Viva Rome!

I have been away from this blog for far too long. Quite honestly trying to get stories published in newspapers today is quite a hassle. The reason behind this is because many newspapers are going out of business and do not have a budget for any freelance writers. So I have been changing up my tactic and writing for the online publications which seem to be somewhat immune to this downturn.

However, I did want to put up a review of my experience at TorrediBabele in Rome, Italy. This was the language immersion school I attended while I was there and it was the reason I went to Rome in the first place. Now to be honest it was not always a pleasant experience but that is to be expected when you are in a foreign country for one month. You have to realize that not everything is going to go your way.

The best word that would describe the first week in Torredibabele would be stressful. But this is honestly what you want when trying to learn a language. If you go with the apartments that the school will set you up with then you are going to learn Italian much faster. This is because they choose to put you in apartments in non-tourist areas of Rome where very little to no English is spoken. I was put in Piazza Bologna area which is very near to the school. This area is extremely Italian and extremely Roman as well. This means that you better start talking Italian very fast otherwise you will have a very hard time.

The first task is just learning to survive when you can not speak the language fluently. This means finding and learning all you can about shopping for food and going out to eat. These are by far the two most important subjects in Italian you should learn first. If you do not know how to get food you will starve. Being a single guy in Rome is also a disadvantage. Most Italians seem very helpful to all the single girls but guys not so much. I am not sure why but I did notice a difference when ever I went out in a group.

Now as far as the lessons were concerned the school teachers will only speak to you in Italian. You can not speak a word of English, Spanish, or any other language while you are in class in this school. It is a forced language immersion school. But this is okay as the first day of class they do teach you how to ask questions in Italian so that you can try to understand what they are talking about. Some people found this forced immersion technique to be a bit stressful and either quit or broke down. I actually found this technique stressful as well but was lucky to find a friend in the school to help me out.

The very first day of class you are given your textbooks and a list of cultural events sponsored by the school. I would highly recommend that you attend these during your first week as that is one great way to make friends while you are away. Without some sort of friends your stay is going to be miserable.

The first week was a stressful one but I learned more Italian in this week then I ever would if I had studied it on my own. This is because of the classes and the environment as well. Rome is one hectic and noisy city and you best have your game face on if you want to learn the language. Italians do not like to speak English and would prefer to speak their own language. That is one great motivator in learning the language so that you can get along with more people while you are away.

The city of Rome has to be slowly savored and cherished like a glass of wine – you need to plan and organize your touring activities before embarking on touring Rome. Choose the most popular and crowded tourist attraction first and begin your tour from there. This will give you time to enjoy the pace of the city which is an integral part of every tourist experience and the freedom to lounge and enjoy your tour.

Piazza Navona: Discovering the history

Technically speaking, Piazza Navona is a long shaped square ringed by steps and houses. In the glorious days of the Roman Empire, the Piazza used to serve as a stadium. It was called the ‘Circus Agonalis’ which stands for the literal translation of competition area. In the 15th century, the Piazza became the center of the city’s thriving market center and later came to be reputed as the Baroque architectural center.

Architectural and historical marvels

The Piazza market place was moved in 1869 and henceforth, the Piazza became the hosting site for Sunday feats, theatrical shows and horse races. The Piazza has three major manmade water attractions of an artificial lake and two impressive foundations sculpted by Giacomo della Porta. The fountains are called the Fontana di Nettuno built in 1574 and, the Fontana del Moro built in 1576. Originally designed by Bernini, the Piazza also has beautiful sculptures by Girolamo Rainaldi and by Bernini himself. It also holds a church designed by Pietro da Cortona.

Traveling and Sightseeing

Getting to the heart of the city, i.e. the Piazza Navona is usually by foot. As the Piazza is undergoing heavy restorations of its building and churches, admittance is free. Your best mode of traveling is getting to the street opposite the Piazza by bus or by train. People with disabilities prefer traveling by bus. Certain routed buses offer a one euro pass. The pass allows you to travel that entire day without any worry of travel cost. The area is always crowded with tourists all year round but international tourists prefer the seasonal time of late autumn in early October. A tourist is advised to dress appropriately – shorts and sleeveless clothing are frowned upon inside the Piazza churches.

