many trattorias have a cheaper lunch menu then at dinner time. 

I would definitely avoid the tourist areas of the city as you are most definitely going to be over priced for the quality of food you will receive. And if you really want to waste your money be sure to eat American style food as this is some of the most expensive food that you can find in the whole of Italy. In order to save some serious money it would be a good idea to find a local budget saver guide that has an extensive listings of restaurants in the area as this will most likely save you some money as well. 

Eating out in Rome does not have to be a very expensive affair and you can save yourself some money if you follow these simple common sense tips that I have given you. The food in Rome is well known because many of the restaurant owners have a farm of their own in the countryside so they know about producing high quality food. With this dedication comes a menu and experience that many people do not experience in their lives but it is very worth it in my opinion.