Stay and have fun

Tourists usually view the Piazza as a fun area. It is considered romantic and adventurous. But one has to beware of pickpockets and, always travel in groups. As a tourist you will prefer to live in a nearby inn and prefer roadside eating. The area is dotted with many eateries and cyber cafes. Head for a Pizzeria and treat yourself to Italian food delights of kosher, ice cream, pizza and trippa. The Piazza also boasts of some vegetarian restaurants and wine shops. Bargaining forms the best possible method to buy any type of item in the Piazza. The Piazza has something for everyone. Piazza Navona is an extremely lively place with open air cafes around it. During the summer there are numerous artists who draw or paint members of the public for a fee. The place is crowded each day and there are often buskers and sometimes mimes to entertain. At Christmas time the piazza is filled with stalls selling figurines of all sizes and forms for cribs. It is an adequate spot for picnickers with safe drinking water from the fountains. The fountain water is safe fresh spring water. The fountains at Piazza run constantly offering you drinking water all round the clock.

Accommodation

Tourists who choose the Piazza as their first tourist stop usually look to stay near the sea. It provides the sounds of the exotic old world charm as well the hustle and bustle of the Piazza. Hotel Belvedere Century and Hotel Ping Pong provide modern and traditional facilities. Another option for the more daring and adventurous tourist would be camping. This is a cheap option and gives you freedom to choose your mode of sightseeing at your own pace. Happy Valley and Camping Tiber form the two popular camping sites of the city. Sightseeing in Rome is incomplete if you have not toured the Piazza on foot.

There is one place in Rome whose history predates that of the city itself. It is famous for its architecture, historical significance and sightseeing attractions.

The Palatine Hill – Place in History

Palatine Hill is the centermost of the famous Seven Hills of Rome. Technically speaking, the Palatine Hill is an archeological excavation site containing the ruins of several large villas that belonged to wealthy Roman families. Archaeological evidence suggests traces of inhabitation from the tenth century onwards. It is believed that this hill is the birth place of the glorious Roman Empire. Evidence argues that the twins Romulus and Remus were found in the Lupercal Cave by their four-legged shepherd mother, who raised them. Later, Romulus decided to build the city.

During the Republican era, Palatine Hill became the fashionable place to live. The hill offers splendid views. It rises to an incredible height of 230 feet towering the city. Great warriors, emperors and nobles built their palaces there. It is said that Roman noblemen such as Augustus, Cicero, and Marc Antony resided on the hill. During the Middle Ages, churches and convents were built on Palatine Hill. Later, the hill became home to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, who also created an ornate botanical garden on top of the ruins.

Major Attractions

Palatine Hill houses ruins of ancient palaces and other buildings. The southern end of the hill contains the remains of the palace of the Roman emperor, Septimius Severus between 193 and 211AD. Close to the Palace lie the huge bath ruins of the emperor. The north section of the palace of Septimius Severus houses the stadium. This stadium was built together with the adjacent palace of Domitian. Domitian’s palace forms the largest, oldest and most domineering tourist attraction in the whole of the Palatine hill site. The palace was built in 81AD — between two crests after the tall crest called the Palatium was leveled and the ground used to level the hilltop. The palace consisted of two wings, a private one called the Domus Augustana and the public Domus Flavia. The house of Augustus, the Temple of Apollo and the temple of Cybele also form major hill attractions. The Farnese Garden was built by Cardinal Allessandro Farnese in 1550 by filling in the ruins of the palace of Tiberuis. It is the first-ever botanical garden of Rome.

Location of the hill

The Palatine hill is conveniently located between two of the city’s largest and most impressive tourist attractions of the Roman Forum and the Colessum. You can take advantage of this location site by purchasing a joint travel and fee ticket for the Colessum and the Palatine Hill at 11 euro. There is also another option. If you a leisurely tourist interested in art and architecture, you can now buy the 22 euro weekly pass for the Colessum and the Palatine Hill.  You get to spend the entire weekend exploring and traversing the two sites. It is better to navigate and see the various vivid attractions on foot using an audio guide.

Visiting the site

Though the hill is open to visitors at all times, tourists generally prefer the cool months of
autumn. It serves a tourist well to stroll on foot enjoying the various sights. Getting there by bus and then walking about is cheaper. It also provides you with the opportunity to savor the hustle and bustle of modern Rome. The hill has been fitted with convenient facilities for disabled elderly tourists allowing them to enjoy the uphill tour at a relaxed pace.

Eating at the Palatine Hill

Roadside eating is recommended. Closeted between the forum and the Colessum, the hill offers solace to many eateries spec aliasing in Italian cuisine. This can either be vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Prices are cheap and you get to embrace the ambience of historic Rome on a cool day. The hill’s ancient stadium now hosts many modern cultural events of plays and book review meetings.

Rome is a multifaceted city with fine dining, shopping and sightseeing opportunities. On a tour, you have to visit the old harbor city of Ostia Antica. It is impossible to miss it or bypass it as it lies right in the center of the city.

The what and why of Ostia Antica

Ostia Antica is an ancient port town. It is a fascinating but under-visited archaeological site. Ostia Antica was originally developed as a sea port, prior to the silting up of River Tiber’s estuary. Ostia increased in importance from the fourth century BC, becoming a major naval and trading base. As Rome’s port, the town had commercial significance and expanded in size and grandeur to match this position. However, during the third century AD, its place was taken by a new port at Fiumicino. Within the next couple of centuries Ostia had begun its decline. The ancient Roman city of Ostia was originally situated at the mouth of the river Tiber, some 30 kilometers to the west of Rome. The inward shift of the shoreline in the middle Ages also saw the city moving inland. Today, it lies somewhat four km inward to Rome. Ostia is the Latin word for ‘mouth’ and it was the mouth or center of salt deposits during the Middle and Bronze Ages. The city is also famous for its imprint of slavery and immigration on history rolls.

Historical Attractions

Much of the town stands in ruins and is heavily excavated. Major tourism sites include the Roman theatre which hosts summer plays nowadays, the spectacular Forum, a large baths complex and more than one Mithraeum. It also has impressive mosaics and columns everywhere. The statues of the ancient city have been taken way for safekeeping purposes. Other tourist highlights include the smaller domestic detail — the fishmonger’s marble slab, the bar with its wares illustrated on the wall, the communal public toilets, the residential villas with peaceful courtyards.

Getting there

Traveling to Ostia Antica is easy owing to the location of the ancient city. Ostia has its own station which makes it convenient for tourists. You have to board the suburban train line to Ostia from Piramide Station which lies on Metro Line B. You can use your normal Rome travel ticket. The Ostia Antica station is about twenty minutes from Rome. After coming out of the station, most tourists opt to traverse the port city on foot at leisure. There are neither entrance fees nor any schedule times which makes it fun for all tourists including children and disabled tourists. You merely need a street plan of the city which can be obtained on the train from the ticket kiosk.

Navigating through the city

Have a street map in hand and plan how you are going to tour the ancient port city. You have to enter the city by the Roman Gate. This can be described as a metal fence protecting the scant remains of a city gate. The city gates and city wall were built in the first century BC by orator Marcus Tullius Cicero and completed by Publius Clodius Pulcher. Now you have entered the city. After passing through the gate you are on the main street of Ostia. The main street is known as ‘the Decumanus Maximus.’ The street is paved with basalt blocks. A few shallow wheel-ruts can be seen between the gate and the theatre. This indicates that the transportation of goods was done by slaves or pack-animals, not with wagons. Behind the gate lies the city square. In ancient times the square was adorned by a statue. Today, only a plastic mould of the statue decorates the square. Two identical dedicatory inscriptions also decorate the gate.
Having fun at Ostia

This ancient city is suited to the whims of every tourist. Conveniently located with plenty of transport options, it lures many tourists to spend entire weekends. It has a large number of restaurants serving both fast foods, traditional and non-vegetarian fare. Camping and outdoor sort activity form a favorite past time of the young adventurous tourist folk. The city also has a wide collection of books and antiques. Your tour of Rome comes to an end with a proper and leisurely tour of Ostia.

The city of Rome is the architectural wonder city of the world hosting some of the most famous and historic monuments and locales. It is also known as the ‘eternal city’ of the world drawing hordes of tourists every year.

The Roman Forum: History and Background

Originally a marsh land, the Roman Forum lies in a valley situated between the Palatine hill and the Capitoline hill. In the heyday of the Roman Empire, it was the seat of power. The Forum was the center of political and social activity.  The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic center. The original Forum structure included temples, a senate house and law courts. However, the Roman Forum was razed to the ground falling to ruins after the fall of the Roman Empire. It was later used as a pasture house and ground for cattle during the Middle ages.

Today, much of the Forum stands destroyed. Much of its grandeur and precisely structured stone blocks have been used to construct other buildings in Rome. Its columns and temples echo faded glory.

Attractions of Roman Forum

The Roman Forum through its sheer size and historic significance commands respect inciting many tourists to flock its ruined gateways. But, it boasts of two major attractions of the arch of Titus and the arch of Septimius Severus. Tourists get to admire and appreciate these architectural marvels as they have stood the test of time. They bear testimony to the great knowledge and power of the Roman Empire.

Getting there and Seeing it

Traveling to the capital of Italy poses no problems for the amateur and seasoned tourist. You can descend on the city of Rome either by plane or by train. Once inside, you can sightsee by means of bus, tram or taxi. You have 24-hour passes which allow you to travel anywhere inside the city. This is perhaps the cheapest and most convenient way to sightsee. Tourist train tickets called BIT and CIS also prove good for unlimited rides. BIT or the “Biglietto Turistico Integrato” is a 3-day ticket, valid until midnight of the third day on which the ticket is validated, while the CIS is the “Carta Integrata Settimanale” weekly ticket. Thus, these two tickets grant you unlimited rides on Atac or Cotral buses, subways and some local trains.But the best possible way to see the Roman Forum is by foot.

You can get to the Forum by bus and then circle the forum by foot. It is safe and convenient allowing you to devote as much time as possible to any particular sections. Buses and trams run on a schedule and often do not carry special facilities for disabled people. Admission is free but it is better to be armed with a map and audio guide to traverse the Roman Forum.

Entertaining in Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is usually not preferred by the adventurous tourists including the family oriented travelers. Unless well-acquainted with history to understand the importance of the stone walls, you could end up getting easily bored. In other words, if you have children you might want to engage them elsewhere before embarking to the Forum. The Forum is not open to visitors all the year round. August forms the peak season of national tourism when hordes of native descend upon the city. The summer months see many international visitors strolling around the Forum snapping photos. The forum is surrounded by shops selling designer clothes and other ware. In addition internet cafes and other dining spots also help to increase the attraction of the site.

Sleeping in the city

Exploring Rome and its myriad attractions requires you to have a plan, a map and lots of willpower. You need to get settled in quickly before actually walking about to see the attractions. Getting to the Roman Forum can prove a daunting task if you set up room in a hotel next to one of the airports. You need to find a hotel or an inn which lie east of the Tiber River and west of Station Termini. It is necessary to be aware that distances on a map might not be as close as they appear. This could mean wasting traveling time in getting to the bus terminal. It could mean getting bogged down by traffic when on for to the Roman Forum.